Florida is hot, and it’s not just the weather. VISIT FLORIDA yesterday announced the strongest international visitation numbers the state has seen since 2019. And that includes nearly 850,000 Canadians to date in 2023 – a whopping 80% ahead of the same period in 2022.
With less than a year until the start of the next Summer Olympics, Paris is preparing to welcome millions of visitors to the City of Light from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024. Here’s a not-so-early early look at what to expect at the next installation of the world’s biggest sporting event.
Costa Rica is a biodiverse paradise. This nation lies at the meeting point of both northern and southern migration routes, meaning it abounds with birds, mammals, and reptiles. The landscape shifts rapidly throughout the nation from volcanoes to cloud forests to sandy beaches. All that diversity leads to a near certain chance that travellers will encounter incredible animals on a trip to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s diverse natural environment is a playground for travellers who like to feel a rush of adrenaline and the wind in their hair. The thick rainforests, sandy beaches, and multitude of volcanoes provide the sort of terrain that’s perfect for adventure.
The national phrase of Costa Rica is pura vida. It means “pure life.” It’s a greeting, a slogan, and the national philosophy. Costa Rica is the happiest nation in the world and pura vida guides every action of its citizens. These are people who love their land, their animals, and each other, and they’re thrilled to share the beauty and comfort of their nation with visitors.
Janet Hayward didn’t show too much outward excitement night as she walked recently toward a Gander, Nfld., theatre to see the musical that inspired what she calls her “Newfoundland Quest” – but she did arrive a full hour early.
Chris Thompson is goin’ fishin’. But colleagues and well-wishers will have until May 31, 2024 – after IPW in Los Angeles – to say goodbye to the popular Brand USA exec, who announced his retirement yesterday.
Federal government employees expressed relief that Prairies Economic Development Canada was not involved in last spring’s disastrous rebrand that saw Saskatchewan’s capital city criticized for sexualized slogans, including “show us your Regina.”
A judge is scheduled to consider today whether Hawaii can continue enforcing a new law banning firearms on its world-famous beaches, a measure that state leaders say makes them safer. The state’s latest gun control measure landed in court because of a lawsuit by three Maui residents who want to carry guns on beaches and other places deemed sensitive by the law, which took effect this month and involves a misdemeanor offense.
Jamaica is brewing up plans to harness the potential of its renowned Blue Mountain coffee to stimulate economic growth and benefit local communities through the creation of a unique experiential tourism product.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently revealed its 2023 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, an annual ranking that spotlights significant sites of American history that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage.
With Korean culture, from TV shows to pop music, Korean culture is at all-time in in interest around the world. With this mind, Contiki has announced its first ever trip to South Korea. The nine-day “South Korea Soul” itinerary begins and ends in Seoul and includes a high-speed rail journey to Busan, plus a stopover at Jeonju – the UNESCO World Heritage town known for its traditional ambience and local hospitality.
Accor’s presence in Japan is set to double while hotel openings gain momentum throughout the region. The hotel company recently announced a new strategic partnership with JHRA in Japan to renovate and rebrand the Daiwa Resorts portfolio into Grand Mercure and Mercure hotels that will offer uniquely local experiences.
Music may be ubiquitous in The Big Easy, but the city has nevertheless designated October as the New Orleans’ first-ever Music Month. The event will be a 31-day celebration of music, culture, and technology, and include a new music industry conference, NOLA MusiCon, Oct. 24-27.
Formula One has been granted permission to run the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the famed Vegas ‘strip’ until the year 2023, with the first in the series scheduled for this November. However, hotels and clubs in the area are furious at F1’s alleged threat to block their view of the race if they don’t cough up huge amounts of money to view the race.
Iceland and Morocco are proving to be top favourites for Canadians this summer, according to Intrepid Travel. The former boast three tours in the small group tour operator’s top 10 for 2023, while the North African nation ranked twice.
There’s no better way to sell a destination than to know a destination. With this in mind, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is offering Canadian travel advisors a chance to take part in its annual series of familiarization trips for 2023, taking place this fall.
Visitors and locals alike were invited to open their pie holes, literally, this week as the Florida Keys celebrated its bicentennial Monday with a world-recording breaking Key lime pie more than 4 metres in diameter.
Calling the post-pandemic surge in travel a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Canada’s visitor economy to push past reviving all the way to thriving and successfully competing on the global stage, Ottawa has unveiled a new tourism plan it says will help cement Canada as a top global destination while propelling the tourism industry to, “reach new heights for generations to come.”
The current Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is showcasing some serious star power. Over the course of 10 days, world-renowned artists including Diana Krall, Buddy Guy, Robert Plant & Alison Krause, Melody Gardot, Herbie Hancock and George Benson will rub shoulders with jazz’s rising stars, sometimes even sharing the same stage. Many established artists are performing at the Festival for the first time and jazz is more prominent than ever on both indoor and outdoor Festival stages.
It was simply time for the Golden Gate City to start playing ball again in Canada – literally, as a delegation from the San Francisco Tourism Association invited a select group of travel friends to attend a Blue Jays game against their own Giants at the Rogers Centre last week.
After more than six year’s of planning, Canada’s newest museum opened the doors to its permanent location in Vancouver’s Chinatown on July 1 – a date that museum executives say serves as a poignant reminder of a part of Canada’s history that has often been overlooked.
As Canadians gear up to celebrate Canada Day on Saturday, CheapOair.ca got to thinking about the most unique Canadian attractions that have earned worldwide attention. And with its self-declared mission to “educate and aid consumers and travel professionals in planning their travel accommodations,” the online travel agency asked its staff to select their most iconic Canadian attractions from the north to the south, east to west and all points in between.
The Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA), a trailblazer of Canada’s culinary tourism industry, is set to serve up the “Great Taste of Canada,” an ultimate field guide to mouthwatering eats, hands-on food experiences, and unique tastes across the nation. “More than just maple syrup and poutine (though there certainly is that), Canada’s food scene is a true smorgasbord of gastronomic journeys, shaped by the rich history, heritage, and cultures across the country,” says CTA.
Canadians’ love affair with Los Cabos is continuing as arrivals to the Mexican tourism hotspot have increased close to 13% in the first half of the year – and that’s having already reached pre-pandemic figures over the winter.
The latest European Travel Commission Long-Haul Travel Barometer sheds light on the travel intentions in key overseas markets – including Canada – for the summer. The Coles Notes on Canadians: We’re into culture and history, travel in summer, stay for more than a week, have a fondness for France, and – surprise! – spend the least on a daily basis amongst the six markets analysed.
Now that the weather is fine and people have travel on their mind, online travel retailer CheapOair.ca is sharing its insights into summer travel trends and favourite destinations for Canadians – including a shock international No. 1.
Canada has regained its position as Florida’s top international market – status it officially but briefly lost (to Colombia) during the pandemic. But when borders re-opened, this country quickly regained its typically unassailable position atop Visit Florida’s visitor logs.
I recently travelled with Sunwing to pristine Cayo Largo, an island on the southern tip of Cuba. It was my first trip to Cuba and an opportunity to see for myself why folks rave about the silky white sand and impossibly turquoise waters. Back in November 2022, Sunwing, secured exclusive operating rights to Cayo Largo for the Canadian market.
The BC Hotel Association (BCHA) reports it is taking a significant step forward in its commitment to sustainability by launching innovative initiatives aimed at greening the accommodation sector in the province.