Several major U.S. destinations are courting Canadian visitors at a very difficult time between the two countries. We have seen Canadian “love letters” from cities such as Detroit and Palm Springs, and a cheeky video from California Governor Gavin Newsom. Today came a strongly worded note of support for Canadian visitors from the governor of Illinois, who also said US President Donald Trump has represented the U.S. in a “shameful” manner. ILLINOIS GOVERNOR CALLS TRUMP BEHAVIOR “SHAMEFUL” Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity ( today released a new video inviting Canadian travelers to visit Read more
South Australia
Australia is a known ‘hot’ spot for immersing yourself in the natural world. Uniquely, every state on the continent boasts numerous undeveloped, and developed springs and waterholes, and many are directly accessible via major cities — making it THE quintessential destination for a road trip. To top it off: most are also surrounded by indigenous areas/experiences and national parks. 2023 ushers in a huge number of NEW luxury, and immersive natural experiences and lodging options for travelers that make now a great time to pen a story (and book a trip). MELBOURNE, VICTORIA Just a few hours from Melbourne, visitors Read more
Australia is open again for business, and Air Canada is an ideal way to get there. Australia has long been a top destination for Canadians dreaming of fantastic scenery, sunny skies, indigenous travel experiences, and amazing culture. The borders were pretty much closed for two years, but international visitors began to be welcomed again in late February. Air Canada has daily flights from Vancouver to Sydney on posh, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. They’ll add direct flights from YVR to Brisbane starting July 1. (Air Canada also will resume flights from Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand in November of this year.) Vic Read more
By Jim Byers Member, Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) After nearly two years of closed borders and virtually no tourism, Australia is flinging open the doors to visitors on Monday, Feb. 21. It’s a momentous occasion for a country that has always placed a high value on attracting tourists. “There is no doubt that a full recovery will take time, but we are confident that the demand for Australia is strong,” Phillipa Harrison, the managing director of Tourism Australia, the country’s tourism board, told The New York Times. The Times said tourism was one of the fastest growing sectors Read more
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Australia three times. I had a month there in 2000 for the Sydney Olympics, then went back in 2010 for the Toronto Star and then to an Australia Tourism Exchange meeting in Brisbane. I haven’t been everywhere, not by a long shot. But I’ve been visited Sydney, Melbourne, Uluru (formerly Ayer’s Rock), Brisbane/Gold Coast, The Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island, King’s Canyon, and remote Lord Howe Island. Here’s a mix of some of my photos along with others from Unsplash, to help cover off places I haven’t yet visited.
