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Asia

The Trudeau government is extending its testing requirements for visitors arriving in Canada from China and Hong Kong. Ottawa last night (Feb. 2) put out the following statement: In response to the increasing spread of COVID-19 and its variants in the People’s Republic of China and limited epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data available on these cases, the Government of Canada announced temporary pre-boarding test requirements and arrival screening effective January 5, 2023, for most travellers arriving on flights originating from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao. On February 4, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. EST, we are Read more

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Now that Asia’s World City is ready to welcome international visitors again, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year in true Hong Kong style. After all, nowhere blends time-honoured CNY traditions with modern energy quite like this buzzing metropolis. In honour of the Year of the Rabbit, here are five of Hong Kong’s most fortuitous experiences to fill your year with good luck, health and prosperity. 1. Take Instagrammable Photos with the ‘Lucky Rabbit’ As the traditional colour of CNY, red is believed to boost one’s fortune! Don a new lucky red T-shirt, a red cheongsam dress or Read more

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New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals Paris as the world’s most powerful city destination. But the future belongs to China. The report, sponsored by Visa and researched in partnership with Oxford Economics, analyzed key indicators such as Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP, employment and traveller spend. The U.S. had three cities in the top 10: Orlando, New York and Las Vegas. China had three in the top 10: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. COVID-19 had a devastating impact on Travel & Tourism and in particular major cities around the world as countries closed their borders Read more

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My travel notebook for today touches on a cannabis-friendly hotel for Sin City, cruise news from Holland America, a Singapore tourism update and a wave season deal from Celebrity Cruises. OH, WOW, MAN: A CANNABIS HOTEL FOR VEGAS In a town known for its “bigger is better” philosophy, there is a new reimagined property set to bring an intimate, modern, urban, and sexy travel experience to Las Vegas, and it will make its stunning debut this spring. Open while undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, the once famed Artisan Hotel Boutique is evolving into The Lexi – Elevations Hotels and Resorts, a Read more

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It’s National Trivia Day, which means I have an excuse to publish a few fun geographical/travel questions. Here goes with 10 questions (answers below). QUESTIONS 1. Which is further west, Los Angeles, California or Reno, Nevada? 2. True or false: St. John’s Newfoundland in Canada is closer to Ireland than it is to Vancouver. 3. Everyone knows (or should) that Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain on the planet. What’s the second tallest? 1. Mount McKinley. 2. K2 3. The Matterhorn 4. China and India are by far the most populous countries on earth. What country is third in population? Read more

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