News

The magic of Hong Kong was on display, literally, at an industry gala in Toronto late last week as the city’s tourist board, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, celebrated Chinese New Year with food, music, traditional dragon dancers, prizes, and, uniquely, a performance by an actual magician flown in from Hong Kong.

Canadian and US border agencies say they have a plan to reduce the backlog for the beleaguered NEXUS trusted-traveller program, although significant improvements are not expected until spring. Here’s what you need to know:

In last week’s news, the WHO urged a return to masks; Mexico told tourists to butt out; an Icelandic airline made moves in Canada; the UN predicted that tourism is back – nearly; and the next year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace will be held in Barbados in May. NEWS The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging

At least 1.1 million people protested on the streets of Paris and other French cities Thursday amid nationwide strikes against plans to raise the retirement age. The events affected travel across the country and closed tourist attractions in Paris, with fears that the disruptions will continue.

Far from Bali’s beaches and hotels, farmer I Ketut Jata stands on a mountainside, staring at terraced land that is too dry to grow the rice his family has long relied on for food and income. “It is no longer possible to work in the fields as a farmer,” he says.

The snowstorms that iced many people out of their holiday season travel plans continue to leave airline and railway executives and politicians on the hot seat, however almost as many Canadians simply blame the weather, and nearly a third says travellers themselves are at fault for putting themselves in the situation in the first place.

After listening to park-goers, The Walt Disney Co. is making several changes at its US theme parks, including some easier reservations, in order to improve the public perception of its business, which suffered during the pandemic.

After stronger than expected recovery in 2022, the United Nations World Tourism Organization says this year could see international tourism arrivals return to pre-pandemic levels in Europe and the Middle East.

Travellers whose package tours were ruined by the imposition of restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic may be entitled to at least a partial refund, the European Union’s highest court says. The European Court of Justice weighed in after being asked for its opinion by a court in Germany.

With the spotlight set to fall on Brazil again in February as the nation’s raucous carnival season kicks off, Embratur is looking north with the hopes of inspiring Canadians to travel to the South American country in 2023.

Restricting personal vehicles to Moraine Lake – one of the most popular tourist destinations in Banff National Park and an iconic symbol of Canadian tourism – is a necessary move to reduce frustrating and ecologically harmful over-tourism, says a Parks Canada official.

California’s weather was calmer, and skies cleared yesterday after the state’s ninth atmospheric river in a three-week series of major winter storms churned through the state on Monday, leaving mountain driving dangerous and the flooding risk high near swollen rivers even as the sun came out in some areas. And mud. Lots of mud.

IHG Hotels and Resorts (IHG) says it sees a “robust future” for its popular luxury and lifestyle Hotel Indigo brand and plans to expand by at least 65 properties over the next two years, bringing the total number locations to more than 200.