Destinations

À BIENTÔT À TOULOUSE: France’s Ville Rose awaits culture-loving Canadians

Toulouse is one of France’s most underrated gems – a mid‑sized, culturally rich, high‑value city that consistently delights travellers without overwhelming them. And it’s easily accessible for Canadians via direct Air Canada flights from Montreal, now on the airline’s sparkling new Airbus A321-XLR aircraft.

‘TRULY STUNNING’: Parthenon restoration reveals new-old look

Visitors to the Acropolis can now see the Parthenon’s western side looking whole for the first time in about 220 years. Officially unveiled last week (June 18), restorers have slotted two new marble blocks into long-empty gaps high on the temple’s western end – the view visitors see when they first enter the ancient monument in Athens.

BRAZIL LAUNCHES FOOTBALL ROUTE

With the FIFA World Cup in full swing, the Brazilian Tourist Board has embraced soccer/football’s global profile as part of a new strategy to promote international tourism in the South American nation – a country where “the beautiful game” is synonymous with Brazilian culture worldwide.

CANADA COMPASS: Pond Inlet tourism growing ‘exponentially’

The number of cruise ship visitors to Pond Inlet, Nunavut, a small predominantly Inuit community on northern Baffin Island, has grown exponentially since 2022, though seemingly at the expense of Iqaluit, according to newly released Statistics Canada figures.

CANADA STRONG PASS RETURNS IN JUNE

The federal government’s popular Canada Strong Pass will come into effect June 19. Launched last year, the successful promotion is designed to encourage domestic travel and can be used by both Canadians and international visitors.

MADEIRA ENLISTS VISITORS TO BE DESTINATION ‘GUARDIANS’

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Visit Madeira has launched an awareness campaign, “EXPLORE. RESPECT. PRESERVE.” that invites both visitors and residents to take an active role in preserving and enhancing Madeira and Porto Santo. The initiative focuses on the relationship between tourists and residents, which is part of a wider program called Upgrade – Madeira Tourism.

ALBERTA HAILS RAIL PLAN, BUT DON’T PACK JUST YET

Alberta’s government is eyeing train connections between airports and the downtown cores of its two biggest cities as the first key projects in its new passenger rail plan. But construction isn’t expected to start any time soon and the first users will likely have to wait about 30 years.

WISH YOU WERE HERE: Antigua and Barbuda

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Held every July and early August, Antigua and Barbuda Carnival is far more than a festival, it’s a living expression of the islands’ history, identity, and spirit.

MAKING AMERICA COWBOY AGAIN: Amarillo, Texas embraces a different vibe

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Never mind MAGA, Amarillo, Texas has embraced a different vibe: Make America Cowboy Again. Located in the heart of the state’s northern Panhandle, the city is having a moment in the West Texas sun thanks in part to the booming interest in western and cowboy culture generated by the hit TV show “Yellowstone.”

YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE UNTRUTH: U.S. Travel boss says ‘misperceptions’ behind downturn, Trump has done some good

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Despite a precipitous drop in the number of international visitors to the U.S. – not least from Canada – U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Geoff Freeman says there are many misperceptions and “untruths” about travel to the country amongst travellers, and that the Trump administration has actually done plenty of good to boost the country’s travel industry.

NIAGARA HYATT TO REFLECTS RYTHYM OF THE REGION

At the gateway to Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Clayfield will be a new option for visitors to one of Canada’s prettiest towns when it opens in late summer as part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, a curated portfolio of independent hotels recognized for their strong sense of identity and place.

THE BEET GOES ON: ‘Completely ridiculous’ Lithuania festival has global appeal

A festival honouring Lithuania’s iconic cold beet soup brought tens of thousands of visitors Saturday to its capital city, which was fully decked out in pink. The colourful three-day Vilnius Pink Soup Fest featured a synchronized “Pink Break” lunch of revellers from across the globe all sharing in the beet soup, known as šaltibarščiai (also called cold borscht) sitting at long tables.

FORT LAUDERDALE LEAVES LASTING IMPRESSION: Wows travel trade at IPW event

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ At IPW – U.S. Travel’s biggest event of the year – it’s the host destination that always resonates with regular attendees long after the business part of the signature trade show ends. News comes and goes year after year, and meetings have a business-as-usual demeanor, but it’s the events and galas, the weather, the food, the vibe, that stick.

WHY I’M TRAVELLING TO CUBA NOW

By JEFF MCDONALD/ Unless there are flight cancellations, by the time you read this, I’ll be in eastern Cuba in the country’s second biggest city, Santiago de Cuba. Why travel to Cuba now, with the much-publicized fuel shortages and power outages? Several reasons. 

CREATURE COMFORT: Unique jellyfish museum a gem in South Florida

Visitors to the Jellyfish Museum in Pompano Beach, Fla. – the first attraction in the United States dedicated entirely to unique ocean creatures – invites visitors to the Greater Fort Lauderdale and South Florida to explore the beauty and mystery of the fascinating marine creatures through glowing aquariums, immersive exhibits, and interactive displays.

RESCUES ON THE RISE: Parks Canada urges caution

Parks Canada is urging tourists and hikers to exercise caution this spring and summer and ensure they are properly prepared for backcountry travel as search and rescue crews respond to an increasing number of incidents across the mountain parks.

WHAT’S NEW AND NOTEWORTHY IN GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE

The beauty of an ever-growing destination like Greater Fort Lauderdale is that there are always new places to try, whether it’s your first visit or your 100th. Maybe it’s a smashburger joint with a devoted following, a new hotel dotting the skyline, or a restaurant devoted entirely to caviar, the luxury delicacy taking over menus everywhere.

ELBOWS UP, ELBOW ROOM: Canadian tourism is rocking, reveals Rendez-vous Canada

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ With “elbows up” tourism in full force, as well as increasing interest in Canada from abroad, Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), wraps up in Toronto today (Friday) having hosted a record number of international travel buyers and Canadian tourism sellers – a peak performance symbolized by an opening night reception attended by many of the 1,500 delegates at the top of the CN Tower.

100 REASONS TO LOVE ROUTE 66: Famed highway celebrates 100th anniversary

There are faster ways to get from Chicago to Los Angeles, but none have the allure or cultural cachet of Route 66. To John Steinbeck, it was the Mother Road that led poor farmers from Dust Bowl desperation to sunny California. To Native Americans along the route, it was an economic boon that also left scars. To Black travellers, it offered sanctuary during segregation. And to music fans, it was the place to get their kicks.

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