Tour Operators
Trillion Dollar Impact
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s annual Economic Impact Report (EIR) reveals the full and devastating impact of COVID-19 had on the global Travel & Tourism sector last year, which suffered a massive loss of almost US$4.5 trillion. The annual EIR from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, shows the sector’s contribution to GDP dropped a staggering 49.1%, this compared to the overall global economy which dropped by just 3.7% last year. Vast losses run up during 2020, paint the first full picture...
New Itineraries From Lindblad Expeditions
While they may not have been able to travel far from home during the pandemic, Lindblad Expeditions’ expedition developers have been busy creating new itineraries for when it is time to travel once again. Some of the new experiences include visiting Vietnam’s coastal villages or seeing rare penguin species in the Subantarctic isles, and fresh returns to Raja Ampat for its vibrant undersea, or to Franz Josef Land for its untrammeled wildness. All of this has been given renewed optimism provided by advances in therapeutics and testing, or the most important development, a vaccine,...
Sunwing Setting Sail With MSC Seashore In 2022
For Canadians ready to set sail in 2022, Sunwing is offering them the opportunity to book a cruise aboard MSC Cruises’ brand new MSC Seashore. Sailings will be available between Jan. 8, 2022, and April 23, 2022, with flight departures from Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal. Plus, customers who book their cruise on board MSC Seashore by April 20, 2021 will receive a free upgrade from an Oceanview to a Balcony Stateroom. The MSC Seashore is one of MSC Cruises’ most innovative ships yet, featuring unique architecture that’s designed to bring guests closer to the sea....
US Industry Hoping For July 4 Resumption Of Travel
Leaders of the U.S. travel and aviation industry are calling on the Biden Administration to commit to a plan for reopening the country to inbound, international visitation by May 1. The U.S. Travel Association is among the 26 organizations to sign a letter urging the White House “to partner with us to develop … a risk-based, data-driven roadmap to rescind inbound international travel restrictions.” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow, said: “Travel and tourism is the industry hardest hit by the economic fallout of COVID-19, and the damage is so severe that...
Uniworld Experiences Make Travel Matter
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and U by Uniworld are setting sail on a variety of MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experiences for 2021 throughout India, Europe and the Middle East. The new experiences will be implemented into itineraries, aiming to directly advance Uniworld’s long-standing commitment to have a positive impact on the people and communities visited on sailings. Ellen Bettridge, President and CEO of Uniworld and U by Uniworld, said that: “At Uniworld, we’re proud to offer clients experiences that make a positive impact and aid sustainable, conscious travel. Along with our...
ACV Extends COVID-19 Coverage And Assistance
Air Canada Vacations has extended the COVID-19 Coverage and Assistance Plan, administered by Allianz Global Assistance, to international destinations when booking any flight and hotel-inclusive package. Offered at no additional cost, the coverage is designed to cover emergency medical and quarantine costs related to COVID-19 while travelling, with the goal of providing travellers with greater confidence and peace of mind when booking their next dream vacation. Nino Montagnese, Vice President of Air Canada Vacations, said that: “As Canadians start to make their vacation plans for...
TICO Providing More Relief For Registrants
In a message to Ontario registrants, TICO president & CEO and Registrar, Richard Smart advises: “We recognize that the impact of the COVID-19 crisis continues to cause registrants severe financial strain. We are pleased to share that the Ontario Government will be providing new funding to the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) so that we can assist travel agents and wholesalers through these difficult times. This financial support will also allow TICO to maintain a focus on its important consumer protection mandate.” Smart continues: “With this financial support,...
Takeaways From ExploreGB 2021
It may feel like a distant memory amidst the ongoing pandemic, but VisitScotland’s Senior Insight Manager Chris Greenwood points out that it wasn’t all too long ago that destinations the world over were dealing with the issue of overtourism. “Among consumers as well, up until the start of 2020, people were increasingly aware of the impact their travel was having and were looking to offset that damage through other ways,” Greenwood said at this month’s virtual ExploreGB conference, VisitBritain’s annual travel trade event. “So, looking at more sustainable ways of...