Destinations
CONNECTING WITH THE TRADE
VisitBritain has launched its new travel trade web site which offers an extensive array of resources for both tour operators and travel agents. The new site features itineraries, a library of video and images specifically aimed at the travel trade, a VisitBritain Toolkit, and downloadable events calendars showcasing Britains festivals, exhibitions and events in the years ahead. According to Carl Walsh, director of travel trade & business visits, VisitBritain,\"The new web site is a one-stop shop with an abundance of great resources in one easy-to-navigate location. The desired outcome was...
VOX PICKS LARCHER
Paul Larcher has joined the VoX International Inc. team in the position of account director for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) account. He will work closely with travel trade and the groups and meetings market to promote Las Vegas as a preferred destination for Canadians. Larcher has over 22 years experience in the travel industry, starting his career at Sunquest Vacations in the reservations department before quickly growing in the company as group sales supervisor, sales manager, then director of advertising and promotions. In 2000, Larcher left the travel...
ANTONSON STEPPING DOWN
After 20 years, Rick Antonson, the president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver, is leaving the post that he\'s held for two decades. Antonson is stepping down to become a full-time book author in June of 2014. Tourism Vancouver board chair Bob Lindsay made the announcement, saying, \"We began planning this over two years ago at Rick\'s request, so the transition is strategic. Tourism Vancouver and our industry are heading into some of the most exciting and successful years, so the timing for this transition is very good.\" Each year, Vancouver welcomes about 8.3 million visitors and they spend...
CYPRUS CLOSES NEW YORK OFFICE
Tasoula Manaridis, director of the Cyprus Tourism Organization, has advised the travel trade that the tourist board is closing its offices in New York. Manaridis writes: \"It is with deep regret and disappointment that we write to inform you that our Head Office decided to permanently close the Cyprus Tourism Organization New York Office effective September 14, 2013. This decision was a result of the current financial crisis in Cyprus and also a decision by the CTO to restructure its tourism offices abroad.\" The CTO\'s director continues: \"Our office has a long history in the tourism...
CANADIAN VISITS UP TO FLORIDA
Canadians are making the sunshine brighter in Florida. So far in 2013, Canadian visits are up by 4.4%, with 2,465,000 Canadians travelling to the Sunshine State. Preliminary figures indicated that 460,000 Canadians came by air and 555,000 came by non-air means during the second quarter of 2013, while 795,000 Canadians came to Florida by air and 655,000 came by non-air means during the first quarter of the year. For more, go to http://www.VISITFLORIDA.org or check out http://www.SunshineMatters.org...
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
Statistics Canada reports that travel from Canada to the United States increased in June, but travel to Canada decreased in almost every trip category. Canadian residents took 4.8 million trips to the United States in June, up 2.6% from May. Overnight travel increased in every category, led by 2.8% increase in overnight car travel. Canadian residents took 2.7ámillion same-day car trips to the United States in June, up 2.7% from the previous month. Travel from Canada to overseas countries decreased 0.4% from May to 792,000 trips. Going the other way, StatsCan reports that travel to Canada...
ST. MAARTEN SEES GAINS FROM CANADA
St. Maarten continues to be popular with Canadians with numbers showing a 12.1% increase in Canadian passenger traffic during the first six months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The island is also the fastest growing Caribbean destination, according to a study done by Expedia. The figures show that St. Maarten has held its own despite the economic and financial challenges faced by nations around the globe. Compared to 297,179 arrivals from January - June 2012, the Princess Juliana International Airport saw an increase to 300,092 arrivals during the first half of 2013. Of the...
MALAYSIA AT YOUR FINGER TIPS
Visitors to Malaysia can now download a free application to their smartphones that puts a complete guide of Malaysia in the palm of their hand. This recently launched application by Tourism Malaysia, called the “Malaysia Trip Planner,” gives travellers personalized and practical information on Malaysia all there is to see and do. Main features include: detailed information on local attractions; a schedule of events; a description of places and must-see attractions; a nifty way of planning an itinerary. The “Malaysia Trip Planner” application is available for use on iPhone and Android...