So, you’re tired of airline delays? You’re in good company. WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech took to his Twitter account (@AHoensbroech) on Thursday and blasted Navigation Canada for a 2.5-hour delay on his flight to Vancouver. “Frustrating! Delayed by 2.5h on our own @WestJet flight to @yvrairport because @navcanada is understaffed,” he wrote. “We would have been perfectly on time, now many guests will miss their connections. Shows again why we need a proper shared accountability system across the entire sector!”   Daily Hive quoted a Navigation Canada (NavCan) official as saying that staffing matters are just one of many issues Read more

The Niagara Wine Region could be an even bigger tourism draw – and provide an even larger economic boost to Canada – if government and industry officials work together, a new report says. In a first-time partnership, Ontario Craft Wineries, Tourism Partnership of Niagara and Wine Growers Ontario have come together to commission a Deloitte report that reveals the Ontario wine sector is well positioned to drive sustainable economic growth for the region, the province and the country. Described as the Niagara Cluster, the region is made up of an extensive network or “cluster” of industries where intense economic activities Read more

Southern Ontario has a fabulous new attraction that the whole family can enjoy. After five years of planning and following an extensive fundraising effort that has seen more than $7.3 million raised to date, Muskoka Discovery Centre’s newly enhanced gallery space opened to the public this week.  The 12,000 square foot gallery, The Muskoka Story: A Microcosm of Canada, features three unique exhibits, including the most significant contribution made to Indigenous culture in the region. Curated entirely by a circle of Indigenous elders, scholars and linguists representing four cultural groups including Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabek, Métis and Haudenosaunee, Misko – Aki: Confluence Read more

Canada has a new tourism strategy aimed at cementing the country as a top global destination. The new strategy, announced today in Niagara Falls, “will unleash the full potential of Canadian tourism and cement Canada as a top global destination” through the following five priorities: Investing in Canada’s tourism assets Embracing recreation and the great outdoors Partnering to grow Indigenous tourism Attracting more international events Improving coordination through a federal ministerial council Attracting more international events would presumably help Canada’s biggest cities. Given the interest in indigenous tourism around the world, that also seems like a good strategy (as well Read more

The St. Vincent and The Grenadines Tourism Authority says Air Canada will resume non-stop flights from Toronto Pearson Airport this fall. Starting Oct. 30, 2023, flights will operate three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. That will go to four flights a week from Dec. 11, with flights on Tuesdays through the end of the summer season. “We are very excited and looking forward to welcoming our Canadian friends this winter with the commencement of Air Canada’s weekly non-stop flights,” said Glenn Beache, the tourism authority’s CEO. Tourism officials also said two hotels in the Grenadine Islands will Read more

  U.S. Customs pre-clearance is finally coming to the Toronto Island/City Airport. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra today announce a federal government investment of up to $30 million to build a new preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport for United States-bound travellers. The new facility will build capacity for Toronto’s growing business and leisure passenger volumes transiting through Canada’s largest city. The centre is expected to take 18-24 months to complete and should open sometime in 2025. Eight Canadian airports currently offer preclearance, with Billy Bishop Airport becoming the ninth such facility.   “Fast and secure movement of people Read more