As I watch the rain turn to snow ere in windy and increasingly cold Toronto, I notice a couple of interesting moves by North American tourism boards. North of the border, Quebec City is pleading with the creators of the “White Lotus” TV show to film in one of North America’s oldest (and most romantic) cities. The Toronto Star and Canadian Press report that Destination Quebec City and its advertising agency have created a presentation promoting te city and its biggest assets as an ideal filming spot. Part of their pitch, of course, is the fairy tale-like Fairmont Le Chateau Read more
marketing
One of the world’s top destinations has loosened its travel restrictions. The South China Morning Post said that, starting today (Dec. 14), Hong Kong will scrap an amber health code that currently bans travellers who test negative from entering certain places of business, such as restaurants, within three days of arriving in the city. BNN Bloomberg said some curbs still remain, including the need for PCR tests for visitors arriving in Hong Kong. “The new arrangements marks the opening of the tourism doors of Hong Kong,” Dr. Pang Yiu-kai, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said in a statement. Read more
VISIT FLORIDA invites Canadian travelers back to the Sunshine State. As impacted communities in Southwest Florida recover, VISIT FLORIDA has resumed its marketing initiatives in Canada highlighting the unaffected areas that are open and ready to welcome visitors from around the country. Tourism is Florida’s number one industry, contributing billions of dollars annually to the state’s economy. As Florida’s official tourism marketing corporation, VISIT FLORIDA plays a vital role in the state’s crisis response and recovery efforts, and communicating that Florida’s cities and regions including Clearwater, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Pensacola and Tampa are eager to welcome travelers. VISIT FLORIDA Read more
Western Australia’s unique destinations and experiences are epitomized as “Walking On A Dream” in a new global tourism brand for the state launched this week by Tourism Western Australia. The “Walking On A Dream” campaign invites travelers to visit WA to explore the attributes that make the destination a wondrous, dreamlike place, including its extraordinary landscapes and one-of-a-kind experiences that inspire a sense of unparalleled freedom. Editor’s note: I had a FABULOUS trip to Western Australia in May of this year. Included on my tour was a visit with Josh Koomal, an aboriginal man who runs a tour company called Read more
Toronto is once again marketing itself in the U.S. as a great travel destination. The city has done okay with domestic travel, but U.S. visitors are key to Toronto’s tourism, as foreign visitors tend to stay longer and spend more than domestic visitors. The campaign is called “You Gotta See What We See,” and uses “enthusiastic, passionate Torontonians with stories we believe will resonate with our US audiences specifically.” Sounds like a smart plan to me. Many would-be travellers love to check out Tik Tok and Instagram pages before they book a trip, so why not use those influencers? Geographically, Read more
