A recently-formed Canadian tourism group is urging more open borders for intra-Canada and international travel. Meanwhile, MGM Resorts is opening more properties in Las Vegas. Monterey, California and Disneyland also are re-opening, as Air Transat will resume flights July 23. That and more in today’s Future of Travel post. CANADA TOURISM ROUNDTABLE WANTS MORE OPEN BORDERS The Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable* says Canada needs to get rid of its quarantine requirement for all international visitors and take more of a country-by-country approach. It also weants open provincial borders to save Canadian tourism for the summer. Here’s an open letter Read more
Florida
Orlando has opened many of its theme parks and attractions, including restaurants. Here’s a look at how it’s working. I also have news on new health and safety plans from WestJet, and also from The World Travel and Tourism Council I also have news about DIsney Cruise cancellations and more. HOW ORLANDO HAS RE-OPENED Orlando is America’s favorite destination – as shown by Expedia data to be the most-searched destination for a vacation from July through December – and is now welcoming visitors with new expanded safety measures. Many attractions, hotels and restaurants are now open, with more added daily, and all major theme parks have now scheduled reopening dates in the coming weeks. The reopened businesses include enhanced safety procedures that ensure existing guidelines from CDC and health officials are followed, as well as many additional measures and formal programs from the industry’s most trusted brands. “Our Read more
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada has launched a new plan to save Canadian tourism as we recover from COVID-19. There also are reports of a serious problem for Prince Edward Island visitation. My Future of Travel blog also looks at re-openings for Universal Orlando, Bologna and the Czech Republic. New Plan to Save Canadian Tourism After COVID-19 I love seeing this, and I hope to heck it makes a difference to the Canadian tourism industry, which I’ve argued for years has been under-appreciated and under-served by a series of federal (and provincial) governments. Here’s a statement I Read more
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
Universal Orlando says it will open doors – with new health guidelines and physical distancing rules – on June 5. In other news, Air Canada says it will no longer put expiry dates on vouchers given out to travelers who had flights cancelled due to COVID-19. They also say vouchers will be fully transferable. Meanwhile, a top travel agent group says cruise bookings are up substantially. A look at what’s new in my regular Future of Travel blog. UNIVERSAL FLORIDA SET TO RE-OPEN JUNE 5 It may seem a bit early to some, but Universal in Florida is re-opening on Read more
