Destinations

A NEW PLAYBOOK: Ontario to announce bold tourism plan

In the shadow of ongoing cross-border travel woes and surging domestic tourism, Ontario’s tourism industry is stepping forward with what it says is a bold, sector-led plan to drive sustainable growth, attract investment, and unlock the full economic potential of the visitor economy and stakeholders – and stakeholders and those with vested interest are invited to “be part of the next chapter in Ontario’s tourism journey” via Zoom at the launch on Monday (Aug. 11, 10 a.m-12 pm. EST).

2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES COUNTDOWN BEGINS

With the reveal of Finnie – a Glaswegian unicorn – the countdown to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland has started. Appearing at the top of the city’s famous Finnieston Crane, which is also her namesake, the “hooved-hypemaster” mascot could be seen alongside a special banner on top of the Clydeside landmark to announce her arrival and symbolically mark 365 days to go until the Games.

BEHIND QUEBEC’S COLOURFUL SUMMER CARNIVALS

Bright colourful rides, skill-testing games with a stuffed animal prize, and copious amounts of sticky cotton candy are all hallmarks of the travelling carnival circuit and are deeply rooted in the imagination of Quebecers – and visitors – who’ve been able to experience them.

CANADA COMPASS: Online guide offers inside look at Toronto

Toronto.com offers a reimagined way for longtime residents, newcomers and visitors to connect more deeply with the city. With no hard news or politics, the platform delivers stories, and insider recommendations that spotlight the best of the city, from hidden restaurants and cultural gems to weekend getaways and everyday third-place hangouts creating an advertiser brand-safe environment.

CANADIAN TOURISM A BRIGHT SPOT: On track to set record in 2025

Canada’s Travel & Tourism sector is forecast to set a new record in 2025, contributing almost $183BN to the economy and continuing the country’s impressive growth streak, according to new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council.

WHERE TO FIND JAPAN’S BEST-KEPT SECRETS

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is inviting Canadian travellers to venture beyond the bustling hubs of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka and discover some of the country’s best-kept secrets.

COME TOGETHER: Feds reduce Confederation bridge toll, Maritime ferry fares

Tolls on the Confederation Bridge linking Prince Edward Island to Canada’s mainland will drop sharply starting Aug. 1, along with several other Atlantic travel fees, the prime minister said Monday. Fulfilling a promise the Liberals made during the April election campaign, Mark Carney said the toll for an average vehicle will drop to $20 from $50.25 to cross the bridge.

EUROPEAN TRAVEL INDUSTRY OBJECTS TO ETIAS FEE HIKE

Europe’s Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) isn’t in effect yet and already the fee for visitors may potentially go up, prompting a coalition of organizations representing the European travel sector to warn that a price hike will put the continent’s travel competitiveness at risk.

AS THE WHEEL TURNS: European travel trends and hidden gems for cyclists

With overtourism affecting many popular destinations, finding the road less travelled is a priority for many travellers, not least cyclists, whose enjoyment – and safety – can depend on rolling down the right route, far from congestion and crowds. The good news, says British-based Epic Road Rides, is that the world is not short of amazing cycling destinations that can be every bit as good as their more famous counterparts. 

RESORTS WORLD ROLLS DICE ON MASSIVE NYC EXPANSION

Resorts World New York City – the city’s only casino-hotel – has made a US$5.5 billion “once in a generation proposal” that would transform the historic 30-hectare Aqueduct racing site in Queens into the single-largest fully integrated resort and entertainment hub in the state with a possible opening date of July, 2026.

MAUI TO LIMIT VACATION RENTALS

Lawmakers on Maui have passed legislation aimed at eliminating a large percentage of the Hawaiian island’s vacation rentals to address a housing shortage exacerbated by the wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina two years ago.

THE TRAIN IN SPAIN IS NOW REPPED BY DISCOVER THE WORLD

iryo and Discover the World have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing awareness of Spanish high-speed train travel among international audiences. The collaboration will focus on promoting iryo’s extensive network and onboard offerings to travel trade partners around the globe.

A NICE TOUCH: Top London museum opens storerooms to public

A museum is like an iceberg. Most of it is out of sight. Most big collections have only a fraction of their items on display, with the rest locked away in storage. But not at the new V&A East Storehouse, where London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has opened up its storerooms for visitors to view – and in many cases touch – the items within.

LACK OF FUNDING THREATENS NEW BRUNSWICK HERITAGE SITES

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says there’s no new money for heritage sites despite the operator of an anchor tourist attraction in the Saint Andrews area saying it would fold at the end of the year without more funding.

HOW TURKISH TV IS DRIVING TOURISM BOOM

Under the sweltering Turkish sun, tourists wander through sets that recreate Ottoman and Byzantine-era castles, take selfies with actors in traditional costumes and watch horseback stunt performances. The global popularity of Turkish TV dramas – or dizi in Turkish – has greatly bolstered the nation’s international image and is drawing millions of viewers and tourists worldwide to its historical and cultural sites which are backdrops to many of the shows.

