Destinations

BEST WINTER EVER: Jamaica’s million milestone

Jamaica is expecting its best winter season ever in 2023-24 with tourism minister Edmund Bartlett declaring that for the first time in the island’s history, there will be over one million stopover travellers for the season.

WARM WEATHER WOES FOR B.C. SKI RESORTS

British Columbia’s abnormally warm winter has left local ski resorts grappling with a lack of snow during the holiday tourism season, as resorts struggle to keep runs open. Fewer than half of Whistler Blackcomb’s trails are open, while Vancouver’s Mount Seymour is closed entirely while it waits for better conditions.

NEW SCHENGEN STATUS GIVES TRAVELLERS ROMANIA, BULGARIA BOOST

Bulgaria and Romania have received permission to join Europe’s passport- and visa-free Schengen Area, starting in March. The move initially will apply only to travellers arriving by air and sea, while Austria has committed to continuing negotiations over the need for border checks when crossing from the two countries by land.

HONG KONG NEW YEAR’S EVE TO HIT NEW HEIGHTS

As the world anticipates the arrival of 2024, many eyes will turn to Hong Kong for the city’s largest New Year’s Eve firework display on Dec. 31, 2023 (Sunday). Set against the iconic Hong Kong skyline, spectators will be treated to a 12-minute firework musical, surpassing any previous New Year’s Eve displays in the city in both coverage and duration.

NEW YORK ‘IS BACK’ – AND SO ARE CANADIANS

With final year-end totals of 864,000 Canadians forecast to have visited New York in 2023, Canada will reclaim its second-place ranking amongst top source markets for the Big Apple. Tops is the UK (974,000), while the rest of the top five includes France (728,000), Brazil (589,000) and Germany (554,000).  

COMEBACK COUNTRIES: G Adventures reveals its top 10 for 2024

If 2023 was the year that travel came roaring back, 2024 promises to see the continuing evolution of travel, with travellers looking to see ‘traditional’ destinations in a new way – and discover new ones – and in a way that gives back to local people and communities and gets them closer to the culture and tradition of a place, says G Adventures.

A YEAR WITHOUT CHRISTMAS: War forces Bethlehem to forgo festivities

Bethlehem is gearing up for a subdued Christmas, without the festive lights and customary Christmas tree towering over Manger Square, after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. The cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to the town’s tourism-dependent economy.

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE: The wonder of Windsor during the holidays

There’s nothing like Christmas in a castle, and this year, Windsor Castle outside London will see Christmas displays celebrating the 675th anniversary of the Order of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry in Britain which was founded in Windsor in 1348.

WINTER(LUDE) IS COMING – TO CAPITAL REGION

This year’s 46th Winterlude in Canada’a Capital Region is scheduled to take place Feb. 2-19 with a promise of experiences that combine winter with rich culture, artistic creativity, and a celebration of Canada’s diversity. Each year, the iconic event transforms Ottawa-Gatineau into a festive gathering with indoor and outdoor activities for all tastes.

APT GOING GANGBUSTERS WITH GOWAY

Goway and APT & Travelmarvel, both like-minded Down Under specialists, leveraged a long-standing partnership earlier this year that saw the former become the official North American partner for the latter – and it’s a plan that has proved positively bonzer (“first rate” in Aussie lingo), according to company officials.

FREE AND AFFORDABLE NYC DURING THE HOLIDAYS

New York City is always a hive of activity, and never more so than during the holidays, culminating in the famed New Year’s ball-drop at Times Square. But there is much more to do in the Big Apple, and much of it is free.

WILL ICELAND VOLCANO AFFECT FLIGHTS, TOURISM?

Scientists anticipated the eruption of a volcano in southwestern Iceland near the country’s top tourist attraction for weeks, so when it happened on Monday night, it was no surprise. The region had been active for more than two years and thousands of small earthquakes rattled the area in recent weeks. Here is a look at what happened and how it may affect flights and tourism.

BRAZIL BECKONS CANADIANS: Takes new approach to tourism

Brazil’s Embratur has joined the Canadian association of tour operators (CATO), an unusual arrangement for a tourist board, but one that reflects the South American country’s keen interest in the Canadian tourism market.

NASSAU’S ‘INCREDIBLE’ YEAR: And its new Canadian connections

It’s been an “incredible” year for Nassau Paradise Island (NPI), from the opening of the city’s spectacular new cruise port to a Golden Jubilee, plus landmark hotel happenings and record arrivals. And in Canada, the return of representation for the NPI Promotion Board, which has “ambitious” goals for the destination in this country.

BAHAMAS BEYOND THE BEACH: Nassau’s best excursions

The Bahamas is perhaps best known as a beach destination, famed for soft white sands, sparkling turquoise waters, and abundant sunshine – more than 300 sunny days each year. But beyond the beach visitors will discover a destination brimming with vibrant culture, natural beauty, and fascinating history, where Spanish, West African, and British influences come together with a uniquely Caribbean twist.

