While more than half of travellers are unconcerned about natural disasters disrupting their travel plans, that’s not the case when it comes to manmade trouble. According to the recent Spring 2025 Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey conducted by Global Rescue, travellers are increasingly factoring geopolitical instability and civil unrest into their trip planning decisions, with a majority saying these risks influence not only where they go but whether they travel at all.

Maine Governor Janet Mills tried hard to convince a skeptical New Brunswick business crowd that people from the province had nothing to fear about travelling to her state. But when she and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt took questions on Tuesday from a Chamber of Commerce audience in Fredericton, local financial adviser David Dennis said his own family member had serious anxiety about such a trip.

The Dominican Republic’s rich and diverse culinary flavours are an important part of the country’s history. Aside from its taste profiles, the region’s unique gastronomy is a lesson in every dish. The indigenous Taíno population, along with Spanish and African populations have called this island home, the latter bringing with them new ingredients and cooking methods that have helped shape Dominican cuisine into what it is today.

By Michael Baginski/   I’m usually the one asking the questions. But this year at IPW, the U.S. Travel Association interviewed me – on camera – about my views on Canadian travel south of the border during these troubled times. And as a Canadian, I told them we were pissed.

New England governors say tariffs and anti-Canadian rhetoric by the United States government is taking a bite out of tourism, with some states seeing a drop of up to 60% in visitors from north of the border. And they say they understand our hostility – and are ticked off too.

This week: Lovell is leaving Travel Leaders Network; TTAND is tops at TLN; FAM winners discover Nevada; and Tully’s Crystal vision.

The COVID-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: “razor blade throat” COVID. That’s because the variant – NB.1.8.1. or “Nimbus” – may cause painful sore throats. The symptom has been identified by doctors in the United Kingdom, India and elsewhere, according to media outlets in those countries.

Dozens of airlines – including Air Canada – are cancelling more flights to the Middle East as the war between Israel/the U.S. and Iran escalates, including an attack by the latter on a U.S. military base in Qatar on Monday.

Suitcases rattle against cobblestones. Selfie-snappers jostle for the same shot. Ice cream shops are everywhere. Europe has been called the world’s museum, but its record numbers of visitors have also made it ground zero for concerns about overtourism.

By Michael Baginski/   IPW wasn’t a doozy – at least in the way I predicted in this space a week ago. To be clear, the annual U.S. Travel Association tradeshow was absolutely first rate thanks to the organizers, and particularly host city Chicago; however, any anticipated fireworks inside the show were quickly doused by a thorough glossing over by U.S. Travel and Brand USA of the affairs going on outside the convention space.

Maine’s governor is in the Maritimes today (Monday) with hopes a charm offensive will slow the rapid drop in Canadian tourist visits to her state. In a release issued Friday, Janet Mills says she’s aware the historically close relationship between New England and its northern neighbours has been challenged by U.S. president Donald Trump’s tariffs and his rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state. 

A climate activist group claimed responsibility for spraying pink paint on a rare Pablo Picasso painting at a Montreal museum last week. Last Generation Canada says an activist smeared washable paint on the 1901 painting L’hétaïre at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. 

News nuggets, airlines, hotels/resorts, cruising, tours, events, FAMS/incentives, deals, destinations and more are covered in our weekly round-up of travel industry news you may have missed.

The federal government will help Canadians in Israel and Iran to fly home once they reach neighbouring countries, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Thursday. With airports closed across the region, Ottawa has stationed consular officials on the other side of certain crossings on the Israeli and Iranian borders to help those fleeing either country to get home.

Expedia Group’s latest research reveals significant shifts in how travellers plan and book travel compared to previous years, including a surge in social media influence and the impact of trust. Drawing on insights from over 11,000 consumers across 11 global markets including Canada, the 2025 Traveller Value Index offers a valuable roadmap for travel brands seeking to meet evolving expectations.