Destinations
Jamaica Tourism Must Get Back On Track
Jamaica's tourism trade appears to have begun recovering from the crippling effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the country's tourism minister says. Edmund Bartlett said during the Monday opening of the country's annual tourism show JAPEX that since the country reopened to visitors on June 15 it has hosted over 211,000 people. As well, hotel occupancy rates are "slowly inching up...," he said. "We are cautiously optimistic that we will see a 40% increase in arrivals over the winter when compared to the proceeding period of a massive downturn... "The coronavirus crisis has...
Reconnect With Costa Rica
Costa Rica is ready to welcome Canadian travellers back and the country’s Minister of Tourism, Gustavo Segura Sancho talked with Canadian Travel Press this week about the steps the country has taken to provide travellers with both a safe and enjoyable travel experience. The minister told CTP that “tourism makes up 8.2% of Costa Rica’s GDP and provides hundreds of thousands of jobs each year, which are essential to the country’s economic growth and development. In 2019, we welcomed more than 3.1 million international travellers, many of them from Canada.” However, he...
Transat Takes Off To Cuba
Transat resumed operations to Cuba earlier this week, operating two flights to Holguin from Toronto and Montreal that carried a total of 370 passengers. Joseph Adamo, vice-president and chief distribution officer of Transat, said: “Cuba has always been at the heart of our operations. That is why we are delighted that travellers can finally return to this South destination, one of the most popular in the winter season.” Adamo continued: “Moreover, thanks to our COVID-19 medical insurance and the rigorous health and safety measures implemented by us and our hotel partners,...
Utah Website Helps Travellers Plan Ahead
The Utah Office of Tourism has launched a new website at www.visitutah.com that’s designed to inspire travellers and travel advisors to consider Utah for future travel, increase well-prepared visitation and improve the visitor experience. Vicki Varela, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism, explained that: “The COVID-19 pandemic has put an emphasis on travel planning and preparedness when visiting a destination. Through our redesigned visitutah.com, we hope to inspire travellers to visit Utah more thoughtfully and responsibly.” The Utah Office of Tourism’s “Red...
Time To Start Swimming
As Gal Hana sees it, while the industry may have some time on its collective hands, that down time is the perfect opportunity to improve processes and efficiency. The Consul & Director of Tourism Canada for the Israel Ministry of Tourism also points out that technology will play a key role in these areas. In a question and answer session, Hana observed: “As many of your readers are aware, Israel was one of the first countries that got hit by the second wave of the pandemic. Just like more countries nowadays, the numbers spiked very fast, and we needed respond and go back with...
New Requirements For Travellers Visiting Canada
The Canadian government will be introducing new, mandatory requirements applicable to travellers to Canada to submit COVID-related information digitally. The new requirements will take effect on Nov. 21, 2020. This is a significant step in stopping the spread of COVID-19 -- traveller information can be shared quickly and securely with provinces and territories to contact travellers for public health follow-up, and with law enforcement to verify compliance with the Mandatory Isolation Order. Submitting information digitally in all modes of travel will also help travellers reduce...
Sunwing Takes Off To Paradise
For the first time since March, Sunwing will take off today, with a flight from Toronto to Punta Cana. And to mark the occasion, Sunwing is offering savings on the Canadian-owned-and-operated Royalton Luxury Resorts. For a limited time, travellers can save up to 50% on last-minute vacation packages to Royalton Luxury Resorts, Hideaway at Royalton, Royalton CHIC and Mystique by Royalton. All packages booked during the sale include guaranteed departures, and the highest Canadian standards and safety protocols in place every step of the way. The first Canadians ready to return to...
Destination Dreaming
The ongoing pandemic has left most of us with an insatiable desire to travel again when it’s safe to do so. This week Travel Courier chats with travel experts to see which destinations top their wish lists for future travels and what sets those places apart. Read on for inspiration and ideas fuelled by travel advisors. Looking at a map of Italy, Monica Millin would be happy to be dropped anywhere in the European nation. “My place that I would go to is and always will be Italy,” Millin, the Certified Travel Counsellor behind Monica’s Vacation Creations with TPI in Port Moody,...