Destinations
Join The Movement With #timetotravel
The Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable has sent an open letter -- signed by 130 senior travel and tourism executives -- to Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and the provincial Premiers urging them to reopen this country’s travel and tourism industry as soon as possible. The letter begins by telling the country’s leaders: “As a society, we have faced a threat like no other, COVID-19. And we are still dealing with it. Under the leadership of our governments, we agreed to implement tough decisions to protect our health and safety. We shut down our schools, our businesses, and...
Quintana Roo Kickstarting Tourism
Mexico's hugely popular Caribbean-fronting state of Quintana Roo is kickstarting its tourist trade now that the number of coronavirus cases in the jurisdiction is on a downward swing. Quintana Roo Tourism Board director Dario Flota told a Thursday webinar that current "low numbers" of coronavirus cases in the state prompted authorities to decide that it's "safe to reopen" to tourism. Coronavirus concerns led authorities earlier this year to ask would-be tourists to delay their vacations, saying "Paradise Can Wait." Flota said widespread safety precautions are being taken...
Tourism Vancouver Launching New Campaign
Tourism Vancouver is set to launch #VancouverComeBack, an initiative designed to inspire residents of Metro Vancouver to begin safely exploring their communities in line with the phases of the BC Restart Plan. The new campaign will spotlight the crucial role residents play in supporting the many local businesses that make up the city’s tourism industry. #VancouverComeBack is a celebration of the resilience of the city and region as citizens have navigated the coronavirus pandemic to flatten the curve. The campaign aims to unite locals with the spirit of travel and encourages Metro...
The New Tourism: Welcoming, Innovative, Adaptable
Paul Gauger, Senior Vice President, The Americas, VISITBRITAIN When international travel resumes, Paul Gauger, Senior Vice President, The Americas for VisitBritain, expects to see an increase in the number of consumers using a travel agent. “Many consumers are re-evaluating how they book travel, acknowledging that human contact, a voice and opinion of experienced, trusted travel professionals is more important than ever,” Gauger tells Travel Courier. “When restrictions are lifted, tourism will be as welcoming, innovative and adaptable as ever and adjust to whatever the new...
Reflecting On What Really Matters
Although there is no date yet for when Canadian travellers can visit Austria again, the destination is currently experiencing the re-start of travel and tourism as its borders with neighbouring countries are re-opening across hotels, restaurants and attractions. “Our social, civic, as well as cultural life is returning fully,” Michael Gigl, Director for the Austrian Tourist Office in North America tells Travel Courier. “Travel truly has the power to build bridges between people, between cultures. We have suddenly, and painfully, learned that the opportunity to travel, especially...
Impact Of COVID-19 On Europe Summer Travel
In order to better understand and respond to the impact of COVID-19 on overseas travel, the European Travel Commission (ETC), the European Tourism Association (ETOA), Eurail B.V. and the European Commission continue to monitor the shifts and trends in travel sentiment in Europe’s key overseas source markets – Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia[1] and the U.S. Results of the latest Long-Haul Travel Barometer (LHTB) indicate that confidence for travel to Europe in summer 2020 is weak across all six markets monitored. However, the group notes that what is significant is that...
Europe Is Calling
As they begin the first stages of tourism since the global pandemic brought travel to a halt, representatives from Europe and Great Britain discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead, how they shifted strategies to keep travellers engaged and the role tour operators and agents will play in the journey forward. How do destination marketing organizations and tourist boards promote their respective countries when travel comes to a standstill? They adjust and find new ways to drive engagement. In the aftermath of travel restrictions, Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir, Head of Visit...
Far From Ordinary, Close To Home
Globus and Cosmos are unveiling a new series of nine “Undiscovered North America” tours, ranging from 8 to 14 days in 2021. Stéphanie Bishop, managing director for the Globus family of brands, observes of the new initiative that: “These unique and unparalleled itineraries help travellers discover North America’s tucked-away towns, secluded seafronts and lesser-known nooks for an unforgettable vacation.” And Bishop adds: “With our series of ‘Undiscovered’ tours, we are invested in taking travellers to the places and parks other tour operators do not visit.” New...