Destinations
Porter Mandates Vaccinations, Testing For Staff
Porter Airlines’ new COVID-19 Vaccination Policy will require its team members to be fully vaccinated or present a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of the start of their shift. The new policy aligns with Porter’s restart of service on Sept. 8, 2021 and is designed, the carriers says, “to support a safe and healthy workplace for employees and passengers.” Following the federal government’s recent announcement of its intention to mandate vaccination for federally-regulated employers and workers, Porter has become the first Canadian airline committed to...
ACITA Pushes Back On Liberal Support Plan
While a number of industry groups welcomed Justin Trudeau's announcement that support programs would be extended into 2022 if a Liberal government was re-elected, the Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors’ (ACITA) Judith Coates observed that: “For independent travel advisors, hearing Trudeau pledge support is much like hearing him say over the past 17 months ‘We've got your back.’” Coates pointed out that although the “tourism industry in Canada is starting to bounce back, with travel restrictions still in place -- and changing every day -- [independent]...
Different Stages, But With One Common Factor
GlobalData reports that while destinations across North America -- USA, Mexico and Canada -- are at different stages of tourism development, there is one common factor -- the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 have hit their respective tourism economies hard. In its latest report, ‘Tourism Destination Market Insight: North America (2021),’ GlobalData found that total international arrivals to the region declined 67% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in 2020 and inbound expenditure by 74.1%. North America’s forecast recovery follows the general global travel consensus that domestic...
Harmony Of The Seas Sails Back In the Western Med
Royal Caribbean International is back in the western Mediterranean with the Harmony of the Seas now sailing from its new summer home in Barcelona, Spain. The Harmony of the Seas joins the Jewel of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas in Europe. The Oasis Class ship is operating a series of 7-night cruises around the Western Mediterranean. From August to it will visit Palma De Mallorca, Spain before sailing to Italy, where it will visit Florence, Rome and Naples. Passengers will also have the option of beginning their cruise in Italy, sailing roundtrip from Rome. Ben Bouldin, vice...
AmaWaterways Adds Sailing In Response To Demand
AmaWaterways had added a third sailing of its Seven River Journey – introduced earlier this year – which will depart in the fall of 2023; taking passengers through 14 countries over 47 days. The addition of the fall itinerary comes in response to what AmaWaterways reports as the “overwhelming popularity” of the Spring and Summer sailings. The fall cruise departs on Aug. 24, 2023 from Paris and returns Oct. 9, 2023 to Giurgiu, Romania with fares beginning at $26,999 per guest. Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways, said: “Our Seven River...
Saint Lucia Offers New Option For Extended Stays
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority has introduced a new option to its extended stay Live it program, in response to travel trends and customer demand. Visitors can now enjoy Island life in Saint Lucia with a multiple entry visa for up to one year. Through both options of the Live it program, Saint Lucia is inspiring travellers to immerse themselves in local culture, while exploring the destination’s natural beauty on an extended stay vacation or working remotely with ease. Saint Lucia’s Live it program was introduced earlier in 2021 for visits up to six weeks. For those...
Stopover In Panama With Copa Airlines
A cosmopolitan city along with “gorgeous coffee farms, abundant biodiversity and pristine beaches” can now be discovered at no additional airfare with Panama and Copa Airlines’ relaunch of the attractive Stopover in Panama program. The initiative seeks to encourage passengers that travel to any of the airline’s destinations through the “Hub of the Americas” in Panama to schedule time for a stop in the country at the time of ticket purchase, without additional cost in air fare. In doing so, tourists can enjoy two destinations for the price of one. Visitors now have the...
Discover Central America Virtually
The Central America Tourism Agency (CATA) will soon hold The Central America Virtual Roadshow, The Americas 2021, which is aimed at promoting travel to that part of the world and strengthening and diversifying opportunities to expedite the recovery in the region. The virtual event comprises three major marketing and virtual promotional events for travel and media professionals from Mexico (Sept. 2), the United States (Sept. 8), and Canada (Sept 23). The objective is to promote Central America as a multi-destination and to re-introduce industry partners between the tourism operators...