Destinations
Princess Celebrates 50 Years of Alaska Sailings
Princess Cruises is celebrating 50 years of sailing to Alaska with the introduction of new entertainment, shore excursions and culinary offerings. New programs will be available onboard seven Princess ships sailing in Alaska for the upcoming May through September season, marking the cruise line’s largest deployment ever and featuring the debut of Royal Princess, the first time a Princess MedallionClass ship will be sailing in Alaska. The OceanMedallion wearable device features leading-edge technology that delivers personalized service through enhanced guest-crew interactions,...
Brussels Breaking Records
Tourist are coming back to Brussels in their droves. The numbers speak for themselves. In 2018, almost 8.5 million overnight stays were recorded in the capital. What's more, the leisure tourism sector is undergoing a significant evolution and for the first time, is reaching the levels of the professional sector. Every year, Brussels welcomes millions of visitors and the number of tourists visiting the capital has increased steadily over the past two years. 2018, the year of the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the tourist era in Brussels, ended on a positive note with a 8.7 %...
Tourist Arrivals Two Years Ahead of Forecasts: UNWTO
International tourist arrivals grew 6% last year, totalling 1.4 billion, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. UNWTO’s long term forecast issued in 2010 indicated the 1.4 billion mark would be reached in 2020, yet the remarkable growth of international arrivals in recent years has brought it two years ahead. UNWTO estimates that worldwide international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased 6% to 1.4 billion in 2018, clearly above the 3.7% growth registered in the global economy. In relative terms, the Middle East (+10%), Africa (+7%), Asia and the...
Goway Launches Newest Downunder Brochure
Goway has launched its newest brochure – the 2019/20 Downunder brochure, highlighted with more than 450 travel ideas for travel to Australia, New Zealand, the islands of the South Pacific, and Papua New Guinea. With something for everyone, the brochure features everything from exclusive private touring, to small ship and ocean liner cruises, family themed vacations and working holidays for adventurous youth, right up to Luxury VIP Travel. New travel ideas for 2019 include: Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort and Daydream Island in the Whitsundays both reopening after...
TravelBrands Offers Hawaii Savings, Agent Incentives
Through Feb. 3, TravelBrands is offering travellers the chance to save up to 35% on Hawaii vacations, as well as other special offers for both travel agents and their clients. Agents who book Hawaii product by Feb. 3 earn a chance to win one of four pairs of tickets on United Airlines for travel to Mexico, the Caribbean or the US. “Hawaii is filled with beauty, adventure and fascinating culture unlike any part of the United States,” says Frank DeMarinis, president and CEO,TravelBrands. “Our goal with this limited-time offer is to showcase everything that Hawaii offers as a...
Swoop Releases Full Summer Schedule
Low-fare carrier Swoop has released its full summer schedule with non-stop flights available for booking from April 28 through Oct. 26. Along with the three new destinations of London, Ont., Kelowna, BC, and Oakland, Calif., the schedule boasts five new domestic markets, two new transborder markets and an extension of two international routes. The new domestic markets include service between London and Halifax six times per week and daily service from London to/from Abbotsford and Edmonton. Service between Kelowna and Winnipeg will be offered three times a week. The schedule also...
Record Results For Japan
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is reporting that over 30 million overseas travellers visited Japan in 2018 – an all-time record and an 8.7% increase over 2017 (the previous record year). Naohito Ise, executive director of the JNTO in New York, said: “Tourism to Japan from the United States -- about 5% of the total - soared 11%, with more and more Americans seeking beyond the classic tourism destinations of Tokyo and Kyoto to discover lesser-known parts of the country.” Ise continued: “American tourism to Japan is expected to continue to rise in 2019 as the...
Exploring Hong Kong Like A Local
One of the most photographed vantage points of Hong Kong comes from the top of Victoria Peak. As the highest point on Hong Kong Island, the panoramic views of the seemingly endless slew of high-rises jetting out from the green hills below and across Victoria Harbour is a must-see for many visitors. In this week's digital edition of Travel Courier, assistant editor, Ann Ruppenstein writes that the scene feels a world apart from the serene lookout atop the nearby hills of Ngong Ping, where 38 wooden pillars displaying verses of the centuries-old Heart Sutra prayer are arranged in an...