BLAME CANADA: Trump calls Canadians ‘nasty’ for avoiding US travel
- Most Canadians would be proud to be considered mean and "nasty" for standing up for their sovereignty and economy in the face of U.S. threats, B.C. Premier David Eby said Tuesday – a day after the U.S. ambassador said Canadians avoiding travel south of the border and banning American alcohol have raised the ire of President Donald Trump, and adding that such steps "don't send positive signals" about Canada treating the United States well.
PORTRAIT OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRUISER: What motivates clients to plan, prioritize and book a cruise
- A new international study of prospective cruisers reveals the segment’s prioritization of iconic destinations, bundled value and wellness-focused experiences. The comprehensive report examines the attitudes, motivations and behaviours of these travellers from Canada, the U.S., U.K., and Germany – countries that together represent more than two-thirds of the global cruise market.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: Survey cites uptick in last-minute bookings
- An uptick in last-minute bookings has travel advisors at TRAVELSAVERS Canada encouraged that summer and fall travel is still in the cards for many clients as they navigate economic circumstances and misgivings about travelling to the U.S.
RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives
- This week: Air Transat and partners were Berlin bound; the world’s largest AI summit for the travel industry is set to return in October; and Fora Travel has put down roots in British Columbia.
ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES UNVEILS SHINY NEW SPECIALIST PROGRAM
- The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA) has unveiled the Diamond Rewards Program, a shiny new initiative designed to recognize and reward travel advisors who passionately promote the destination.
HOW TURKISH TV IS DRIVING TOURISM BOOM
- Under the sweltering Turkish sun, tourists wander through sets that recreate Ottoman and Byzantine-era castles, take selfies with actors in traditional costumes and watch horseback stunt performances. The global popularity of Turkish TV dramas – or dizi in Turkish – has greatly bolstered the nation’s international image and is drawing millions of viewers and tourists worldwide to its historical and cultural sites which are backdrops to many of the shows.
CHECK OUT OUR SPECIAL INFOCUS EDITIONS:
JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED YESTERDAY’s STORIES:
MEXICAN STANDOFF: Trump admin threatens Mexican carriers, key Delta alliance
- The Trump administration has imposed new restrictions on flights from Mexico and threatened to end a longstanding partnership between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico in response to limits the Mexican government placed on passenger and cargo flights into Mexico City several years ago.
BLEISURE GOES MAINSTREAM: What’s fueling blend of business and leisure travel
- Bleisure travel is no longer just a Gen Z trend; it’s booming across age groups, including among Canadians in the Gen X age bracket. New data from Corporate Traveller Canada, based on a national survey conducted by YouGov reveals that 24% of Canadian business travellers ages 45 to 60 are mixing work with pleasure all or most of the time – just slightly less than their Gen Z counterparts (28%).
NEW PARK TRANSFORMS TORONTO WATERFRONT
- Toronto’s largest park in a generation has opened on the city’s newest island, Ookwemin Minising. Biidaasige Park is the island’s marquee attraction along the re-naturalized Don River on the city’s east side, offering a natural space within the urban environment that boasts recreational trails and cycling paths, fishing, slips for non-motorized boats, and the Don Greenway wetland for birdwatching.
WELL THERE GOES THE SUMMER HOLIDAY
- North Korea is banning the entry of foreign tourists to a recently opened mega beach resort, a move that dims prospects for the complex that leader Kim Jong Un hailed it as “one of the greatest successes this year.”
CANADIAN ADVISORS EARN TRIP TO SEATTLE
- Visit Seattle has announced the three Canadian travel advisors who have won a spot an upcoming FAM trip to the Emerald City in October. By registering and completing the new Seattle specialist program by the July 1 deadline, all “Seattle Certified” agents were entered into a draw to win one of three spots.
DISNEYLAND CELEBRATES 70 YEARS OF JOY AND INSPIRATION
- Disneyland Resort is officially celebrating 70 years since it first opened and introduced the world to a new concept in family entertainment. The Anaheim, Ca., theme park was dedicated by Walt Disney on July 17, 1955, with the hope that it would be "a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."