The pandemic may be over, but the pain continues for Canadian tourism and travel businesses. Forty-five per cent (45%) of Canada’s tourism businesses report that they are likely or somewhat likely to close within the next three years without government intervention into their mounting debt load, according to new research commissioned by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and its provincial and territorial counterparts. The survey finds that 55 per cent of tourism sector businesses who share their views are somewhat not or not confident that their company will be able to make debt payments (principal and interest) that Read more
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
A new report from the World Travel & Tourism Council predicts the Canadian tourism and travel industry is poised for a major rebound and is close to recovering to 2019 levels. The council’s 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) reveals the Canadian Travel & Tourism sector continues to show strong signs of post-pandemic recovery. According to the latest report, the sector is set to contribute $162.6 billion to the Canadian economy this year, up 17.2% from last year and within touching distance of the previous peak of $173.9 billion in 2019. WTTC is also forecasting that Travel & Tourism will create Read more
With 15 acres of tropical gardens, swimming pools and white sand beach, the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino has always been known as a great place to relax. Now, in this age of business and leisure being blurred into “bleisure,” it sounds like a great place to relax AND work. I had a chance to chat with marketing manager Melissa Michaane the other day about a resort and an island I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting just yet. The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino was the first hotel to debut on Palm Beach in 1959. The resort Read more
Airlines, cruise companies and other tourism-related groups are welcoming the announcement that Canada will end all travel restrictions and end the Canadian mask mandate for planes and trains on Saturday, October 1. The Trudeau government today announced that mandatory vaccination rules will end on that date, as will random border testing of travellers. Ottawa also is making the controversial ArriveCAN app optional, and ending the requirement for masks on airplanes and trains. “Air Canada welcomes the removal of these restrictions, acknowledging that air travel is safe and that the measures were not justified by science,” We believe it will greatly Read more
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) says it’s “heartened” by news that Canada will drop its COVID-19 vaccine border requirements by the end of September, make the ArriveCan application optional, and end the outstanding random COVID-19 testing for travellers. A southern Ontario MP went much further, saying delays in changing the rules badly damaged Canada’s tourism economy. Published reports say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday signed off on the concept. Ottawa brought in the rules under an order-in-council earlier this year, but that order expires on September 30. Which would mean Canadians and other travellers will have a new Read more
