Brits are devouring a television show that features people racing across Canada, and Canadian tourism officials hope it will boost British visits to the country.
An Amazing Race-style show called “Race Across the World” has contestants dashing from Haida Gwaii, the remote set of islands north of Vancouver Island, to St. John’s. But entirely by land or water; no air planes.
The show is getting lots of attention, and a story in The Guardian says Canadian tourism officials are keeping a close eye.
Great Britain is Canada’s number one overseas (not international, that’s the U.S.) market for visitors, but numbers in 2022 were still 40% behind pre-pandemic levels.
“There are hopes for an increase with UK viewers inspired by the epic scenery and charmed by helpful Canadians,” The Guardian said.
Vancouver International Airport.
NEXUS OFFICES OPEN AT TWO CANADIAN AIRPORTS TOMORROW
I had an item last week that mentioned how Canada Customs and U.S. Border Patrol officials had finally reached a deal that will allow NEXUS offices to re-open at Canadian airports. NEXUS is a special program that speeds up (and how) travel between the U.S. and Canada. Offices were closed during the pandemic, but will be back at all major airports in Canada by April 24, officials said.
The NEXUS offices at Halifax International and Winnipeg International airports will re-open tomorrow (Monday, March 27). Vancouver will be next, on Monday, April 3. Then comes Calgary and Edmonton on April 12, followed by Montreal Trudeau on April 17. The last two will be Toronto Pearson and Ottawa International, both set to open April 24.
REGINA: WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
Regina’s tourism board is being widely criticized for a marketing campaign that many said went way too far.
CTV News reports that Tourism Regina last week changed its name to Experience Regina. That’s okay, but they also unveiled tourism slogans such as “Show us your Regina,” and “the city that rhymes with fun.”
Mayor Sandra Masters said she had no idea the campaign was going to use wording of that sort. She called the slogans “sexist” and “wrong.”
No kidding.
The Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from the San Francisco Bay Trail at Crissy Field. JIM BYERS PHOTO
THIS AND THAT AND HERE AND THERE
Conde Nast Traveler has a good story on their site about how travelers can use airline stopovers as a way to stretch their budget. “Airlines with free stopovers, which can be turned into a mini-vacation within your existing trip,” the magazine stated. That’s a good travel tip … Tourism is rebounding in my almost home town of San Francisco. Axios reports that visitation is still 16% below 2019 levels, but that visits to The City by the Bay increased from 17 million in 2021 to 21.9 million last year. Now, if they could just get more workers to go back to their downtown offices … Elle magazine has a list out of 10 Canadian hotels that will take your breath away. It’s nice to see the lovely Magnolia Hotel and Spa in Victoria B.C. on the list, as well as the brilliantly redesigned Fairmont Royal York Hotel. But how do you miss Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland? …
