Destinations
Jamaica Poised For Record-Breaking Year
Visitor arrivals in Jamaica have been at a record high since the start of the year and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is projecting that the Caribbean hotspot will host 4.2 million visitors by the end of 2017, surpassing last year’s 3.84 million visitors and setting a new record. According to preliminary arrival statistics, Jamaica’s tourism industry earned US$1.46 billion in the first half of this year, a 5.8% increase over the same period in 2016. In July, Jamaica welcomed over 234,051 stopover visitors, a 10.8% increase over last year for the same time period. Its cruise...
Jamaica’s Tourism Director Pennicook Steps Down
Jamaica's Tourism Director Paul Pennicook demitted office Aug. 18, following the end of his three-year term. Pennicook, who returned to the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in July 2014, was given the mandate to lead and oversee the promotion of Jamaica’s tourist industry to ensure optimum visitor arrivals and increase Jamaica’s share in the marketplace. During his tenure, Pennicook gave much attention to modernizing the operations of the board and to deepening the partnership with industry players. His strong relationships with industry partners were important to ensuring that the...
Ticket Sales Open For NYC Broadway Week
NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization, has announced that “NYC Broadway Week” tickets are now on sale. The popular biannual program is now in its seventh year and will run from Sept. 4-17, offering visitors the opportunity to purchase two-for-one tickets to 23 top Broadway shows. Of the participating shows, 12 are new to NYC Broadway Week, including the critically acclaimed 1984, Groundhog Day and War Paint, among others. Tickets for NYC Broadway Week can be purchased at http://www.nycgo.com/broadwayweek. “Attending a live Broadway...
Sunwing Introduces Regina-Mazatlán Flights
Sunwing will be offering a new weekly flight from Regina to Mazatlán, Mexico departing Thursdays between Dec. 21 and March 29, 2018. With this new service, travellers from Regina can choose from 12 vacation destinations to escape winter with Sunwing from across Mexico and the Caribbean. Available resorts in Mazatlán include El Cid Marina and the Riu Emerald Bay...
Insight Gets Festive In Russia
Insight Vacations has introduced a new itinerary – Easy Pace Russia with Christmas Markets – adding to its popular Christmas Markets experiences featured in the 2017-18 Seasons - Autumn, Winter and Spring program. Until Aug. 31, clients who book any of Insight Vacations’ 13 Yuletide-filled escapes receive savings of up to 7.5% as part of the Early Payment Discount program. There are 13 Christmas Markets itineraries in the 2017-18 program. The nine-day Easy Pace Russia with Christmas Markets begins in St. Petersburg and allows travellers to experience Russia’s Orthodox...
Sorry, But We’re Different
“Canadians are not Americans.” That might seem blindingly obvious to readers of CTP but it was the key takeaway from a study of Canadian travel-buying habits outlined to a predominantly American audience of travel marketers at the recent Destinations International annual congress in Montreal, reports Quebec editor, Mike Dunbar in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. The presentation, entitled “Capturing the Canadian Consumer,” was delivered by Karyl Leigh Barnes, a partner with Development Counsellors International (DCI), following a nationwide survey of...
UNWTO, WTTC Condemn Barcelona, Cambrils Attacks
Both the UNWTO and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) have condemned yesterday's terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, Spain. In its statement the UNWTO expressed its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the innocent victims and to the people and government of Spain. Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the UNWTO, said, “We are deeply saddened by this act of terror and the tragic loss of innocent lives. In these difficult times, our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims.” Rifai continued, “This is again a cowardly attack...
Carnival Expands Cuba Program
Following strong response to its first-ever cruises to Cuba announced earlier this year, Carnival Cruise Line has added five more voyages featuring extended calls in Havana in 2018. The new voyages include three five-day cruises to Havana and Cozumel or Key West departing Feb. 17, July 2 and Sept. 5; a six-day sailing featuring Havana and Grand Cayman departing Aug. 26; and an eight-day voyage with stops at Havana, Grand Cayman and Cozumel departing Aug. 18. All of the voyages include a day-long call and overnight in Havana with the eight-day cruise of Aug. 18 offering two full days...