Border restrictions – including in Canada – are easing across the globe as the pandemic becomes endemic; airlines, last week, unveiled new summer schedules to meet growing demand; NCL unveiled a high profile godmother; and Club Med opened its own travel agency in Montreal.
NEWS
Ottawa announced Thursday that as of April 1, travellers arriving in Canada by air, land or water from any country no longer have to provide a negative COVID-19 test result to gain entry, as long as they’ve had at least two doses of an accepted vaccine.
A shortage of experienced travel agents is expected to be a significant issue for Canada’s retail travel industry for years to come, says ACTA. To address the need, the association has updated the Travel Agent National Occupation Standards to include an entry level online training program for new travel agents. ACTA says it has also refined its Travel Agent Essentials online training program with an updated English language program, available now; the French language program is by the end of the month. ACTA will host webinars on Travel Agent Essentials on March 29 in English and March 31 in French. To register, click HERE.
In other ACTA news, the association has launched a new advocacy campaign at www.helpita.ca, which provides a platform for independent travel agents to record a video detailing their personal story and why immediate financial support is necessary.
BORDERS
All COVID-19-related entry requirements for all international travellers have now been lifted in Aruba. Travellers are no longer required to present a negative test result or proof of vaccination but will still be required to complete an Embarkation/ Disembarkation Card before arrival, which is the country’s digitized customs and immigration process. Aruba Visitors Insurance is still required for all visitors.
The Caribbean twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has, as of March 16, lifted the travel testing requirement for fully vaccinated visitors to the destination.
Visitors to Barbados now have more options with the acceptance of rapid antigen tests for entry, once administered by a healthcare provider no more than one day prior to arrival. In addition, in-transit passengers will not be required to test in order to transit through Barbados. And all paper forms previously distributed on board aircraft arriving in Barbados will be discontinued.
Effective March 20, the majority of COVID restrictions in Germany were removed for both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons, following a general easing of regulations in recent weeks. Requirements for mask-wearing on public transport are likely to remain.
All remaining coronavirus measures for travellers to Britain ended March 18, paving the way for people to “travel just like in the good old days” according to UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. That means passenger locator forms will no longer be necessary and unvaccinated people won’t be required to be tested for COVID-19 before and after their arrivals.
The Dutch government dropped its last remaining domestic COVID-19 restrictions on March 23. Wearing a face mask on public transport is no longer be obligatory in the Netherlands (although facemasks will still have to be worn on airplanes and behind security screening at airports) and the government also halted the use of a digital COVID pass to get into nightclubs and other large-scale events. Vaccinated Canadians must still present a negative test result to enter the country.
WAR
Italian museums report that they received a reprieve from a Russian request to immediately repatriate artworks on loan from the State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg. Russian cultural officials had requested the immediate repatriation of the works as cultural ties frayed along with the diplomatic tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Hermitage director general expressed regret “that cultural relations between our countries have collapsed into such ‘darkness’ (that) recover only if we conserve an atmosphere of good will and benevolence…”
RE-OPENING/RE-START
After a hiatus due to the pandemic, passengers will once again be able to travel by sea between the Canada and the US with the return of Bay Ferries marine service between Yarmouth, NS, and Bar Harbor, Maine, starting May 19. The return of the ferry, dubbed The CAT, which completes the crossing in approximately 3.5 hours, will operate four days a week commencing May 19, increasing to seven days a week on June 23. Service will increase to six days per week on Sept. 7 and the season ends Oct. 10. Travellers on foot, motorcycle, car, and RV can all use the ferry.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Eiffel Tower grew by six metres last week after engineers hoisted a new communications antenna at the very top of France’s most iconic landmark. With the new antenna, the Eiffel Tower grew from 324 to 330 m., adding further to its initial 312-m. height when it was inaugurated on March 31, 1889.
AIR
WestJet’s newly released summer schedule will see the restoration of the airline’s network to near pre-pandemic levels, marking a “significant milestone” in the carrier’s recovery. Highlights of the seasonal sked include significant investments in the transatlantic network, more non-stop domestic options, and a new connection between Toronto and Chicago.
Porter Airlines has resumed non-stop service from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, operating until May 28. Flights from Toronto will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with connecting service from various Porter locations.
Pricing for Singapore Airlines is now available from many key cities across Canada via Vancouver to Singapore and beyond in conjunction with Star Alliance partner Air Canada. Agents will find the fares loaded in their GDS. SQ offers non-stop service from Vancouver to Singapore four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, operating the A-350-900 aircraft. Minimum connecting time in Vancouver outbound is one hour and inbound is one hour 30 minutes.
DEALS
From family-friendly retreats to group getaways and wellness escapes for two, Sunwing customers can vacation now and pay later with 0% interest on three-, six- or 11-month payment plans when they take advantage of the “Walking on Sunshine” sale by March 27.
The “Sun-kissed happiness” promo from Transat offers travellers up to $300 off per couple, valid on new individual bookings made by March 28 for travel between April 1 and June 30. Some restrictions apply. See the website for details.
