A United Nations conference voted Sunday to list the ancient West Bank city of Jericho as a World Heritage Site in Palestine, a decision that angered Israel, which controls the territory and does not recognize a Palestinian state. Jericho is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities on earth and is in a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank that is administered by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.
If one colour defines Ireland, it has to be green. It’s the Emerald Isle, after all, a country associated so intimately with the colour green that it’s come to define the nation and its culture worldwide. But the association all comes back to the landscape. Ireland is a beautiful nation, one covered in greenery that sweeps across the rock-strewn island in the North Atlantic. The nature in Ireland, defined by its greenery, casts a spell over all travellers lucky enough to visit.
German climate activists sprayed orange paint onto Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate – one of the city’s top tourist attractions, on Sunday morning to urge the German government to take more urgent action against climate change.
The federal government has extended deadlines for Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan repayments, providing an additional year for term loan repayment, and additional flexibilities for loan holders – including travel and tourism businesses – looking to benefit from partial loan forgiveness of up to 33 percent.
ACTA kicked off the first of three cross-county travel industry summits this month in Toronto last week with over 500 attendees, a name change, and a presumed win on federal government debt relief that arrived during the event at the Toronto Congress Centre.
Pent-up demand post COVID, traveller trends towards FIT travel, and industry sustainability have come together to create a “perfect storm” for the growth of train travel, says the CEO and co-owner of Railbookers, a rail tour operator that packages train tickets with all the land elements of a holiday, including hotels and sightseeing.
The Bahamas recorded more than 5.89 million arrivals from January through the end of July, putting the country well on the way to closing out the year at 8 million-plus visitors, reports the country’s ministry of tourism. Canada ranked as the destination’s second largest market after the US, and ahead of the UK/Europe.
Who better to highlight and symbolize G Adventures’ first community tourism summit than The Village People? The group will give a private performance for delegates at the event, which is being conducted by the Canadian-based tour company in Peru on World Tourism Day, Sept. 27.
China’s Great Wall has been pierced by Genghis Khan, the Manchus, and now, allegedly, a couple of construction workers named Zheng and Wang who wanted a shortcut. Authorities in China arrested two people for smashing a path through a section of the ancient wall, a cultural icon and United Nations protected heritage site.
In last week’s news, Transat posted a record third quarter, Air Canada paid back some government debt, Britain looked ahead to record visitation numbers from Canada, Sunwing unveiled its annual ‘Best of the Best List,’ and ACTA revealed a long-discussed name change.
Canadians are still eager to travel to sun resorts and European getaways, in spite of higher inflation and interest rates, says Transat AT Inc. chief executive Annick Guerard. On Thursday Transat reported its highest net income ever for a third quarter and turned a profit for the first time since 2019, prompting a brighter financial forecast for the year.
My husband and I are self-proclaimed adventurers, a spirited Canadian couple with an insatiable desire to live life to the fullest. As such, we embarked on an epic yearlong travel quest around the world with our newborn son and ten-year-old daughter. I thought we were prepared for whatever might come our way. We were not.
With a recent survey suggesting that that almost 85% of travellers are worried about being hacked while travelling, cybersecurity experts say that those risks increase drastically for those who share too much information about their vacation online.
Sunwing Vacations’ popular ‘Best of the Best List’ is back. Based on a combination of travel expert recommendations, star ratings and customer feedback, the list is meant to serve as an “MVP of vacation inspiration” for customers and agents, and returns for its third year.
A picture is worth a thousand words but expecting that from all your social media creative would be unfair. Sometimes a smart caption is just what’s needed to amplify the creative or showcase useful links, insights, or additional information. Here are some tips for writing standout captions.
It’s life, but not as we know it. Sea angels, sea butterflies and jolly jelly fish glimmer in vivid colors all around us, even though we can see right through them. The ultimate experience on a momentous expedition across Canada’s famed Northwest Passage aboard Seabourn Venture is the unique opportunity to dive into unexplored icy water in a custom built mini-submarine.
I’m not sure how far the gospel of Iron & Wine has spread, but Sam Beam (aka I&W) is surely something special and if you haven’t had the pleasure, please accept this introduction. The American singer-songwriter, who hails from the Carolinas, has drawn comparisons to Simon and Garfunkel and Neil Young (at least his softer side), but strikes me more in the Jack Johnson/Ben Harper mold.
The CEO of WestJet says the company is non-partisan and will revisit its policy after the airline faced backlash for allowing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to speak on the PA system on a recent flight. The union representing WestJet cabin crew demanded an apology from the airline over the incident. However, speaking in Vancouver Thursday, Poilievre says he was asked multiple times by the cabin crew to speak and the Union should be the one apologizing.
A fishing vessel owned by Greenland’s government was hoping to use a high tide to pull free the Ocean Explorer cruise ship, which ran aground in the world’s northernmost national park Monday. The ship is carrying 206 people, who were all reported fine and having a “lifetime experience,” according to Capt. Flemming Madsen of the Danish Joint Arctic Command.
SWISS is set to expand its route network in its 2024 summer schedules, adding two new long-haul destinations – including Toronto – to be served from Zurich. Its intercontinental network will also see the addition of Washington, DC, while its European network will feature new services to Košice in Slovakia and Cluj-Napoca in Romania.
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario says it will launch a broad and comprehensive consultation process with registrants and stakeholders in the coming weeks about its funding framework and fee model proposals, including the Compensation Fund.
Jamaica is having its best year ever in visitors arrivals, according to Jamaica’s tourism minister. Edmund Bartlett’s enthusiasm was shared as the island’s tourism sector celebrated the return of JAPEX, its first major travel tradeshow post-pandemic.
South Florida rail service Brightline has announced that its extension to Orlando International Airport will begin on Sept. 22. Passengers will be able to connect from/to Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.
Scott Beck leaving his post as President and CEO of Destination Toronto and heading south to take over a similar role with the San Francisco Travel Association. The move takes effect Oct. 28.
Canadian pilots are demanding better wages and benefits from their employers, raising financial pressure on airlines that are just starting to recover from the pandemic and creating “really tricky” conditions to keep them flying south for more lucrative jobs.
Beginning Dec. 15, WestJet, will again connect Kelowna, BC, and Las Vegas, reintroducing a popular transborder connection from the Okanagan, for the first time since 2020. The non-stop service will operate twice weekly.
With COVID-19 largely in the rearview mirror, Bermuda tourism is back in Canada, rectifying a state of enforced neglect caused by the global pandemic. To that end, a delegation of representatives from the island, led by newly appointed Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) CEO Tracy Berkeley and VP of Sales and Development Devin Lewis, visited Toronto recently for a series of meetings with the trade, including a gala industry event at the Hotel X.
The Cuba Tourist Board in Canada is offering travel advisors the opportunity to take part in two special FAM group trips to the destination that will take place in October.
Following the recent appointment of Nathalie Tanious’ as President & Chief Executive Officer, H.I.S.-Red Label Vacations Inc. (RLV) has announced a further series of executive promotions.
Air Canada says it has repaid about $589 million in debt that it used to buy aircraft. The company says it repaid a $462-million loan from Canada’s Export Development Corp. that it used to pay for the purchase of 14 Airbus A220-300 aircraft.