Destinations
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...
Don’t Miss This Webinar On Japan On Jan. 20
Baxter Media invites travel agents and other travel professionals to attend an exciting webinar on Japan next Wednesday (January 20) at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. Pacific Time). To kick off this webinar, Adam Waxman, journalist & member of the Advisory Board, Japan Tourism Agency of MLIT, will present several off-the-beaten-path gems to discover in Japan. Following that will be a panel discussion to discuss the topic of whether post-COVID tourism requires new marketing strategies. Featured on this panel will be Rocky Racco, the CEO of TTI Travel, Lauren Michell, the Vice...
Dominica Revises COVID-19 Risk Classification
Dominica has revised the COVID-19 Country Risk Classifications for travel from the CARICOM Travel Bubble, Low, Medium and High-Risk Countries. As of Jan. 6, Barbados was reclassified to the HIGH-RISK classification. Travellers from Barbados to Dominica must submit the online health screening form and submit a negative PCR test where swabs were taken within 24hours to 72 hours of arrival into Dominica. Upon exiting the port of entry, travellers will submit to a quarantine period of up to 7 days where a PCR test is taken on day 5 after arrival and results are expected within 24...
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Moves To Phase 10
Responding to the continued increase of COVID-19 cases in Canada, the U.S. and other countries in the high risk category, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has announced its latest phase (#10) of entry protocols, which now include a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival, along with a negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR COVID-19 test result. St. Vincent and the Grenadines never officially shut its borders to tourists and remains open for business, poised to welcome visitors once they are permitted to travel from their respective countries. The destination has taken strict measures to slow the...
Brand USA Maps Out Its Path To The Future
Chris Thompson, President & CEO of Brand USA sits down with Canadian Travel Press this week and maps out the path the organization is following as it looks forward to welcoming Canadian travellers back to the U.S. once it is safe to do so. At one point in the conversation, Thompson observed that: “While there are still many challenges ahead of us, distribution of vaccines is helping us see a brighter light at the end of the tunnel. And, when the time is right, our industry will help lead economic recovery for both our nations.” For the full story, check out the latest issue...
Anguilla Picks Liburd As Director
Anguilla’s Minister of Tourism, Hayden Hughes, has appointed Stacey Liburd to the position of Director of Tourism. Liburd’s appointment took effect on Jan. 4, 2021, with Minister Hughes saying: “We have put together a very strong Board at the ATB. The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) will be strengthened by this appointment that was made by me after careful consideration in consultation with my Tourism partners and in keeping with the ATB Act. Mrs. Liburd possesses the skills to help navigate the day-to-day operations during these unprecedented times and she has our confidence and...