HOTELS
Just a few steps from St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna-based developers Lenikus are transforming a heritage-listed building into a luxury hotel with 76 rooms and suites. Once completed in April, The Leo Grand promises an uncompromisingly – and unconventional – luxury concept celebrating individuality and contemporary indulgence and featuring a design that pays homage to the eccentric, larger-than-life and art-loving Emperor Leopold I (1640-1705).
Pursuit has introduced a new property in Jasper, Alta. The new Forest Park Hotel, is located at the edge of town surrounded by mountains and forests and aims to be the ideal basecamp for guests looking to immerse themselves in area’s natural offerings, while staying close to the town’s downtown shopping and culinary scene. Connected to the former Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre, the two hotels will become one, creating a year-round, resort-style getaway. The new 88-room addition, each with kitchenette, will open to guests this upcoming June.
RESORTS
Club Med has opened its first dedicated Canadian travel agency in downtown Montréal. Located at 600 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. in the heart of the city, the bricks-and-mortar business follows the December’s opening of Club Med Québec Charlevoix resort, the first all-inclusive, all-season resort in the country. Staff, dubbed “travel experience designers,” will help clients curate a wide variety of vacations across the Club Med roster of some 70 global resorts, including family vacations and adults-only getaways at Club Med’s 5-star Exclusive Collection resorts.
TOURS
Collette is celebrating the return to travel for Canadians as well as the loosening of restrictions with a chance to save up to 15% off destinations in Asia and South Africa in early 2023 (January-April). The offer is valid on new retail bookings only made through April 8. Use offer code LETSGO22. As part of Collette’s advanced commission program, travel professionals will also receive a portion of the full commission amount based on type of booking and the tour operator will not recall the advanced commission payments if a client chooses to cancel.
Trafalgar has unveiled Women’s Only travel tours with a range of itineraries created by women for women and led by an all-women team of Travel Directors and Wellbeing Directors. Trafalgar will be offering 13 new guided tours (listed on its web stie) and exclusive departures with itineraries across Europe, the UK and the Middle East including Egypt and Jordan. Bookings made before March 31 are eligible for a 15% discount.
CRUISE
Carnival Cruise Line officially marked a half a century since its maiden voyage from PortMiami in 1972 with a celebration aboard Carnival Conquest on March 11. Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy was joined by Carnival Corp. Chairman Micky Arison and CEO Arnold Donald for the ceremony, along with a host of politicians and senior Carnival executives. “On this very day, 50 years ago, history was made when the first Carnival Cruise Line ship, the TSS Mardi Gras, embarked on her maiden voyage from right here at PortMiami,” said Duffy. “It’s an honour to be celebrating our five decades of sailing… We look forward to what the next 50 years holds.”
Pop star and “American Idol” judge Katy Perry has been named godmother to the new NCL ship ‘Norwegian Prima,’ which will debut in August. As godmother, Perry will not only fulfill the longstanding maritime tradition of blessing and officially naming Norwegian Prima, the first of six vessels in the Prima Class, but will perform during the christening ceremony before the ships sets sail on its inaugural voyages from Reykjavík, Iceland.
Cunard will return to Vancouver this summer when its Alaska program launches June 5 for a series of seven- and 10-day voyages through July aboard the Queen Elizabeth. ‘Sailing soon’ reduced fares are available.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Wild Florida is adding special celebrations for its visitors to highlight Gator Week from May 23-28. Guests at the central Florida attraction can also expect to see two rhinoceroses at the drive-through safari park by Spring.
EVENTS
The second annual “Museum Madness” webinar series hosted by Israel’s ministry of tourism will run March 21-24, starting at 1 p.m. EST for one hour each day. Modelled after the NCAA March Madness basketball tourney, the event will showcase the country’s diverse museum landscape sharing information on the numerous museums through Q&As from curators, executives, and museum representatives, with a different theme each day. For the full program and to register, click HERE.
INCENTIVES
Expedia Group has new discounts and promotions to help members of its Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) find great spring and summer destinations in popular locations such as Miami, Cancun, Las Vegas, New York, Rome, Barcelona, and Paris for their clients. The ‘Spring Sale’ offers up to 30% discounts on thousands of hotels worldwide, resulting in significant savings for travellers. In all regions, the offers are valid on bookings made by March 31 for travel by Sept. 6, 2022.
DESTINATIONS
Abandoned for decades, the only Renaissance castle in the Picardy Region of Northern France, Château Villers-Cotterets, reopens to the public this month fully restored. It was built in the mid-16th century as a hunting lodge for Francois I and has been restored by the French government, which will also use it as the City of French language centre.
“Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder” at the World Museum in Liverpool, England, is a world premiere exhibition that will explore the science within the universe of the beloved British sci-fi series, Doctor Who. The immersive experience explores epic monster costumes and props, and science will be brought to life with some of the Doctor’s many adventures and encounters through space and time. Visitors can engage with original artefacts at the exhibition, which will run May 27 to Oct. 30.
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