Destinations
WTTC Forecasts Job Recovery In 2021
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is forecasting that over 100 million jobs could return to the global travel and tourism sector during 2021, as the world recovers from the crippling COVID-19 pandemic. Already a strong summer of travel is expected as the sector begins its road to recovery from late March onwards, with many major travel companies reporting a significant rise in forward bookings. And the sector’s revival is backed by WTTC’s latest economic forecast, which gives further hope for the year ahead to businesses and millions of people employed in the sector...
Europeans Looking To Travel In Spring 2021
In its latest report, the European Travel Commission (ETC) reports that despite continuing lockdowns, Europeans are progressively interested in trips during the second quarter of 2021 as COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out. The ETC – in Monitoring Sentiment for Domestic and Intra-European Travel – Wave 4 featuring data collected in December 2020 – found that the proportion of Europeans willing to travel during spring 2021 grew by 20% compared to the November 2020 survey, with 1 out of 3 respondents now stating this intention. At the same time, the number of Europeans planning...
Quebec Premier Calls For Non-Essential Travel Ban
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling on the federal government to ban non-essential international travel. The Premier indicated that he wants to avoid reliving the situation linked to the March 2020 March break, which could have disastrous consequences for the provinces health system. While Premier Legault said that it's understandable that some people have to travel for humanitarian reasons, he also made it clear that there is no reason to buy all-inclusive packages in the South as new, more contagious strains of coronavirus emerge. pretty much everywhere in the...
Riviera Nayarit Helps Travellers Get Required Tests
Following the introduction of new testing requirements for Canadian and U.S. travellers, the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau is helping travellers by offering testing at three prestigious hospitals, as well as local laboratories and clinics in the region. Hospital Joya, Hospital CMQ and Hospital Punta Mita, in addition to several clinics, are fully equipped to attend to American and Canadian travelers requiring testing and are offering special rates for both. Marc Murphy, managing director for the Riviera Nayarit CVB, explained that: “Riviera Nayarit has enough...
Air Canada Suspends St. Vincent Flights
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourist office is advising that following new restrictions on Canadian travellers that impacted on demand, Air Canada has decided to cancel flight operations to several routes including St Vincent and the Grenadines from Jan. 23 for this current 2021 winter season. This is a temporary measure until April 11, when we hope the environment will be more conducive to traveling. St. Vincent and the Grenadines notes that its tourism office staff in Canada is working remotely as mandated by the Canadian government, but can be reached by telephone at (416)...
Saint Lucia Offers Travellers Multiple Test Options
Responding to the Canadian, United States and United Kingdom, governments’ requirements of a negative pre-departure Covid-19 test for airline passengers, Saint Lucia is set to meet the demand for on-island Covid-19 testing and processing; with select hotels offering complimentary testing for guests who qualify. Saint Lucia and its accommodation sector has multiple COVID-19 PCR and antigen (rapid) testing options available for departing visitors, citizens and residents to help ease the stress and cost of vacation planning. Travellers can obtain a COVID-19 test conveniently at their...
Industry Pushes Back On Possible BC Travel Ban
The British Columbia tourism industry says that a ban on inter-provincial, non-essential travel not only goes against Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it would also further cripple a sector that is barely hanging on by a thread. Responding to Premier John Horgan’s statement last week that the province is seeking legal advice to look at implementing a travel ban, the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) has commissioned a legal opinion that states a travel ban would be difficult to implement because the Supreme Court of Canada has held that Canadians’ mobility rights...
Jamaica Ramping Up COVID-19 Testing Capacity
Jamaica is ramping up its efforts to provide testing capacity to visitors following the introduction of new requirements in a number of the destinations key source markets, including Canada, the US and the UK. Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett will lead a special task force that will spearhead efforts to boost Jamaica’s COVID-19 testing capacity. Members of the task force that Bartlett will lead include: President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Clifton Reader First Vice President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and former...