An iconic metal sculpture of a dragon that spits real fire in the Polish city of Krakow will hold its breath for a month to check why it’s been devouring so much fuel lately. Experts are checking the gas feeds for the six-metre sculpture to find ways of reducing the dragon’s energy bills.
A relative pause in Middle Eastern tensions in Israel and the easing of Egyptian visa processing is seeing Canadians flocking back to the Land of the Pharaohs in 2025, according to Goway, which reports that bookings are up 250 percent in the past few months compared to the year before – a year blighted by full-fledged war between neighbouring Israel and Gaza.
“Let it snow,” Saint Lucia tourism execs exclaimed while visiting Toronto this week, as the city (and much of the eastern part of the country) continued to dig out from far too much of the white stuff. And to be clear, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority CEO Louis Lewis smiled, there is no snow on his Caribbean island. “Absolutely none!”
One of Japan’s most picturesque seasons is on its way: cherry blossoms – or sakura – are preparing to bloom. Starting in mid-March and continuing through mid-May, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has announced 2025’s cherry blossom season forecast, with dates and locations to help travellers experience the hanami (the custom of flower viewing in Japan) season from city to city.
The federal government is moving ahead with a high-speed, fully electric rail network between Quebec City and Toronto. The new system – to be called Alto – will slash travel times in half and get travellers from Montréal to Toronto in just three hours. Additionally, there will be stops in Peterborough, Ottawa, Laval, and Trois-Rivières.
2025 will be a year of continuing momentum for France, according to Atout France, which is rolling out across Canada this week with annual roadshow events in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. The forecast is no surprise after a robust 2024 when the country cracked the “magic” 100-million visitor mark thanks to such landmark events as the Summer Olympics in Paris, 80th anniversary of D-Day, and the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, has appointed Toronto-based Faulhaber as its new agency of record (AOR) for public relations in Canada. Faulhaber, which also has locations in Montreal and Vancouver, will work closely with the Brand USA team to share stories that highlight the USA as a culturally rich, diverse, and inclusive destination.
The Los Cabos Tourism Board has launched a digital platform designed to enhance trip planning for both travellers and travel advisors. Featuring AI-powered tools, 360-degree virtual tours, interactive maps, and customizable itineraries, the platform simplifies the process of exploring the destination’s offerings.
Wimpy would have been the word to describe the last two winters in Ottawa too, when temperatures never plunged low enough, for long enough, for winter activities to abound. The canal skating rink never opened at all in 2023, a historic first, and in 2024 was open for only a handful of days on a very narrow portion, with poor skating conditions.
There’s no shortage of natural wonders and travel destinations in Alberta’s north; however, the biggest draw for visitors isn’t the boreal splendour or isolated lakes, it’s the people who live there. There are approximately 1.4 million domestic visitors to the northern Alberta annually, according to the most recent national travel survey released by Statistics Canada. The top trip purpose, equalling about a third of all tourists, was to visit friends and family.
The Britannic Explorer, newly unveiled by Belmond, is the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales. Set to debut in July 2025. The Britannic Explorer will depart from London, offering three-night journeys with a choice of three routes through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, The Lake District, and Wales.
Set in the ancient Wychwood forest in the Cotswolds (about 30 minutes from Oxford), TreeDwellers takes modern accommodation to new heights with seven eccentric “treehouses” that seamlessly blend both luxury and nature.
The Islands of the Bahamas welcomed a record-breaking 11.22 million international visitors in 2024, making it the best year ever, far exceeding the 9.65 million arrivals in 2023.
Part art gallery, science exhibition and 21st century funhouse, the Paradox Museum Miami takes guests on a tour through optical illusions and other enigmas geared for the age of Instagram. Housed in Miami’s trendy Wynwood arts and entertainment district, the attraction features more than 70 exhibits that challenge the imagination,
Renowned as a “City of Spires” and for its historic university, Oxford has never suffered for profile, notably as a daytrip delight for visitors from London. And in recent years, the city has attracted a new cohort of Harry Potter fans intent on seeing sites used in the smash film series – namely Christ Church college and the Bodleian Library.
