Destinations
Intrepid, MEET Partner On Sustainable Initiative
Through a new partnership with MEET Network Association, Intrepid Travel is introducing new sustainable travel experiences in Europe that are designed to benefit local communities. Through the partnership, Intrepid has now included MEET experiences within two of its new tours to lesser-visited regions of Croatia and Crete, with more to come across Europe and the Mediterranean over the next few months. Zina Bencheikh, Intrepid Travel managing director EMEA, said: “We are very excited to work with MEET Network to bring these fantastic experiences to our travellers. These projects...
St. Barts Now Open To Fully Vaccinated U.S. Travellers
St. Barts is now welcoming fully vaccinated U.S. travellers in accordance with new vaccination mandates from the French government. Upon opening (June 9), all restaurants, boutiques, nautical activities and services will be open as usual. New mandates require visitors to provide documentation of a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test performed within three days of arrival, in addition to proof of vaccination. Alternatively, an antigen test performed within 48 hours will also be accepted. Visitors under the age of 18 will not need any proof of vaccination and those below 10 are not...
EU Digital COVID Certificate Now A Reality
The leaders of the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission have officially signed the regulation on the EU Digital COVID Certificate, marking the end of the legislative process. David Sassoli, president of the EU Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the Council of the EU and Prime Minister António Costa, president of the European Commission said: “The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a symbol of what Europe stands for. Of a Europe that does not falter when put to the test. A Europe that unites and grows when faced with challenges. Our Union...
AC Extends COVID-19 Refund Policy Deadline By 30 Days
Air Canada is extending its COVID-19 refund policy by 30-days. Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada, explained that: “The number of customers who have requested a refund is lower than anticipated and most have kept their travel credit, Air Canada Travel Voucher or Aeroplan points, which we are pleased to see as it is an indication they plan on travelling in the future.” Guillemette added: “We also take this as a vote of confidence from our customers that they intend to fly with us on their next trip, and we are looking forward...
Vaccinations Raise Hope For Europe Travel
IATA is welcoming the relaxation of COVID-19 border measures for vaccinated passengers and the broader use of affordable antigen testing adopted by Spain and France. However, the global airline industry association said that this is tempered by ongoing disappointment at the failure to implement harmonized measures across Europe and deep frustration at the lack of coordination among governments worldwide for a data-driven risk-managed approach to re-establishing the freedom to travel. Earlier this week (June 7), Spain opened its borders to most vaccinated travellers from around the...
Troubled Waters?
The governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Albert Bryan Jr. wants Florida governor, Ron DeSantis to honour the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and reconsider state’s legislation – relating to the vaccination of cruise passengers -- which could impact the health and wellbeing of millions of Caribbean residents when cruises to the region resume. Governor Bryan believes that -- with an increasing number of Americans receiving COVID-19 vaccinations -- ensuring the cruise industry reopens with vaccinated passengers is essential to the tourism economies of...
On The Border
TIAC president Beth Potter is calling on authorities to provide those in the tourism trade with advance notice of a reopening date for the Canada-U.S. border, saying an industry that's been “cut off at the knees” by the coronavirus pandemic will need time to prepare for the return of clients. Potter told a Thursday webinar that many tourism firms in this country have been “shuttered for 15 months,” and “they've already lost one summer. They don't want to lose a second summer.” Summer is the pivotal season for this country's tourism trade. But Potter warned that...
WestJet Says Aloha To Hawaii
WestJet is growing its Hawaii network, with the addition of more Dreamliner flight options from Western Canada to Maui, along with a new non-stop service from Calgary to Kona and Lihue this winter. In total, WestJet will operate 57 weekly roundtrip flights on 10 nonstop routes. John Weatherill, WestJet’s chief commercial officer, said that: “With easing travel restrictions, we know our guests are planning to turn their long-awaited Hawaiian getaway dreams into a well-deserved reality.” Weatherill continued: “We've increased our winter service to Hawaii by more...