Considering a winter break but need to stay on a budget? You’re not alone. A recent independent survey of Canadian travellers commissioned by Marriott Bonvoy revealed that 68% of Canadians are planning a vacation by the end of the year, but more than 75% plan to do so on a budget. Laura Pallotta, regional vice president of sales & distribution, Canada, Marriott International, has offered five simple tips on how to save this season. 1. Book direct – Shop around all you like, but often, booking directly with the property can net you major savings. You not only save on Read more
Vancouver
Airlift between Canada and Australia is back to 97% of pre-pandemic levels, Tourism Australia officials say. Speaking to the website OpenJaw.com at an Australia tourism event in Los Angeles recently, Tourism Australia’s Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, said Canada “has been a surprising and delightful market for us. It’s quietly growing.” Harrison said Canadians like to explore. “They disperse into the region, which is important for us as a tourism economy. They have the same propensity as Australians to travel.” Tourism Australia data shows that lift between the two countries has been almost fully restored – at 97 per cent of Read more
WestJet today celebrated the return of 17 sun routes to its network this winter, including flights to Las Vegas, Orlando, Cuba, Jamaica, Tampa, The Bahamas and Puerto Vallarta. The returning routes which were suspended for more than two years, bring enhanced connectivity and vacation options for Canadians and communities across the airline’s network. “The restart of these routes is another positive step in the restoration our network as we solidify WestJet as the reliable, friendly and affordable airline we are known to be,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. “We recognize the past three winters Read more
New Zealand fans; rejoice. Aotearoa, the “Land of the Long White Cloud,” on Monday fully opened its borders to visitor from the around the world. It’s the first time borders have been fully open since the government slammed the door on visits in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions began to ease in February for New Zealanders, and then were gradually opened for others. As of today, visitors who need visas and those with student visas can enter the country, as can cruise ship passengers and foreign recreational yachts. CTV and Reuters report that most visitors arriving Read more
The Trudeau government says the passport situation is improving, but there’s still work to do. “Canadians deserve access to timely, efficient, and transparent passport delivery services,” said Karina Gould, federal minister for Families, Children and Social Development. “We’re continuing to tackle big challenges in the passport program, and as the summer progresses, thanks to the hard work of Service Canada staff, we continue to see improvements in service delivery. “We are starting to put a dent in the backlog,” Gould said. “Last week, the number of passports issued was higher than at any point since before the pandemic, at 54,312. Read more
