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/ .
By Michael Baginski/ More than a hundred travel advisors turned out Monday night in Toronto for a gala event hosted by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (MNTO), clearly demonstrating enthusiasm for a destination that is growing in stature for Canadians.
Building on a period of expansive growth, Carnival Cruise Line has outlined a strategic plan for the next five years, including new ships, fleet enhancement deployment and exclusive destinations.
Air Canada Vacations has launched its first-ever ‘Travellers’ Top Picks Awards’ in celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary. The awards give Canadians a chance to vote for their favourite global destinations – and enter the Travellers’ Top Picks Contest for a chance to win $5,000 in Air Canada e-gift cards towards a future vacation.
This week: A Western Canada road show, first FAM, conference gathering, and more from the likes of Ensemble-Virgin Voyages, Travel Nevada, Virtuoso-Jamaica, and Travel Edge.
The Canadian government has warned would-be travellers they may face more scrutiny at the United States border – including the search of electronic devices. Though immigration lawyers say there’s no change in the law for Canadians travelling to the U.S., existing rules may be applied more strictly, as indicated by recently updated advisory from Global Affairs Canada.
Three Sunwing Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft (tails 395, 396 and 393) have begun service for WestJet, flying both WestJet and Sunwing Vacations guests as the two brands prepare to fully integrate on May 29.
Trevello says it is “rewriting the rules of the travel host agency model” with a bold, new commission program the company says delivers “better compensation, better recognition and better opportunities to thrive” to travel advisors.
With the prominent Seatrade cruise show taking place in Miami this week, news from the sector is coming fast and furious. Among the first off the mark was Emerald Cruises, part of the Scenic Group portfolio, which unveiled a major multi-ship expansion for 2027 and revealed that the cruise line will make its first-ever appearance on the Seine River, offering curated itineraries from Paris through Normandy
Ontario will spend $35 million to help the Shaw Festival rebuild the Royal George Theatre.
Venice has confirmed it will host the wedding of multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sanchez but denies reports the Italian city will be invaded by hundreds of celebrities causing disruptions for citizens and tourists. No date has been given for the event, however Italian media have reported it will be between June 24-26, with a few days of celebrations.
Canadians travelling to the U.S. should be prepared for greater scrutiny by U.S. border agents, including the possibility of having phones and laptops checked, according to a new travel update issued by the Canadian government.