Destinations
Romance Is On The Rebound
AMResorts’ Carlo Trinidad says destination wedding groups have come back with a vengeance. “We are fortunate in Canada where wedding groups typically book at least 10 to 12 months in advance, sometimes longer. So not only have individual bookings spiked, but also wedding groups,” Trinidad, the Business Development Manager for Western & Central Canada for AMResorts tells Travel Courier. “By pure capacity from the tour operators, Cancun/Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, and Punta Cana lead the pack in popularity.” Trinidad reports that destination wedding groups are very...
A Sigh Of Relief
Following an intense final round of negotiations that lasted more than 36 hours, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) late Friday, August 6. Chris Aylward, PSAC national president, said: “We are relieved that CBSA and the government finally stepped up to address the most important issues for our members to avoid a prolonged labour dispute. The agreement is a testament to the incredible hard work and dedication of our bargaining team who worked...
Planeterra, CTO Partner On Community Tourism
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and Planeterra have joined forces to support community tourism in CTO member countries. The strategic partnership aims to scale up community tourism throughout the Caribbean with the goal to enhance the social, economic and environmental well-being of communities in the region. As well, the organizations will be seeking funding to build the capacity of enterprises, while encouraging community tourism enterprises towards the training and mentorship offered by Planeterra’s Global Community Tourism Network. Neil Walters, the CTO’s acting...
Travellers Need Negative COVID Test To Visit Belize
Effective today (Aug. 9), all travellers -- both vaccinated and unvaccinated -- entering Belize from other countries will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test. All travellers entering Belize at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) will be required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of travel or a negative result from any approved Antigen Rapid Test taken within 48 hours of travel. If no test is presented, a COVID-19 test will be administered at the airport for a fee of US$50 per passenger. Children under the age of 5 years will...
Lockdowns Weaken Oz’s Domestic Travel Recovery
According to GlobalData, with Australia battling a rise in COVID-19 cases, domestic travel has reduced drastically. And the data and analytics company also points out that while Australia’s domestic recovery was strong in H1 2021, the reintroduction of lockdowns and state border closures will serve as a blow, and set to weaken and slow down the domestic travel recovery. Additionally, GlobalData says that Qantas airline standing down its staff signals the prospect of a longer road to recovery. Gus Gardner, associate travel and tourism analyst at GlobalData, points out that:...
Travel Is Back
Even as president of a 96-year-old travel company, Tauck's Jennifer Tombaugh was caught by surprise multiple times by how much travellers were eager to lock in post-pandemic trips ahead of time. “We have never seen the level of advance bookings for 2022 than we have right now,” Tombaugh tells Travel Courier. “It really speaks to the pent up demand and that energy that people have to get out and explore the world again.” Although bookings are not yet at 2019 levels, the resurgence is giving the tour operator hope for the remainder of 2021 as it prepares for a robust year...
Hit The Slopes With Club Med
Club Med is gearing up for the ski season and noting that it will be making ski vacations for more accessible to Canadians this season, with major sales and new resort openings. And for the first time, Club Med will be offering mountain getaways right here in Canada with the opening of Club Med Québec Charlevoix on Dec. 3, 2021 – the brand’s first and only Canadian resort. The new Canadian resort joins Club Med’s broader collection of ski properties, which include the newest resort in the Alps, Club Med La Rosière and fan favourites Club Med Les Arcs Panorama and Club...
Reaching The Summit
ACTA wants everyone to attend its 2021 Canadian Travel Industry Summit, with its president, Wendy Paradis stating: “We are inviting everyone to join ACTA on Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, 2021 as we connect the Canadian travel industry and explore a whole new world of travel.” Paradis added: “This is a great forum to re-connect, reset and rebuild the travel industry on the road to recovery.” Travel agents, independent travel agents, travel agency managers, owners and leaders, consortia partners and host agencies are invited to attend. The two-day summit will include keynote...