With Canadian borders having fully opened October 1, Canadians are eager to travel the world. And the top destination for Thanksgiving weekend is New Delhi, India.
“This year, we’re seeing more than half of travel will be international for Thanksgiving from Canada, that’s a big shift from where we were a couple of years ago,” said Laura Lindsay, head of consumer communications and public relations at Skyscanner. “New Delhi is the top destination for Canadians over Thanksgiving.
“Obviously, it’s a time that people [tend to] choose to reconnect with friends and family, or take that extra piece of time off to go a bit further…
Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver also made the top five, which makes sense given family travel trends for the Thanksgiving holiday. But Lindsay said other international destinations also are high on Canadians’ travel lists, including London, New York City and Los Angeles.
“You’re really seeing the return of long haul” flying, she said.
With Asia slowly opening up to foreign tourists, Canadians also are eager to visit cities such as Seoul, Korea.
Which brings us to the next item in today’s short notebook…
WESTJET LAUNCHES CODESHARE WITH KOREAN AIRLINES
WestJet and Korean Air today have expanded their long-standing codeshare agreement with the placement of WestJet’s codeshare on Korean’s flights between both Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International airports in Canada and Incheon International Airport in Seoul.
This is WestJet’s first reciprocal codeshare with an Asian partner.
WestJet officials this week said they’re going to concentrate all their Dreamliners into Calgary this year, and that they’re looking at flights from Alberta to Asia.
The finish line of the Hawaiki Nui Va’a canoe race in Tahiti. JIM BYERS PHOTO
DATES ARE SET FOR TAHITI’S AMAZING CANOE RACE
Tahiti Tourisme is pleased to announce the 29th annual Hawaiki Nui Va’a race will take place in The Islands of Tahiti, from October 26-28 this year. Hawaiki Nui Va’a is the largest and most popular va’a race in the world, and the ultimate traditional Polynesian sporting event.
Traditional outrigger canoeing, or “va’a”, has a long sacred history in The Islands of Tahiti. More than a sport, the va’a tradition reaches back to more than 4,000 years, as the original mode of transportation for native Polynesian people to navigate between islands.
Hawaiki Nui Va’a could best be described as the Super Bowl of outrigger canoe races. It’s the world’s largest, longest, and most exhilarating international open ocean outrigger canoe event, and is the ultimate test of strength and endurance for both men and women. Six-person crews race 79 miles in just three days from the island of Huahine to Raiatea (27 miles), then from Raiatea to Tahaa (16 miles) and finally from Tahaa to Bora Bora (36 miles). The Hawaiki Nui Va’a is the most difficult V6 pirogue race in the world given its duration and intensity, challenging the limits of all its competitors.
Following the competition, traditional music and dancing can be found at the finish line on the island of Bora Bora. Entourages of avid fans follow by canoes and boats, creating a colorful regatta throughout the race.
(I got to attend back in 2010 and found it to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It’s not the Super Bowl, it’s the Super Bowl, the World Cup, the Olympics, the World Series, The Stanley Cup and the NBA Finals all wrapped into one Polynesian boating extravaganza. Thousands of boats trail the racing canoes, and the resulting scene is utter madness. Here’s a story I wrote about the race for the Toronto Star.)
“The Hawaiki Nui Va’a race is a tradition that honors our ancestors and celebrates the Mana or spiritual force of our islands,” said Gina BUNTON, Chief International Operations at Tahiti Tourisme. “With each stroke of the paddle that carries participants over the waters we feel more connected to our past and are ensuring our tradition continues for future generations”
Hawaiki Nui Va‘a is a competition that immerses everyone into the culture and soul of the Polynesian people, reviving memories of the voyages of their Mā’ohi ancestors in search of new horizons to explore.
For more information regarding the Hawaiki Nui Va’a event, please visit the event website.
