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SHINING A LIGHT ON CANADIAN FAVOURITES

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.

A DISH BEST SERVED IN CANADA

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.

MONTREAL TO WELCOME WORLD-CLASS AQUARIUM

A new world-class aquarium will open in Montreal in 2024 with the aim of educating visitors and “inspiring future generations to become advocates for our wildlife and wild places.”

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Mellow yellow on Granville Island

Vancouver is certainly known for its bridges, but the one we’re most enamoured of is Bridges restaurant and patio, found on Granville Island, overlooking fabulous False Creek, the city skyline, and the mountains of the north shore.

LISTENING IN: The Stampeders – Bon c’est, bon!

As we get set to turn the volume to 11 on Canada Day, it’s only fitting that we offer a little classic Canadiana for your listening/viewing pleasure. And who can forget the Calgary-based trio The Stampeders – perhaps the only band that could use the word macaroons in a song and get away with it?

CANADA JETLINES SETS SIGHTS ON EUROPE, JAMAICA

Canada Jetlines says it is on schedule to add another aircraft that will allow it to fly to Europe next summer, but not before it operates “numerous charters” to Greenland this summer.

AIR FRANCE ARRIVES IN OTTAWA

Air France has inaugurated its new non-stop flight between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Ottawa, making the carrier the only company to operate direct flights between the Canadian capital and Europe.

FORT WORTH – TEXAS TILL THE COWS COME HOME

A place where “cowboy boots and hats come together,” Fort Worth exudes a real Texas vibe, yet with a “modern west” ambiance befitting America’s 12th largest city.

ON THE ROAM AGAIN: TRAVELSAVERS shares summer travel trends

After years of restraint and missed travel, Canadians are on the roam again this summer, says TRAVELSAVERS Canada, citing a study by Narrative Research, which says that more than one-half of Canadians (56%) intend to travel in 2023.

HOLLAND AMERICA INTRODUCES NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TOURS

Expanding its reputation for immersive travel experiences, Holland America Line has launched “National Geographic Day Tours” in the Mediterranean. The exclusive shore excursions were developed with National Geographic, a world leader in geography, cartography, and exploration.

RUSSIA REBUFF: Amsterdam Hermitage changes name

An Amsterdam museum that severed ties with St. Petersburg’s Hermitage collection after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year has been renamed and on Monday announced partnerships with renowned galleries in London, Paris and Washington, DC.

RENTAL CAR RATES TO RISE: And stay that way, predicts report

Strong demand and supply-side issues will push up car rental rates in North America and other regions of the world during the next year, according to American Express Global Business Travel (GBT). The travel management company is projecting year-on-year car rental rate hikes of 5 percent in both Canada and the US.

PORTER EXPANDS IN WEST WITH FLIGHTS TO VICTORIA, BC

Porter Airlines continues to expand its presence in Western Canada with the addition of Victoria to its network with one daily roundtrip flight as of September 20. Victoria is the second city in British Columbia that Porter will serve with its new 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, which the airline touts as having the lowest fuel consumption per seat and per trip among its class.

SUSTAINABLE FLYING LIKELY A LONG WAY OFF

Sustainability was a hot topic last week at the Paris Air Show, the world’s largest event for the aviation industry, which faces increasing pressure to reduce the climate-changing greenhouse gases that aircraft spew. The take-away? When it comes to flying, going green will likely cost travellers more. And it’s going to take a while for the strategy to take off.

NEW YORK TO INTRODUCE CONGESTON FEE

New York City has received a federal approval for its plan to charge big tolls to drive into the most visited parts of Manhattan, part of an effort to reduce traffic, improve air quality and raise funds for the city’s public transit system. It will be the first city in the US to do so.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE UNWRAPS 2024 HOLIDAY SAILINGS

It’s never too early to plan a cruise, especially for peak periods and events like Christmas and Halloween. With this in mind, Disney Cruise Line has released details and opened sales for its fall and winter holiday offering in 2024.

HOW STUPID CAN YOU GET?: Anger after tourist defaces Colosseum

Italy’s culture and tourism ministers have vowed to find and punish the tourist who was filmed carving his name and that of his apparent girlfriend in the wall of the Colosseum in Rome, a crime that in the past has resulted in hefty fines.

WIRELESS PLAN MAY DISRUPT US FLIGHTS

As if tech issues, labour shortages and weather aren’t enough, flights south of the border could be disrupted starting next week because some planes lack updated equipment to prevent interference from transmissions by wireless companies.

PASSPORT OFFICE READY FOR 10-YEAR RUSH

The federal government says passport delivery has returned to pre-pandemic processing times, there are no backlogs, and Service Canada is exceeding its delivery standard for most applications.

ROLLER COASTER TRAGEDY AT FAMED SWEDISH PARK

Swedish government investigators have launched a probe into a roller coaster accident that killed one person and injured nine at the country’s oldest amusement park.

CANADA CLAMPS DOWN ON CRUISE SHIP WASTE

Declaring that “Canadians deserve clean waters and a clean environment,” Ottawa has announced new mandatory environmental rules for cruise ships. Announced Friday by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, the new measures address discharges of greywater and sewage and are effective immediately.

THE MURKY RULES OF DEEP-SEA EXPLORATION

When the Titan submersible made its fateful dive into the North Atlantic, it also plunged into the murkily regulated waters of deep-sea exploration. It’s a space on the high seas where laws and conventions can be sidestepped by risk-taking entrepreneurs and the wealthy tourists who help fund their dreams. At least for now.

CHARLES MCKEE REPLACES BUREAU AT CANADA JETLINES

Canada Jetlines has announced the appointment of Charles McKee to lead the company’s commercial activities, replacing Duncan Bureau, who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities, reportedly elsewhere in the aviation sector.

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