Thousands of giant panda sculptures will greet residents and tourists starting Saturday in Hong Kong, where enthusiasm for the bears has grown since two cubs were born in a local theme park. The 2,500 exhibits were showcased in a launch ceremony of PANDA GO! FEST HK, the city’s largest panda-themed exhibition, at Hong Kong’s airport on Monday.
Five years after a catastrophic fire reduced Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to a smoldering shell, journalists got a first glimpse of the Gothic masterpiece’s fully restored interiors during a visit with French President Emmanuel Macron. The transformation is nothing short of breathtaking: light dances across brilliant stone, gilded accents gleam anew, and the iconic monument’s majesty is reborn. From Dec. 8, visitors will once again marvel at the cathedral’s blend of history and craftsmanship.
One hundred and fifty travel advisors from across the Canada took part in ACTA’s first International Destination Conference in Portugal’s Azores islands last week. Travel Industry Today was there, pen – and camera – in hand. Yesterday, we reported on the conference (scroll down in the newsletter if you missed the story); today we offer some flavours and faces from the corresponding FAM.
SeaWorld Orlando has unveiled plans for its latest attraction, set to open in Spring 2025: the world’s first-of-its-kind Arctic flying theatre. The new experience will invite guests to soar over icy landscapes, dive beneath frozen waters, and come face-to-face with some of the planet’s most magnificent creatures – from beluga whales to orcas and walruses.
With Toronto having reverted to normal levels of chaos, Vancouver is preparing for the arrival of the recording breaking Taylor Swift tour with the expectation of nearly $160 million in economic impact for the city over the singer’s three tour dates, Dec. 6-8.
Bhutan’s Department of Tourism has launched a new Tourism Services Portal, designed to streamline the experience of visitors to the Kingdom. To date, more than 400 Bhutanese tour operators, nearly 1,000 certified guides, 100 hotels, more than a dozen homestays, and several other service providers in Bhutan have joined the site.
As Notre Dame gears up to reopen its doors in December, Paris is on the verge of a remarkable eco-revival, bringing nature back to the forefront of the City of Light. Beyond restoring the cathedral’s iconic spire and medieval charm, the city has announced plans to revamp Notre Dame’s surroundings — to the tune of €50 million ($75 million) – into a serene, green oasis.
Addis Ababa has a bold cosmopolitan vibe, the Dubai-like cityscape changing almost daily with the addition of new skyscrapers. The Ethiopian capital also boasts a rich cultural mosaic, together demanding more than just a stopover. And when doing so, what better way to discover the East African country’s exotic culture than through its food?
Manhattan’s famed luxury store row Fifth Avenue is in line for a major makeover. New York City officials have unveiled a plan to transform a central portion of the thoroughfare between Bryant Park and Central Park into a more pedestrian-centered boulevard. The vision is designed to emulate iconic strolling and shopping boulevards such as the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Starting Nov. 27, Canadians can apply in advance for the United Kingdom’s new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) form, which will be required by all Canadians entering the UK effective Jan. 8, 2025. Here is everything you need to know.
The ancient Roman Colosseum will be the venue of gladiator fights – albeit staged – for the first time in two millennia under a $1.5-million sponsorship deal with Airbnb that aims to promote “a more conscious tourism.” Critics, however, say the plan is a disgrace that simply eats away at the essence of “the Eternal City.”
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has unveiled a specialist program for the travel trade designed to heighten awareness of the Caribbean while enhancing visitors’ travel experiences.
Gastronomy and cooking were on the front burner this week during the annual visit by a representative from the Florida Keys to Montreal and Toronto, the latter including a trade event featuring a cooking demonstration by Key West chef Paul Menta at the Dish Cooking School.
Perched on two fingers on the roof of the city art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand, the giant hand with an unsmiling human face has loomed over the city for five years. Some found “Quasi” disturbing, and now, after five years of provoking controversy and myriad emotions – from horror and revulsion to delight – among residents, the sculpture has been removed taken to a new home.
The news rippled through Treasure Island, Fla., almost like a third storm: The mayor planned to move off the barrier island a month after Hurricane Helene flooded tens of thousands of homes along the Gulf Coast and two weeks after Hurricane Milton also ravaged the state.
