By Michael Baginski/ With “passion, pride, and a whole heap of island magic,” the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) celebrated in true Jamaican fashion its 70th anniversary at a gala event in Toronto Monday night with 150 partners and “extended family” at a Harbourfront venue.
This week: Virtuoso is headed for Lake Louise; the Croatia National Tourist Board launched a specialist program; and incentives for Quark Expeditions and Serenity resort in Saint Lucia.
Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, has unveiled Explora Club, its new guest loyalty program. Structured in five levels – Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond – repeat guests can earn an incremental suite of benefits, ranging from priority access and bespoke events to personalized gifts and exclusive savings designed to enhance their time both on board and ashore.
The Northern Lights, Kenya safaris and the Galapagos Islands are leading dream destinations or attractions that travellers want to experience but haven’t, according to results of the Global Rescue 2025 Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey. But what about the nightmares?
The U.S. expected 2025 to be a big travel year, but overseas visitors – angered by Trump – are heading elsewhere. The number of international visitors to the United States jumped in 2024, and some forecasts predicted arrivals from abroad this year would reach pre-COVID levels.
New research from Expedia reveals that sports tourism is transforming how people travel and, at the same time, creating massive opportunities for the travel industry. Indeed, the niche now represents 10% of global tourism spending and is projected to reach US$1.3 trillion by 2032; and six in 10 Canadians travel internationally to do so.
The Expo 2025 opened in Osaka, Japan, on Sunday with more than 10,000 people singing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to celebrate the start of the six-month event that Japan hopes will unite the world divided by tensions and wars. Here is what to know about the Expo 2025 Osaka.
Looking to really, truly get away from it all in these turbulent times? Four space tourists who orbited the north and south poles did just that earlier this month before returning to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific to end their historic, privately funded polar tour.
Antigua and Barbuda launched a “modern” digital arrival and departure system designed to help visitors get from gate to beach faster when arriving in the Caribbean islands. Accessible through ArriveAntigua.com, the new protocols are in effect at V.C. Bird International Airport and will be expanded to seaports arrivals and private jets in the future.
Universal has chosen the homeland of Harry Potter to build its first theme park and resort in Europe, the entertainment company and British officials announced Wednesday. The studio and theme park operator that has drawn millions to its Potter-themed wizarding words and other attractions said it would begin construction next year just beyond the outskirts of London.
Experts say leaving your phone at home is the only certain way to ensure it isn’t searched by customs officials when entering the U.S. Yet, for most, that’s not a feasible option. So, with the Canadian government warning that U.S. border agents are entitled to search travellers’ electronic devices and “don’t need to provide a reason” to do so, how best to mitigate any risk?
Singapore Changi Airport has been named the World’s Best Airport 2025 in the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards, held last week in Madrid. Notably, Vancouver was named best airport in North America, 2nd-best globally in its category (20-30 million passengers) and 13th globally in the Awards’ pre-eminent best-overall category, leading a trio Canadian airport rankings in the top 100.
No longer simply a concern of backpackers, sustainability for luxury travellers increasingly is becoming a top priority that influences their choices and reshapes the way they explore the planet, says a survey of Virtuoso clients conducted in March. That includes choosing travel companies with strong sustainability policies and seeking guidance from professionals to help them make the right choice.
Starting May 1, 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within three days before arrival. The new system replaces the traditional paper-based disembarkation form required for all foreign arrivals.
Authorities in several countries in Central Europe are working to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among cattle populations that has caused widespread border closures and required the killing of thousands of animals.
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.
New travel numbers confirm that Canadians made fewer return trips from the United States last month compared to the same time last year, with a sharp decline in trips by car. Statistics Canada says the number of Canadians returning from the U.S. by car was down almost 32% compared to March 2024, the third consecutive month of year-over-year declines.
ACTA is advising that the Government of Canada’s new tax relief measures designed to assist workers and businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs include travel agencies and independent travel advisors.
MSC Cruises named its new flagship MSC World America Wednesday night in a dazzling ceremony at the line’s new state-of-the-art MSC Miami Cruise Terminal. The event culminated with the ship’s Godmother, Drew Barrymore, cutting that the ribbon that broke the bottle on the ship’s bow in a maritime tradition that wishes it good fortune.
It seems to be the bane of many a traveller: not enough – or big enough – bin space on board. With this in mind, Air Canada says it pleased to report that it will be the launch customer for the Airbus Airspace cabin on the A220 family of aircraft, which will increase the overhead capacity of bags by more than 15%.
With cruise lines busy christening a new generation of ships, older members of their fleets are moving on to new roles. On the same week in April that Norweigan Cruise Line showcased its shiny new 3,600-guest Norwegian Aqua, it announced that veteran fleet-mates Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun are going to be transferred to Cordelia Cruises to sail in Asia and the Middle East.
My first choice for a Tom Petty song would have been “Free Falling,” but that just seemed cruel coming after the stock market crash. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of great songs from Petty from which to choose, not least “Learning to Fly,” which does fit our travel theme, even if that’s not exactly what he meant by it.
Blaming America’s ongoing trade war with the world for depressed bookings amid uncertain expectations for business and household spending, Delta Air Lines says it is reducing growth plans this year and instead “focussing on what we can control.”
Budget carrier Avelo Airlines signed an agreement to fly U.S. federal deportation flights from Arizona starting in May, according to the company, whose founder acknowledged the decision may be controversial.
Intrepid Travel says it’s turning the page on traditional tourism with the launch of a new collection of experience-led travel books designed to inspire meaningful adventure and connection.
Fora Travel reports it is now operating in Ontario, with plans to expand across Canada in the coming weeks. The U.S.-based host agency launched in 2021 and is registered in California, Florida, Washington, and now has TICO registration.
Throughout March, Exodus Adventures channeled its inner sports fan to find North Americans’ favourite destination. Based on college basketball brackets for March Madness, the guided tour company’s ‘Ultimate Travel Showdown’ featured 16 of the world’s most popular destinations with voters narrowing the field in head-to-head competitions each week.
While Aruba’s all-inclusive resorts boast some of the most breathtaking hotel grounds, for many, true adventure lies beyond the property lines. With its unique desert-like terrain and a coastline that spans kilometres, Aruba’s incredible landscape offers an ideal paradise where nature’s beauty is always front and centre.
Sixty-one percent of Canadians are planning to travel this year, and nearly a third of them will still consider a trip to the States, according to a new travel sentiment survey by the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA). But that also means a majority (70%) are unlikely to travel south of the border, not surprisingly citing the current political environment as the primary reason.
Effective April 10, Canadians travelling to Brazil will again require a visa after the South American country reintroduced requirements for travellers from this country, as well as the U.S. and Australia. E-visas may be obtained online via the authorized VFS Global site at https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/ .