By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Nothing says love like tender sliced brisket, smoked ribs, corn bread and a hearty helping of “the best mac and cheese in the city.” And while served up in T.O. rather T.X. (at the delightful SmoQue N’ Bones on Baldwin), the feast was designed to provide a literal taste of the State – or, put another way, perhaps, “barbecue tourism.”
The flowers in that bright-purple lei you received on your last Hawaii visit almost certainly weren’t grown in the Aloha State. The vast majority of those odorless orchids are imported from Thailand, where it is cheaper to grow and string them into the garlands synonymous with Hawaiian culture.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Surprising San Antonio – which offers its own unique twist on what it is to be a Texas town – at last boasts direct service from Canada – courtesy of Air Canada, which now flies three times weekly (through Oct. 23) from Toronto to the state’s most colourful destination.
With travellers increasingly prioritizing value when planning vacations, Visit Myrtle Beach is launching a new destination-wide promotion designed to help visitors get more from their getaway. Through the new “Make More Myrtle Moments” campaign, participating accommodations across South Carolina’s Grand Strand are offering complimentary lodging nights on qualifying stays, making it easier for travellers to extend their time at The Beach while keeping their trip budget-friendly.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Canadian travel to the U.S. may be down, but tourism types from the Big Apple regard the dip simply as a momentary “pause” in long-standing relationship between neighbours and friends that has withstood the test of time, and will withstand current circumstances.
Grenada may be known for its beaches, but the island’s natural side is what makes it unforgettable. Travellers can step away from the coast and discover a greener landscape where waterfalls tumble into natural pools, crater lakes sit quietly in the hills and hiking trails lead you to sweeping rainforest views.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Air Canada has wrapped up its first season of flying to Guadeloupe from Toronto, but that hasn’t stopped us dreaming about returning when the flights resume next winter. But what we’d really like is to be there right now. Enjoy this photo essay:
Milan has added the title of Olympic city to its long-held monikers as Italy’s fashion and finance capital, a legacy that crowns two decades of growth that reshaped the skyline and boosted investment, tourism and cultural life.
Italy continues to hold the world’s highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites – 61 in total – with Italian cuisine added to the list of intangible heritage in 2025. Its standing as a leading global cultural destination is firmly established. The deeper story lies in how travellers are interacting with that heritage: which cities are strengthening their appeal, how demand is redistributing geographically, and whether growing visitor volumes are affecting experience quality.
VoX International Inc. has been reappointed as the agency of record for the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) in Canada, effective April 1, 2026, marking the official return of in-market representation following a temporary pause.
Rome’s Colosseum has a bright new look following a restoration using the same travertine marble of ancient Rome to recreate parts of columns from 2,000 years ago. Thousands of Romans once flocked to this arena to watch gladiators battle each other and wild animals. The structure still captures the public’s imagination; it is Italy’s most popular tourist destination, with 9 million visitors in 2025 alone.
With Toronto set to host six matches of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, new research from Destination Ontario highlights significant opportunities for the tourism industry across the province to entice visitors beyond the city around the June 12 to July 2 game window.
Grenada delivers the beach escape vacationers picture when they think of the Caribbean, with a safe, welcoming atmosphere and enough variety to keep every day feeling exciting. The island’s coastline ranges from iconic, postcard-worthy stretches to quieter and secluded bays with warm water and laid-back energy that makes it easy to stay a while.
Vancouver’s council has approved a 250-room floating hotel on the city’s waterfront that proponents say would bring more accommodation capacity and generate economic activity, despite concerns that it would mar water and mountain views.
By CINDY-LOU DALE/ Safari cuisine was once the weakest link in an otherwise extraordinary experience. Lodges typically relied on colonial-era menus, imported ingredients, and dishes that bore little connection to the landscapes in which they were served. But across Africa, that model is being rapidly replaced. A new generation of chefs and lodge operators are reshaping bush dining by embracing indigenous produce, heritage recipes, and hyper-local sourcing.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Ireland’s tourist board and a host of road show partners wrapped a successful week-long “whistle stop tour” of Eastern Canada at an elegant reception at the Residence of Ireland Toronto Friday after stops in St. John’s, Halifax, Moncton, and Montreal.
The trouble started with a beautiful photo. Social media was soon awash with the lovely view of Japan’s snow-capped Mount Fuji looming over a red pagoda and the short-lived cherry blossoms that herald the approach of spring.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ With new VISIT FLORIDA president and CEO Bryan Griffen headed to Canada for his first official visit in the coming days, the tourism organization’s annual media mission called ahead in Vancouver and Toronto last week to assure that the sun is still shining in the state and that Canadians are still most welcome to come to visit – when they’re ready.
Battered camera phone from 2003? Your thumb appears in every shot? Photos that are somehow ALWAYS slightly out of focus? Decapitate your subjects with terrible composition? If any of this sounds familiar, consider that Icelandair is on the hunt for people with a very specific skill: the ability to take absolutely terrible photos. And it’s willing to pay someone US$50,000 to try to do so.
Canada represents a high-value long-haul market and a strategic source of demand beyond Europe’s peak summer months, particularly during the shoulder season, according to a new study, presented during European Tourism Association (ETOA) webinar series on North America outbound markets.
Sunwing Vacations Group is extending its pause of operations to Cuba for the summer season to include Varadero (VRA) and Cayo Coco (CCC). As such, all operations in Cuba have been cancelled from June 20 through Oct. 9, 2026 (inclusive) for all gateways/airports across its three brands: Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations and Vacances WestJet Quebec.
Pacific-Asian inbound travel is poised to exceed pre-pandemic levels starting this year, and reach 761.2 million visitors by 2028, according to the latest forecast from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
Grenada pairs classic Caribbean beauty with a safe, welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy for travellers to settle in and explore. Known for its relaxed pace and varied landscapes, the island offers a seamless blend of coastal calm, nature and light adventure. From soft-sand shores to forested hills, memorable experiences are always close at hand.
The Dominican Republic hosted its fourth signature Trade Show in Miami last wee with more than 1,200 travel industry professionals from the U.S., Canada, and Latin America in attendance.
Citing growing interest in travel to the North, the Government of the Northwest Territories reported an increase in annual passenger traffic at Yellowknife Airport for 2025 when compared to the previous year.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ More than 70 members of the Canadian travel trade turned out – or up, more accurately – for a Bermuda Tourism Authority event at the top of the CN Tower last week that, fittingly, offered the latest updates on what continues to make the mid-Atlantic island a top travel destination.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Grenada Tourism Authority director of sales Sekou Stroude was holding forth at an event in chilly Toronto last week when he surmised that many of those in the audience might just be wondering, “Why am I here in this cold?”
With a theme of “Resilience and Renewal,” the Cuba Tourist Board is set to host a hybrid version of its International Tourism Fair, FITCuba 2026 and members of the Canadian trade are invited to attend.
Canada Place is celebrating 40 years as one of Canada’s most recognizable landmarks on Vancouver’s waterfront. Since opening on May 2, 1986, as the Canada Pavilion for Expo 86, it has become a popular destination for residents and visitors, a venue for major public events, and home to the Port of Vancouver’s award-winning cruise terminal, which is the largest in Canada.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Alberta is enjoying a recent uptick in interest spurred by a random shout out on a popular American television show – and its head of marketing hopes that curiosity translates into a bustling summer season.