Canadian tourism is bouncing back, a new report says. I also have travel news from WestJet (a new Caribbean destination), Porter Airlines, Air Canada and Accor hotels worldwide. CANADIAN TOURISM REBOUND Destination Canada’s latest report says total tourism revenue across the country is set to exceed 2019 levels. The report states that tourism will generate $109.5 billion by the end of 2023. This represents the recovery of the tourism sector from the COVID-19 pandemic, one year earlier than projected. Tourism generated $105 billion in 2019. The current growth trajectory for Canada is $140 billion in revenues by 2030, the report Read more
Fairmont
Move over London, luxury travelers have a new favourite city. Virtuoso, the global leader in luxury and experiential travel, has analyzed intel from its data warehouse exceeding $63.6 billion in transactions and found that while upscale globetrotters continue to book eternal European favourites, Paris has risen to the top as the number one city among luxury leisure travellers. Surpassing both Rome and London, Paris is Virtuoso’s most booked European city in 2022 – a trend that Virtuoso hotel analytics shows continuing into 2023. While New York City was the most booked city overall in 2022 and is pacing 13 percent Read more
Accor Hotels’ business rebounded significantly in the first half of this year after two years of major pandemic-related disruptions in the tourism and hospitality industry, officials say. “In Q2 2022, activity recovered to levels close to, if not above, the 2019 levels in almost all of our geographies. The only laggards were China, which is impacted by travel restrictions as part of its strict enforcement of a “zero-Covid” policy, and South East Asia, which is highly dependent on Chinese visitors,” officials said. This rebound reflects both the recovery of the number of business and leisure domestic guests, and border reopenings, Read more
Swoop today celebrated its first flight between Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) and Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). The ultra-low-cost airline’s inaugural service took off from Abbotsford at 9:00 a.m. PST and is scheduled to arrive at 2:55 p.m. local time. “As the country’s leading ultra-low fare airline, we’re pleased to add another warm-weather getaway option for residents of the Fraser Valley, with Los Cabos topping our growing list of non-stop destinations available from Abbotsford,” said Shane Workman, Head of Flight Operations, Swoop. “Abbotsford International Airport has been an integral partner back, going back to June 20th, 2018, when we operated Read more
The Trudeau government says Canadians shouldn’t expect open borders anytime soon. Also, Air Canada is teaming up with the Cleveland Clinic, a look at the best hotels in Canada as voted by Travel + Leisure, and new social distancing rules for cruise ships. My Future of Travel blog for July 9. Canada’s Borders Staying Shut For Now BNN Bloomberg has this report on the Canadian border situation: Finance Minister Bill Morneau says he doesn’t expect Canada to lift travel restrictions with the U.S. set in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19, and opening the border would create “additional risk” Read more
