A lot has been written about over-tourism of late. With the summer travel season just beginning, we’re likely to see more about crowding in popular parts of the world, especially Europe. The latest story on the matter comes from the legendary Cinque Terre in Italy, the five scenic villages that dot the coast east of Genoa. “Our problem isn’t overtourism but overcrowding, and during certain periods of the year,” Fabrizia Pecunia, the mayor of both Manarola and Riomaggiore, said in a story posted in The Guardian. “The main challenge is how to distribute tourism across the area, and we need Read more
Europe
WestJet celebrated the departure of its inaugural service between Halifax and Edinburgh on Thursday, June 20, with the departure of WS46 from Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) scheduled for 10:35 p.m. local time. The new service marks an important milestone for the WestJet Group as it continues to bolster Halifax’s connectivity this summer. Additionally, the airline celebrated the return of non-stop service between Halifax and Dublin on Wednesday, June 19. WestJet also offers flights from Halifax to London, Gatwick. “Further solidifying our position as Canada’s leading leisure airline, this flight is another milestone in our commitment to enhancing Atlantic Canada’s Read more
Record-Breaking International Visits to Scotland Last Year + Lost Airline Bag Incidents Down Sharply
New figures show that Scotland experienced a record-breaking influx of international visitors in 2023, welcoming 3.9 million tourists, marking a 15% increase from 2019. The 2023 International Passenger Survey by the Office of National Statistics showed a significant 23% increase from 2022, which saw 3.2 million visitors, and the previous record was set in 2018 with 3.7 million visitors. Notably, Scotland was the only UK nation to surpass its 2019 international tourism levels. North American and European visits rose by 16% and 19%, respectively, while visits from other countries, including Australia and China, surged by 53% compared to 2022. The Read more
Air Canada has renewed its partnership with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees until 2030. It also has unveiled a special new Boeing 777 with special decorations and Go Canada Go message. Air Canada will transport more than 1,000 Team Canada athletes and delegation members to the upcoming Games, showcasing the airline’s ongoing commitment to connecting the best of Canada with the world. The new agreement extends through the 2030 Winter Games, including Paris 2024, Cortina d’Ampezzo-Milan for the 2026 Winter Games and the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, and also the 2030 Winter Olympics. Air Canada has been the Official Airline Read more
WestJet today issued an advance lockout notice to the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the union that represents WestJet Encore pilots. As a result of the lockout notice, a work stoppage could occur as early as Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 6 p.m. MT, unless a deal is reached. The announcement comes following the failed ratification of the tentative agreement between the two parties on Friday, May 10, 2024. “The decision to issue notice was not made lightly, and we sincerely apologize for the uncertainty this causes for our guests and the Western Canadian regions that rely on WestJet Read more