From koalas to kangaroos, Australia’s unusual wildlife has long-captivated North American travellers. To find out which animals people want to encounter most, experts at UK-based tour operator Audley Travel analyzed Google Search data, revealing quokkas as top of the list, with wombats and platypuses rounding out the top three.
Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed it is buying the Port of Costa Maya in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The deal is reported to be worth nearly US $300 million and includes adjacent land at Mahahual. The cruise company plans major upgrades at the port and surrounding infrastructure.
In Wrexham, the ‘Rob and Ryan effect’ goes beyond the soccer club the Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought and revived, as tourism and investments grow in the small Welsh city, which has rapidly become one of Britain’s most unlikely tourist hot spots.
The world’s second Sphere will be built in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates following the opening of the first in Las Vegas. The attraction will be located in a prime spot in the city and echo the scale of the Sphere in the US and is expected to be a major year-round draw for both residents and visitors from around the world.
With the popular “Yellowstone” series set to return this fall, America’s majestic wild west will again be in the spotlight, inspiring many to seek not only the great outdoors, but an authentic western experience. And where better to do so than a dude ranch?
The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) in Canada will be closing due to significant budget cuts affecting operations in 2025. This decision involves the closure of six offices worldwide, including Canada.
Building on the success of last year’s pilot Tourism Corridor Strategy Program, which aims to accelerate destination development across provincial and territorial boundaries. Destination Canada has announced the launch of four new tourism corridors bringing together tourism organizations to develop new journeys for travellers to explore. The program is a key initiative of Destination Canada’s 2030 Tourism Strategy with its goal to propel Canada back into the Top 7 global tourism destinations.
VisitBritain has relaunched its travel advisor training program, BritAgent PRO Sales Companion, now with enhanced mobile sales enablement through TravPRO Mobile. The revamped program provides travel advisors with resources to effectively promote destinations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
US Travel wants to play ball with Canadians. And hockey. Plus, all the other sports and entertainment offerings, like concerts (can you say Taylor Swift?). That was the theme for last week’s Discover America Day Canada, an annual accounting of travel affairs south of the border as revealed by a couple of dozen partners ranging from all corners of the country.
Explore Louisiana recently concluded a successful Western Canada Roadshow, bringing a taste of Louisiana to travel advisors, media, and tour operator partners in Vancouver and Calgary regions.
Snow fell on Hawaii’s tallest peak this week, briefly turning the mountaintop into a winter wonderland. The summit area of Mauna Kea on the Big Island got five centimetres of white powder. Hawaii is better known for its warm weather, beaches and rainforests. But it’s not unusual for snow to fall at the higher elevations on Mauna Kea during the wetter, winter months.
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority recently hosted the fifth instalment of its culinary event, “Savour St. Kitts”, designed to help travel advisors learn more about the destination’s diverse culinary experiences. The interactive event, held this year at Capra’s Kitchen in Port Credit, Ont., was at maximum capacity as agents crowded in to have their chance to cook Kittitian inspired dishes, side-by-side with celebrity chef, Massimo Capra.
With interest in the US presidency currently at fever pitch, a new attraction in Washington DC has opened, offering the next best thing to being in the Oval Office: an identical replica of President Joe Biden ‘s office, right down to his desk, the armchairs in front of the fireplace and the weathered family Bible resting on a side table.
Tourism officials on Florida’s Gulf Coast say one of the ways concerned people can help the area recover from recent hurricanes Helene and Milton is to visit as tourists. The tourism promotion agency for the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area said in a news release that 80% of hotels and businesses in the area are open for business, even as clean-up and recovery continues.
A popular selfie spot for visitors to Banff National Park has become a victim of its own success. The two-metre-high, $350,000 “Banff” sign was installed in 2017 on Mount Norquay Avenue, one of two entrances into the Alberta mountain park’s idyllic townsite. But the narrow two-lane road, which runs from the Mount Norquay Ski Resort seven kilometres away, is fraught with traffic jams, even between the peak tourist seasons of winter and summer.