‘MORE CHILL THAN AMERICA’: Toronto gets high marks from soccer fans
by Staff Writer - Halfway through Toronto's World Cup hosting journey, visitors from around the world say the city has offered them much more than soccer.
UNMISSABLE FLORIDA (FROM SOMEONE WHO SHOULD KNOW): State tourism boss offers inside tips
by Michael Baginski - By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ There’s no shortage of tips (online and elsewhere) on what to do when visiting Florida – even when it comes to activities beyond the famed beaches, energizing theme parks, colourful cities, and far-out attractions (like the Kennedy Space Center).
UNRUSHED IRELAND: Visitors invited to slow down and smell the shamrocks
by Staff Writer - In a world where travel often feels rushed and driven by checklists, Ireland has embraced the notion of “slow travel,” in which visitors are drawn deeper and beyond the expected toward richer encounters with its landscapes, culture and communities.
CUBA ‘EMPOWERS’ TRAVEL SECTOR: Details emerge from unprecedented economic package
by Staff Writer - As part of an unprecedented emergency economic package designed to open up Cuba’s struggling economy, the Cuban government has announced the rollout of a historic package of 176 free-market reforms designed to completely revitalize the island's travel sector.
À BIENTÔT À TOULOUSE: France’s Ville Rose awaits culture-loving Canadians
by Staff Writer - Toulouse is one of France’s most underrated gems – a mid‑sized, culturally rich, high‑value city that consistently delights travellers without overwhelming them. And it’s easily accessible for Canadians via direct Air Canada flights from Montreal, now on the airline’s sparkling new Airbus A321-XLR aircraft.
FOOTLOOSE IN TOULOUSE: TLS airport a springboard to Southwestern France
by Staff Writer - Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is far more than a convenient landing point for Canadians headed to the renowned Pink City. It’s a strategic gateway to an entire region – a launchpad into Occitanie, the Pyrenees, the Basque coast, and even northern Spain.
‘TRULY STUNNING’: Parthenon restoration reveals new-old look
by Staff Writer - Visitors to the Acropolis can now see the Parthenon’s western side looking whole for the first time in about 220 years. Officially unveiled last week (June 18), restorers have slotted two new marble blocks into long-empty gaps high on the temple’s western end – the view visitors see when they first enter the ancient monument in Athens.
THE ‘ROCKY’ ROAD TO PHILADELPHIA: City celebrates film’s 50th anniversary, and other summer highlights
by Staff Writer - Every day, visitors from around the world make their way to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art – not necessarily for the galleries inside, but for a statue of a fictional boxer from South Philadelphia. The bronze figure of Rocky Balboa – arms raised in victory, clad in boxing trunks and boots – has become a point of pilgrimage for people around the world.
MULLET MANIA: Danish championship celebrating maligned hairstyle a cut above
by Staff Writer - Business in the front, party in the back. A packed Danish crowd recently celebrated the much-maligned but enduring mullet hairstyle, defined by very short hair at the front and longer hair at the back.
BRAZIL LAUNCHES FOOTBALL ROUTE
by Staff Writer - With the FIFA World Cup in full swing, the Brazilian Tourist Board has embraced soccer/football’s global profile as part of a new strategy to promote international tourism in the South American nation – a country where “the beautiful game” is synonymous with Brazilian culture worldwide.
WHAT’S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS: New digital arrivals card, cruise growth
by Staff Writer - The Bahamas is rolling out a series of major tourism developments this season, including the pilot launch of a new digital arrival system for international visitors and continued investment from some of the world’s largest cruise brands.
ROBOTAXIS ARE COMING TO LONDON: The city’s famed black cab drivers are skeptical
by Staff Writer - The Ford Mustang Mach-E cruises down a London road choked with traffic, using its onboard AI system to avoid jaywalkers and cyclists, and navigate roadwork as it drives to its destination.
CANADA COMPASS: Pond Inlet tourism growing ‘exponentially’
by Staff Writer - The number of cruise ship visitors to Pond Inlet, Nunavut, a small predominantly Inuit community on northern Baffin Island, has grown exponentially since 2022, though seemingly at the expense of Iqaluit, according to newly released Statistics Canada figures.
CANADA STRONG PASS RETURNS IN JUNE
by Staff Writer - The federal government’s popular Canada Strong Pass will come into effect June 19. Launched last year, the successful promotion is designed to encourage domestic travel and can be used by both Canadians and international visitors.
MADEIRA ENLISTS VISITORS TO BE DESTINATION ‘GUARDIANS’
by Michael Baginski - By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Visit Madeira has launched an awareness campaign, “EXPLORE. RESPECT. PRESERVE.” that invites both visitors and residents to take an active role in preserving and enhancing Madeira and Porto Santo. The initiative focuses on the relationship between tourists and residents, which is part of a wider program called Upgrade – Madeira Tourism.
A HOME FOR HOPE AND CHANGE: Obama Presidential Centre Museum set to open in Chicago
by Staff Writer - One of the most anticipated cultural openings in the country, the long-awaited Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago is set to open to the public on June 19 with a full slate on opening weekend activities.
ALBERTA HAILS RAIL PLAN, BUT DON’T PACK JUST YET
by Staff Writer - Alberta's government is eyeing train connections between airports and the downtown cores of its two biggest cities as the first key projects in its new passenger rail plan. But construction isn't expected to start any time soon and the first users will likely have to wait about 30 years.
ASIA – WHERE ‘LIFE IS GOOD’ AND BUSINESS BETTER: Goway Forum dedicated to hot travel destination
by Michael Baginski - By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ An expected group of 300 agents and supplier partners across Goway’s roster of 20-plus destinations in Asia is convening today (Tuesday) at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, at the tour company’s inaugural Asia Forum, reflecting just how popular the region is right now for travellers, says Goway VP for Asia, Moira Smith.
WISH YOU WERE HERE: Antigua and Barbuda
by Michael Baginski - By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Held every July and early August, Antigua and Barbuda Carnival is far more than a festival, it’s a living expression of the islands’ history, identity, and spirit.
MAKING AMERICA COWBOY AGAIN: Amarillo, Texas embraces a different vibe
by Michael Baginski - By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Never mind MAGA, Amarillo, Texas has embraced a different vibe: Make America Cowboy Again. Located in the heart of the state’s northern Panhandle, the city is having a moment in the West Texas sun thanks in part to the booming interest in western and cowboy culture generated by the hit TV show “Yellowstone.”
