Destinations
Trillion Dollar Impact
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s annual Economic Impact Report (EIR) reveals the full and devastating impact of COVID-19 had on the global Travel & Tourism sector last year, which suffered a massive loss of almost US$4.5 trillion. The annual EIR from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, shows the sector’s contribution to GDP dropped a staggering 49.1%, this compared to the overall global economy which dropped by just 3.7% last year. Vast losses run up during 2020, paint the first full picture...
WestJet Adds 11 In Western Canada
WestJet is unveiling details of 11 new domestic routes across Western Canada. The routes will offer new nonstop service for 15 communities across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The enhancements follow an announcement made earlier in the week to return previously suspended service to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3PpYUYvHtBM Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO, said: “As we look to the coming months with cautious optimism, we know our restart agenda will be pivotal to Canada's economic...
Agents Can Explore France On These Webinars
Following the success of the Destination France webinars, Atout France Canada is launching a new series of Explore France webinars for tourism professionals. The first live bilingual webinar will take place on Mon., March 29 at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) and will provide an opportunity to discover the exceptional offer of Cruise Provence & Côte d’Azur. Provence and Côte d'Azur region, the number one cruise destination in France, provides easy and inspiring stays to extend your clients ocean and river cruise trips. From charming villages to picturesque beaches, including...
A Pandemic Performance
The U.S. Virgin Islands is crediting smart, sensible public health policies and tourism management efforts for the admirable performance of the Territory’s bread-and-butter industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism, reported that in an environment of deep declines in regional and international tourism arrivals, the U.S. Virgin Islands has weathered the pandemic storm well, despite restricting leisure travel twice last year, from March through June, and then again in August and September. As the Caribbean Tourism Organization reports a 2020...
Travel Sentiments Reach A Milestone
In Longwoods International’s latest tracking study of American travellers, 87% now have travel plans in the next six months – that’s the highest level since early March 2020. Half of travellers currently feel comfortable travelling outside their communities and a little more than half support opening their communities to visitors, both the highest levels since last May. Only a third of travellers now say that COVID-19 will greatly impact their decision to travel in the next six months, the lowest level in a year. Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International,...
Royal Caribbean Ready To Sail In The Med
Royal Caribbean International will be setting sail in the Mediterranean this summer with all-new 7-night cruises departing from Limassol, Cyprus. Beginning July 10, Jewel of the Seas will call Cyprus home for the first time and sail to the picturesque shores and ancient ruins in Cyprus, Greece and the Greek Isles through October. Travellers can visit a combination of culture-rich cities and idyllic islands, including Limassol, Athens, Greece and the Greek islands of Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos and Santorini. The new 2021 summer itineraries from Cyprus will open for bookings on April...
Left At The Altar For The Moment
According to a new study released by Hellosafe.ca, in 2020, the estimated financial loss to the wedding industry is $780,218,850. In fact, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many fiancés have cancelled or postponed their wedding originally planned for 2020. The province’s wedding industry also lost a lot of its turnover during 2020 – compared to 2019 -- due to the impossibility of organizing wedding celebrations with government restrictions taken to stop the pandemic. This corresponds to a $780 million fall in revenues for the wedding industry in Ontario in 2020,...
Celebrity Apex Debuts In Greece This Summer
Celebrity Cruises unveiled details of its return to cruising in Europe today, as company President and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo confirmed that its brand-new Celebrity Apex, the second stunning ship in the brand’s transformational, multi-award-winning Edge Series, will make its long-awaited world debut in Greece this summer beginning June 19. With seven-night sailings roundtrip from Athens through September 2021, Celebrity Apex will visit some of the most idyllic destinations in the Mediterranean, including Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini, Greece; Limassol, Cyprus; and Haifa and...