Few will dispute that Stratford-upon-Avon is all about Shakespeare. But what if you’re not barmy about the bard? Is a visit to the English town dedicated to the birth, life, death – and legacy – of the world’s greatest playwright worth the time? To visit or not visit, that is the question.
With many travellers focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle while on holiday, wellness-focused getaways are now more popular than ever. With this in mind, the Jamaica Tourist Board advises that it has a number of high-energy athletic events throughout the year that are a perfect way for visitors to get a burn beyond the hotel gym.
It might only be the second biggest event in the UK this May (see King Charles lII, Coronation of), but the Eurovision Song Contest is a big deal in Britain (and elsewhere in Europe). And this year’s event, to be held in Liverpool May 8-13, has increased significance as the northern British city – known for its musical chops – has stepped in as a substitute for Ukraine, the originally scheduled host.
Casino giant Caesars Entertainment is offering what may be the most extravagant guest package for the highly anticipated Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix later this year at a whopping US$5 million.
Visit Britain advises that If you’re “Madferit” in Manchester, as illustrated in the image above, you are “excited” and not, “a crazy weasel.” And when a Geordie in Newcastle says “alreet, pet,” they simply mean “hi,” not that you’re an okay cat.
When Canadians think Nevada, it’s understandable that lavish Las Vegas tends to command attention. And while tourism folk from the state would never try to dissuade visitors from this country from rolling the dice on a holiday in the city, they are quick to point out there is much more to the state than Sin City’s well-known gambling and entertainment escapades.
The Azores heads the list of the world’s “most underrated destinations” in a poll by top travel industry executives at a recent global trade show. The Atlantic islands, located 1,370 km from the Portuguese mainland, edged Northern Greece, scoring top marks in the survey with 14.5% of the vote.
In conjunction with the International Day of Happiness on Monday (March 20), Finland has been named the happiest country in annual United Nations ‘World Happiness Report.’ And with the aim of sharing its secrets of success, Visit Finland is inviting global Grinches to join a free masterclass in happiness taking place in the Nordic country this summer.
Visitors to a British castle in the West Midlands can go back in time to relive one of history’s great sporting spectacles as rival knights compete in the ultimate test of strength and skill at Kenilworth Castle’s Knights’ Tournament.
With Metro Vancouver set to host FIFA World Cup of soccer games in 2026, the city will see the first effects of an epic capacity crisis that will ultimately require the city to add 20,000 hotel rooms by 2050 to meet expected demand.
St Patrick’s Day in Ireland isn’t just a celebration of the patron saint, it’s also a demonstration of the pride of being Irish and a source of joy that helps to kick off the spring season. Around the world it might be all green beer, dressing up like leprechauns and donning ‘kiss me I’m Irish’ hats – but it’s not quite like that if you live in Ireland.
Canadians will once again need a tourist visa to visit Brazil, effective Oct. 1. The South American country is re-imposing the requirement (as well as for Brits, Americans, and Japanese travellers), because those countries require visas for Brazilians.
When the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Nashville Predators in an overtime shootout on Monday night, March 6, spirits were high inside Rogers Arena. Inside a private suite high above the ice, spirits were high before the game even began, when Travel Oregon hosted media and regional travel partners to a celebratory reception in a large private suite.
From cosmopolitan Birmingham to literary Stratford-upon-Avon, and epic castles like Kenilworth and Warwick to the industrial heritage of the Black Country Museum and the Ironbridge Gorge, England’s West Midlands region epitomizes the best of Britain.
After a three-year halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, China is at last reopening its borders to tourists and has resumed issuing all visas effective today. China is one of the last major countries to reopen its borders to tourists and has been one of the most restrictive regimes in the world during the global health crisis, which is believed to have originated in the city of Wuhan in late 2019.
Celebrating excellence in Indigenous tourism, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) announced its annual award winners at a gala conference in Winnipeg last week. The International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC), held March 8-10, is the largest Indigenous conference in the world.
Britain’s award-winning Black Country Living Museum, recognizable as backdrop for the popular “Peaky Blinders” Netflix show, is forging ahead with its biggest development since 1978 as the historic attraction adds the story of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, to its comprehensive social history of the “black country” industrial heartland near Birmingham.
Travel in the Caribbean in 2023 has “started with a bang” and, barring any unforeseen “catastrophes,” the Caribbean Tourism Organization expects the resurgence that started last year to continue a reach pre-pandemic arrivals levels “and beyond” in near future.
Ever wondered what it’s like to drive the fastest car in the world? With the reopening of the star attraction at the Coventry Transport Museum in February, museum visitors in the UK city now have the chance to experience what it feels like to break the sound barrier on land.
Lynn Osmond has lived in Chicago for close to 30 years, but the St. Catharines, Ont., native, who oversees tourism in the Illinois city, has a unique perspective on how Canadians view her adopted home – and what many of us are missing when it comes to awareness and knowledge of the bustling midwestern destination.
From cosmopolitan (and quintessential) British cities to historic castles, and Shakespeare to Peaky Blinders, England’s West Midlands region shows another side of the country beyond the well-known attractions of London. And they’re attributes that Goway is eager to show off in a series of new tours recently introduced by the Canadian tour operator.
The UN World Tourism Organization has heralded the re-opening of China as “the final piece in tourism’s recovery” from the biggest crisis in the sector’s history. Before the pandemic, China was the largest source market for tourism in the world.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that gives him control of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district, punishing the company over its opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Instead of occasional – and more typical – flooding, Venice now has the opposite problem – some of its canals have practically dried up due a prolonged spell of low tides, frustrating boat crews and bewildering tourists.
The outlook for travel to Europe this year is promising despite global pressures such as high inflation, the war in Ukraine and consequent energy crisis, and prospects of a looming economic recession, says the European Travel Commission (ETC).
Ahead of this year’s World Cup of Rugby this Fall, rugby fans around the world are also celebrating the 200th anniversary of the sport’s birth this year. And interest and activities are most notable in British town of Rugby at the West Midlands school where it is said to have all begun.
With the upcoming coronation of a new king, and the legacy of its previous monarch, along with other high-profile events in the UK in 2022 such as The Commonwealth Games, there is no better time to be selling Britain, says the country’s tourist board chair.
Atout France has been on the road this week, rolling out its annual Destination France events for close to 350 agents, including events in Vancouver tonight (Thursday), Calgary last night, plus Montreal and Toronto. On average, close to two dozen suppliers are taking part, bolstered by nearly a dozen-strong supplier delegation from the Occitanie region of southern France.
Hawaii residents feel that more effort is being made to balance the economic benefits of tourism and quality of life for residents, according to the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism’s Fall 2022 Resident Sentiment Survey.
Booking.com’s annual Traveller Review Awards recognize 1.36 million travel providers from across 220 countries and territories for their commitment to providing consistently excellent – aka “welcoming” – service and hospitality over the course of the year. That’s a lot to list, so let’s simply break out the Canadian winners, plus offer a taste of the global top 10s as well.