NEW PARK TRANSFORMS TORONTO WATERFRONT

Toronto’s largest park in a generation has opened on the city’s newest island, Ookwemin Minising. Biidaasige Park is the island’s marquee attraction along the re-naturalized Don River on the city’s east side, offering a natural space within the urban environment that boasts recreational trails and cycling paths, fishing, slips for non-motorized boats, and the Don Greenway wetland for birdwatching.

CANADIAN ADVISORS EARN TRIP TO SEATTLE

Visit Seattle has announced the three Canadian travel advisors who have won a spot an upcoming FAM trip to the Emerald City in October.  By registering and completing the new Seattle specialist program by the July 1 deadline, all “Seattle Certified” agents were entered into a draw to win one of three spots.

KHMER KILLING FIELDS GAIN UNESCO STATUS

Three locations used by Cambodia’s brutal Khmer Rouge regime as torture and execution sites 50 years ago have been added by UNESCO to its World Heritage List. The three locations were inscribed to the list by the United Nations cultural agency Friday during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris.

TUNNEL VISION: London’s next big tourist attraction?

There is a history-rich part of London that few people have seen, where the city braced for the Blitz, James Bond’s creator got inspiration and secret Cold War messages passed between Washington and Moscow. It’s a network of tunnels 30 metres below the streets that was secret for decades — but could be the city’s next big tourist destination.

AMERICAN TOURISM TO NIAGARA FALLING

U.S. tourism revenue saw a dip for Niagara Parks this spring, but its CEO says that revenue was “more than made up” through other international travellers, particularly coming from the U.K., France, Australia and Poland.

DISCOVERING SWITZERLAND – ONE CURVE AT A TIME

The Grand Tour of Switzerland is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The now iconic 1,600-km. loop is more than just a scenic drive – it’s a celebration of freedom, discovery, and the joy of the open road, and inviting travellers to slow down, take the scenic route, and rediscover the beauty of Switzerland.

GRENADA FINDS ITS GROOVE: Island sees increased opportunity in Canada

By Michael Baginski/   Grenada continues to be a popular destination for Canadians, but with many currently looking for new destinations beyond the U.S., the island’s new CEO of tourism thinks the time is ripe to make an even stronger case for the Spice Island.

CANADA COMPASS: Historic Nova Scotia ship relaunched in Pictou

A restored replica of the square-rigged sailing ship that sparked a wave of Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia more than 250 years ago was relaunched Saturday with a mighty splash into Pictou harbour. After a restoration and public fundraising effort that began in 2019, the rebuilt hull of the Hector was eased into the water sideways during a colourful ceremony on the town’s scenic waterfront

FIRST FLIGHTS OPEN OVERSHADOWED NAYARIT TO CANADIANS

The “overshadowed” culturally rich state of Nayarit in Mexico will welcome its first-ever direct flights from Canada this December, with WestJet launching a new weekly route between Calgary and the Tepic/Riviera Nayarit International Airport and Air Canada set to do the same from Vancouver.

THE CANADIAN TOURIST TOWN ON STEROIDS: Why Tofino is so expensive

For a midweek standard room in July at Long Beach Lodge Resort overlooking Cox Bay: $659, plus tax. Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort: $649, plus tax and there’s a nightly minimum, depending on the day. Wickaninnish Inn on North Chesterman Beach: $980, with a four-night minimum. Oceanside suite at Pacific Sands: $699, with a three-night minimum. For a king bed at Hotel Zed: $714, plus tax and the two-night minimum.

BUTT OUT: Behind France’s new sweeping cigarette ban

After glamourizing tobacco for decades, France has begun its most sweeping smoking ban yet. The new restrictions, which began this month, outlaw smoking in virtually all outdoor public areas where children may gather, including beaches, parks, gardens, playgrounds, sports venues, school entrances and bus stops.

VATICAN UNVEILS LAST OF RESTORED RAPHAEL ROOMS

The Vatican Museums has unveiled the last and most important of the restored Raphael Rooms, the spectacularly frescoed reception rooms of the Apostolic Palace that in some ways rival the Sistine Chapel as the peak of high Renaissance artistry.

CANADIANS ARE STILL PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN MYRTLE BEACH

By Michael Baginski/   Bob Harris says there’s so much more to Myrtle beach than golf. After all, Canadians who told him so. The executive VP of group sales for Visit Myrtle Beach said his own misconception that Canadians mainly admire the South Carolina destination for its world class golf (mini and masters) was quickly corrected by in-the-know visitors from north of the border.

TECH TOOL HELPS PLAN PERFECT MYRTLE BEACH ESCAPE

A new AI-powered travel assistant from MyrtleBeach.com is transforming how visitors discover and design their perfect Myrtle Beach getaway. With just a few simple inputs – such as travel dates, group size, and vacation preferences – Sandy delivers fully customized itineraries in seconds, providing tailored recommendations on everything from oceanfront hotels and seafood spots to top attractions and family-friendly adventures.

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