Destinations
Tourism Big Winner in Canada-China Trade Relationship
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is applauding yesterday's (Sept. 1) announcement by the Government of Canada and the People's Republic of China to increase tourism between our two countries. TIAC has been a strong voice advocating for Canada to increase the number of Visa Application Centres (VACs) in the lucrative Chinese market – VACs are instrumental in expediting the visa process by ensuring that applications are complete and accurate. To date VACs were limited to major Chinese cities making it more difficult for potential travellers in other cities to apply for...
Cathay Expands YVR-Hong Kong Service
Cathay Pacific Airways is adding three new non-stop flights between Vancouver and Hong Kong, using the new Airbus 350-900XWB aircraft. Starting March 28, 2017 three flights will be added to Cathay's existing twice daily non-stop service, increasing the frequency from 14 to 17 flights per week. According to officials, the three additional early morning departures, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, will provide West Coast passengers with unprecedented travel options to Hong Kong and beyond to multiple destinations in Asia and more than 23 cities in Mainland China. Cathay...
Insight Offers Exclusive Oktoberfest Experience
Insight Vacations will welcome guests to the Wies’n with its exclusive Luxury Gold journey through Vienna, Salzburg and Munich on Oktoberfest in Bavaria. The nine-day Special Interest tour departs on Sept. 21 and will be limited to just 40 guests. Clients are encouraged to book now as this definite departure is only weeks away. “We are pleased to offer this unique and exclusive journey through the romantic heart of Bavaria and Austria to Canadian travellers seeking a cultural and culinary experience to remember,” said Cris David, president, Insight Vacations Canada. “During...
Historic Commercial Flight From US Lands in Cuba
After more than 50 years, the US resumed regular scheduled commercial flight service to Cuba yesterday (Aug. 31). A JetBlue Airways commercial jet from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., marked the first arrival in Santa Clara, Cuba. The airline is one of up to 10 carriers – amounting to roughly 300 flights a week – scheduled to link the destinations this year. Before the arrival of JetBlue Flight 387, passenger air links between Cuba and the US were by charter flights only for the past half a...
Florida Braces For Tropical Storm Hermine
Florida's Gulf Coast is bracing for Tropical Storm Hermine, which is reportedly picking up speed and could possibly hit land as a hurricane by tonight. It would be the state's first hurricane landfall since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Tropical storm warnings were issued this morning (Sept. 1) along the southeast coast to coastal South Carolina, including Jacksonville Beach, St. Simons Island, Hilton Head Island and Charleston. Tropical storm watches have also been issued north of that to include Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Wrightsville Beach and Surf City, North...
‘Fall Only In Cayman’ Campaign Launched
The Cayman Islands have launched a “Fall Only In Cayman” promotion, offering travellers special offers on luxury resorts and hotels, dive and watersports packages and deals on attractions and restaurants. The special promotion is available for travel between Sept. 1 and Dec. 15, but must be booked by Sept. 30. Renowned for its world-class diving, epicurean scene, pristine beaches and warm “Caymankind” hospitality, the Cayman Islands is located just four hours from Toronto via Air Canada and Westjet. Highlights of the campaign include: Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa: Stay...
Hooked On Hanoi
There are cities that are living museums and cities that are too busy living to be a museum. Hanoi is surely one of the latter. That's not to say there aren't museums and cultural sites a-plenty in Vietnam's northern capital and second largest city, but it's the army of scooters, the cacophony of bleeting horns, sidewalks that double as “knee high” restaurants and coffee shops, and general seething of humanity that assaults the senses, reports Michael Baginski in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. “It really is a bit much, especially the first day [in Vietnam],”...
Jamaica Taking Tourism To New Heights
Jamaica's most senior tourism officials are visiting Canada with the goal of reversing a 6% decline in visitations from this country to the island nation in 2016, reports Press Today's Michael Baginski. The government and its tourism ministry has launched an ambitious plan to boost total arrivals 5% in each of the next five years with a target of reaching a total of five million visitors spending $5 billion dollars during that time. Canada, as Jamaica's second largest source market after the United States, is an integral part of that plan, says Jamaica tourism minister Edmund...