Major investments to help Canadian destinations lure more local travellers. A look at what parts of the world are reopening first. And a note about Monday openings for both the Florida Keys and the U.S. Virgin Islands. My Future of Travel Post, weekend edition. INVESTING IN CANADIAN TOURISM AND LOCAL TRAVEL WIth borders to other countries closed, and travel difficult even between provinces, the Canadian government has announced roughly $71 million in funding to support local tourism across the country. Melanie Joly, the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages in Ottawa, said in a news wire release today that Read more

The Turks and Caicos say they’ll open for visitors on July 22. Meanwhile, Canada has extended its cruise ban on large ships, which will now be prohibited from docking in the country until October 31. I also have a report on Universal Orlando hotels re-opening June 2 and an item about a new Canadian Tourism Roundtable that aims to help the country recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Here’s today’s Future of Travel blog. UNIVERSAL ORLANDO HOTELS TO REOPEN SOON Beginning June 2, 2020, select Universal Orlando Resort hotels will reopen to guests. The reopening of the hotels will be carefully Read more

Great to see that a number of top Alberta attractions will re-open for visitors soon, including the Banff Gondola. It’s also encouraging to see that both Tourism New Zealand and the Accor Hotels Group are resuming their marketing and advertising campaigns.  I’ve also got great news about a hotel re-opening in New York City and a great program to give hotel nights to frontline heroes.  All in today’s Future of Travel blog. TOURISM NEW ZEALAND LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN I got this note today from the folks at the New Zealand tourism office. “100% Pure New Zealand is reconnecting with friends Read more

Great news for Disney fans, as Disney says it wants to begin a phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks on July 11. Meanwhile, Chicago unveils a new tourism and hospitality program as it moves into the post-coronavirus stage. ANd the U.S. Virgin Islands and Hawai’i are both looking at re-opening for tourism in the next month or so. Meanwhile, a survey finds Canadians are intrigued by the idea of using an RV and Silversea is offering great cruise deals. All in my Future of Travel blog for today. WALT DISNEY WORLD LOOKING AT JULY 11 FOR RE-OPENING The Read more

Special air arrangements between specific countries. A new Thailand health and safety program. A spike in U.S. hotel occupancy.  And aid for Newfoundland tourism. I’ve got news on these and other topics today in my regular Future of Travel blog. BUBBLES AND BRIDGES We’ve gotten used to a whole lot of new buzz words of late, including “physical distancing.” Now comes a couple new concepts related to travel: “air bridges” and “travel bubbles.” They’re both similar concepts that could help spark a tourism resurgence in certain parts of the world, but only with certain travellers. Australia and New Zealand have Read more

America’s favourite place to escape is opening for business. Meanwhile, Japan and Sicily will both apparently subsidize tourists who visit their countries and aid in their economic recovery. Meanwhile, both Spain and Greece are prepared to open their doors to some visitors. My Future of Travel blog for May 25. VEGAS COMING BACK Mark down the date June 4 for Vegas, baby. And Reno, too. We’ve seen some openings in Europe and elsewhere, but this is probably the biggest U.S. travel news of the last two month; word that Nevada casinos can fling open their doors on June 4; a Read more