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
lost baggage
Record-Breaking International Visits to Scotland Last Year + Lost Airline Bag Incidents Down Sharply
Are Canadian airlines worse about losing luggage than American or Australian carriers? New data from Compare the Market reveals that one-in-four Australians and Americans, and almost one-in-three Canadians, report having had an airline misplace or lose their luggage. Using survey data from more than 3,000 adults across all three nations, Compare the Market also investigated whether they got their belongings back, how much they were compensated by the airline, if at all, and how travel insurance payouts compared. Asked if they had ever had their luggage lost while flying, 24.5% of Australians said yes, compared to 27.6% of Americans and Read more
Canadian airlines could soon face tougher rules for delays and cancellations, a top official in the Justin Trudeau government says. Speaking in the wake of a bad bout of holiday travel chaos that left hundreds of Canadians stranded over Christmas and New Year’s, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the country’s recently-updated air passenger protection rules could be in for more changes that would help consumers. Alghabra told the CBC he’s looking at rules that would put the onus on airlines to deal with complaints, and not force consumers to file complaints with the Canadian Transport Agency (CTA). “Last summer and Read more
Sunwing today issued a formal apology for stranding passengers in Mexico over the Christmas holidays. In a note signed by Sunwing Travel Group CEO Stephen Hunter and Sunwing Airlines President Len Corrado, the company said it’s “incredibly sorry” for days of chaos that saw flights cancelled and left Canadians stranded in Mexico for days. “Sunwing was founded on a promise to help make Canadians’ vacation dreams come true with affordable all inclusive getaways to dozens of highly rated vacation destinations. We are astutely aware that, for too many Canadians, we failed to live up to that promise this holiday season. Read more