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO PARADISE

There’s so much to discover in Nassau Paradise Island – from turquoise blue waters and lush beaches to vibrant culture and array of accommodations. Indeed, every moment is precious. So, how to make the most of one’s time in the Bahamian paradise? Here are some insider tips.

APP TAKES GREECE BACK TO THE FUTURE

Tourists at the Acropolis can witness the resolution of one of the world’s most heated debates on cultural heritage. All they need is a smartphone to pinch and zoom their way around the ancient Greek site, with a digital overlay showing how it once looked. That includes a collection of sculptures called the Elgin Marbles, removed from the Parthenon more than 200 years ago that are now on display at the British Museum in London and which Greece wants back.

SERENITY NOW: U.S. mutes noise at national parks, tourist flights affected

Fewer planes and helicopters will be flying tourists over Mount Rushmore and other US national monuments and parks as new regulations take effect that are intended to protect the serenity of some of the most beloved natural areas in the United States. The air tours have pitted tour operators against visitors frustrated with the noise for decades, but it has come to a head as new management plans are rolled out at nearly two dozen national parks and monuments.

LEANING TOWER OF BOLOGNA SPARKS FEARS

City officials in Bologna are committing €4.3 million ($6.3 million) to shore up the leaning Garisenda tower, one of the so-called Two Towers that look out over the northern Italian city that have provided inspiration over the centuries to painters and poets and a lookout spot during conflicts.

TRAVELSAVERS REVEALS WHAT’S TRENDING FOR 2024

Motivated by crossing items off their to-do lists, travellers will roam the world in 2024, prioritizing authentic, customized experiences in off-the-beaten-path locales, according to a new survey from TRAVELSAVERS Canada, which asked its advisors to forecast the top travel destinations and trends for next year, as well as recommended must-have experiences.

BAHAMAS BREAKS ARRIVALS RECORD

The Bahamas has surpassed eight million visitors this year, a record-breaking achievement that the ministry of tourism attributes to the natural charm of the islands, but also effective tourism strategies of stakeholders, including the ongoing enhancement and regeneration of tourism products such as Nassau’s new cruise port.

U.S. TRAVEL REVEALS FUTURE IPW CITIES, DATES

With two of the travel industry’s foremost trade shows – WTM London and ITB Berlin – fixed in place, trade members who attend such events eagerly anticipate the rotating roster of US Travel’s signature show, IPW (formerly International Pow Wow), typically set some years in advance.

ORANGE GLOW: Orlando brings ‘Sunshine Tour’ back to Canada

Visit Orlando, in association with a full delegation of theme park, hotel, transportation and attraction partners, called in Calgary, Toronto and Halifax last week for the tour association’s annual “Orlando Canadian Sunshine Tour,” attracting close to 500 enthusiastic travel advisors across the three events that resulted in record-breaking attendance for the mission.

JAMAICA SHOWS THE LOVE FOR AGENTS

Fifty of Jamaica’s top-selling travel agents, including 15 Canadian members of the Jamaica Travel Specialist (JTS) program, were honoured by the island’s tourist board last week during the annual One Love Affair gala and incentive trip in Montego Bay.

UNESCO DESIGNATION PROMPTS QUEBEC MARINE PARK PLANS

Ottawa and Quebec have announced their intention to protect the waters near a picturesque territory in the Gulf of St. Lawrence that was recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The governments said they’re taking the first steps toward creating a protected marine park off Anticosti Island.

MARKET REPORT: Stuffing your stocking at Germany’s Christkindlmarkts

When the winter gets tough in central Europe the tough get… festive, as age-old Christmas markets spring up across the region to help cast a warm glow over the snow. Among the most famous are markets in Germany, where most of the historic Weihnachtsmarkt/ Christkindlmarkts are now in full swing (most starting in mid to late November and continuing until just before Christmas and in some cases a few days after).

NO BULL: Mexico lifts bullfighting ban

Despite claims of cruelty from opponents, Mexico’s Supreme Court has overturned a ban on bullfighting in Mexico City, opening the way for events to resume. The activity was banned in 2022 when it was ruled that bullfights violated city resident’s rights to a healthy environment free from violence.

CALIFORNIA DREAMING: U.S. to fund L.A. rail links to Vegas, San Francisco

The US federal government says it will give more than $6 billion to a pair of high-speed electric rail routes in California – from Los Angeles to both Las Vegas and San Francisco – injecting new life into long-stalled projects hailed by supporters as the future of public transportation but bemoaned by critics for their high price tags and lengthy construction times.

MOTH MAYHEM PROMPTS STANLEY PARK TREE CULL

The quiet of Stanley Park’s forests has been splintered as chainsaws roar in a multi-year project to remove about one quarter of the trees that make up what’s considered a Vancouver jewel. On the road to Prospect Point a parking lot that in warmer months would be part of a picnic area, is now a work site where heavy machinery brings in large, cut sections of trees and crushes smaller branches.

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