Destinations
Jordan Is Simply Amazing
Visit Jordan says people shouldn't assume that Jordan's unsafe because of what happens outside its borders. Visit Jordan Canadian representative Avril Matthews says violence is a common occurrence in bordering countries but not in Jordan itself. “The people of Jordan literally say they have noisy neighbours,” she told a Wednesday Toronto gathering. Jordan in turn is “like a peaceful oasis,” she added. Matthews, who visited Jordan this year, said its capital is a “real blend of old and new,” with Amman attractions including a Roman ampitheatre. The archeological...
You Can’t Skip Portugal
Some 30 suppliers of travel product and services to Portugal were on hand in Toronto yesterday (Oct. 19) to meet with a large group of Canadian travel agents and tour operators and learn more about a destination that could well be a hot one this winter. Portugal's Minister of Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho was on hand for the event, telling her audience that air capacity – supplied by Air Transat, Air Canada, TAP Air Portugal and SATA – has double out of Canada providing agents with lots of opportunities to sell the destination. And she pointed to additional services and capacity...
The Adventure Continues In Ireland
This week PressToday's Ann Ruppenstein is on the road in Ireland as a group of Canadian travel agents and tour operators learn more about the tourism offer in the island nation on an annual FAM put on by Tourism Ireland in Canada, Tourism Northern Ireland and Failte Ireland. Along with taking in some stunning sights and attractions across the country, such as the cliffside shores of Arranmore Island on the Wild Atlantic Way, an interactive demonstration on seaweed by Dr. Prannie Rhattigan of Irish Seaweed Kitchen in Stranhill beach — a company offering tours where visitors can...
Toronto, NYC Launch City-To-City Partnership
Tourism Toronto and NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organizations for their respective cities, have signed an official partnership to boost tourism between Toronto and New York City. It is the first ever city-to-city tourism partnership of its kind for Toronto and the first Canadian partnership for NYC & Company. The two-year alliance includes a collaboration agreement between the two destination marketing organizations, the exchange of marketing assets to boost reciprocal travel, and the sharing of best practices in tourism marketing. To celebrate the...
Discover The Wonders Of Costa Rica
Those visiting Costa Rica can expect to see the likes of sloths, monkeys and toucans if they venture into any of the country's many national parks during their vacation. But they shouldn't count on seeing any velociraptors or T-Rexes, says Michel Aranda of Costa Rican tour company Neo Travel. Aranda, in Toronto this week for a Costa Rica presentation, said blockbuster movie Jurassic Park – which ended with dinosaurs running wild on a Costa Rican island, “was very good publicity [for Costa Rica] but there are none [in reality].” But tourism authorities add that Costa Rica –...
Contiki Unveils Expanded Summer Europe Program
Contiki has unveiled its highly anticipated Europe Summer 2018/19 program, highlighted by an increased emphasis on its culinary offerings through its partnership with social eating platform VizEat, 26 new trips and its first foray into river cruising with the launch of U by Uniworld. Summer in Europe for 2018 will also see the unveiling of a new travel style that will be called, Independent Insider. The new type of travel has been designed for freedom and replaces the current “Easy Pace” style. In addition, the youth travel brand continues with its Limited Edition Series trips,...
Japan Cruising in Spotlight at YVR event
The growing number of opportunities to spend a holiday in Japan onboard a cruise ship were reviewed during a dinner event in Vancouver hosted by Marco Polo Tours, Air Canada and the Japan National Tourism Organization. Travel professionals, supplier partners and their clients gathered for the presentation at the Hyatt Regency. Reps from four cruise ship lines attended the evening event and were given time slots in which to describe services and cruise itineraries. These included NCL, MSC, RCI and Princess. The Diamond Princess, for example, has been reinvented for the Japanese...
California Shines In Canada
A mega-delegation of California destination representatives are in Canada this week to meet with agents and operators and make sure they know that not only are Canadians welcome, – well, actually everyone is – but that the state offers a wide range of tourism experiences that will appeal to virtually everyone. With stops planned in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, the trade delegation includes representatives from the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, the Central Coast Tourism Council, Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, Los Angeles Tourism &...