A mountain in New Zealand considered an ancestor by Indigenous people has been recognized as a legal person after a new law granted it all the rights and responsibilities of a human being. The pristine, snow-capped dormant volcano is the second highest on New Zealand’s North Island at 2,518 metres and a popular spot for tourism, hiking and snow sports.
Ecuador’s rich natural heritage, diverse culture, and wide range of adventure activities – with natural wonders including the Amazon rainforest, the Galapagos Islands, and the Avenue of the Volcanoes – is no secret. But with so many options, what is right for clients? A handful of Goway’s destination expert are eager to share their insider’s tips to help insure they get the most out of their South American adventure in one the world’s most remarkable destinations.
Braving tariff-related sentiment, a travel trade mission from the state of Colorado called in Toronto Tuesday night inviting Canadians to discover – or return to – a state with an endless, and sometimes surprising, array of attributes for visitors.
Lynda Falcone is retiring after a remarkable 48 years in the travel business. Having served for the past 17 years as national travel trade manager for VisitBritain, Falcone plans to say cheerio in April (actual date TBA).
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that the “Mona Lisa” will get its own dedicated room inside the Louvre – the world’s most-visited museum – under a major renovation and expansion of the Paris landmark that will take up to a decade.
Visitors to Tokyo and Kyoto might not realize it, but Osaka – one of Japan’s biggest and oldest cities, known more as a business hub than a tourist destination – is gearing up to host this year’s World Exposition. The city has been plastered with the Expo’s red-and-blue “Myaku-Myaku” mascot for months and is abuzz with preparations.
The rare unfurling of an endangered plant that emits the smell of decaying flesh recently drew hundreds of devoted fans to a greenhouse in Sydney, Australia, where they joined three-hour lines to experience a momentous bloom – and a fragrance evoking gym socks and rotting garbage.
From Paddington Bear to Harry Potter and James Bond to Mr. Bean, Great Britain has a long history of marketing the destination through TV and film. Indeed, Britain is never far from viewers around the world through an endless list of cinematic mainstays that are uniquely British, such as Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, Dr. Who, Mary Poppins, and Sherlock Holmes – not to mention productions that simply borrow Britain as a backdrop, like Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones/House of Dragons.
Despite Donald Trump’s executive order that the name of North America’s tallest peak – Denali – revert to Mount McKinley, many Alaskans say the US president can change the name but can’t make them call it that. Prominent Alaskan Jeff King, a four-time winner of the 1,000-mile (1,609-km) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, operates his
Charles Darwin was so inspired by the Galapagos Islands that he came up with his theories of evolution and natural selection there. No visitor to the archipelago arriving after the British naturalist in 1834 has made such a significant mark in the history of human thinking… but most, no doubt, have been equally awed.
A new study shows how important Churchill is to Manitoba’s tourism industry as visitors from around the globe flock to the northern town and spend tens of millions of dollars. According to the study, roughly 25,000 people visited Churchill in 2023, “many of them from international markets such as the US, UK, and Australia.
New Zealand has relaxed visa requirements for remote workers in a bid to attract more ‘digital nomads’ skilled workers who given an internet connection can work from anywhere on the planet.
Honeymoon in Hawaii? Hold on. And maybe reconsider the Caribbean. Tourism Malaysia says the southeastern Asian destination is a picture-perfect destination for newlyweds that offers an enticing mix of white sandy beaches, lively nightlife, exquisite cuisine, and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
Travellers planning a trip to Toronto or exploring the city can now rely on 6ix, an AI travel genius that can provide instant answers to any and all travel or tourism questions about the city. Destination Toronto recently launched the new feature at DestinationToronto.com as well as on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook using GuideGeek artificial intelligence technology.
For decades, they have scrounged for food on streets across the country – undesired, abandoned and overlooked. But today, the caramel-coloured mutts of Brazil are having a major moment. The “vira-lata caramelo” (literally: caramel trashcan-tipper) is being exalted in memes, videos, petitions, an upcoming Netflix film, a Carnival parade and draft legislation to honour it as part of Brazilian culture.