DISPLACED CUBA PAX CHOOSING D.R. AND MEXICO
Sunwing Vacations, now Canada’s largest former supplier of Cuba vacations, says it has seen a dramatic switch in bookings to the Dominican Republic in place of the troubled Caribbean island.
WESTJET LATEST TO TRIM FUEL SURCHARGE, OTHERS HOLD STEADY
Some Canadian airlines are scaling back fuel surcharges as fuel prices fall, while others are holding steady for now.
WATCH WHAT YOU SAY: Tourist faces five years for racist remarks in Brazil
Brazil’s federal police detained disembarking airline passenger in Sao Paulo’s international Guarulhos airport for racism on Wednesday, the latest in a series of high-profile arrests of foreign tourists on similar grounds.
IT’S ONLY NATURAL: Natural phenomena outshine events as travel catalyst
Rare natural phenomena such as auroras, solar eclipses, wildebeest migrations and volcanic eruptions are the strongest catalysts for event-driven international travel, surpassing sporting events, concerts and festivals, according to a new survey of global travellers.
WHERE’S THE HOOGHLY? YOU’RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT
By WALLACE IMMEN/ Think you’ve seen it all? Leave it to Scenic Group to keep expanding the definition of exotic cruising. Their latest boutique ship, Scenic Aura, will be exploring a river that flows through India’s West Bengal along with land extensions for tiger viewing and visiting the Taj Mahal.
LISTENING IN: Remembering David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas, the lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears, whose husky, high-strung tenor on “Spinning Wheel,” “And When I Die” and other hits, helped make the so-called “brass rock” band among the most popular acts of the late 1960s, died “peacefully” Tuesday at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto at age 84.
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TRADING VOLUME FOR VALUE: Longer, higher spend trips are driving strong summer
Canadian travellers are prioritizing longer, higher-value trips that are driving strong growth for the summer, according to new data from Virtuoso. Notably, while demand for travel to the U.S. has softened, the travellers who are going are spending significantly more, and Canadian summer travel overall is pacing well ahead of last year.
‘MORE CHILL THAN AMERICA’: Toronto gets high marks from soccer fans
Halfway through Toronto’s World Cup hosting journey, visitors from around the world say the city has offered them much more than soccer.
UNMISSABLE FLORIDA (FROM SOMEONE WHO SHOULD KNOW): State tourism boss offers inside tips
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ There’s no shortage of tips (online and elsewhere) on what to do when visiting Florida – even when it comes to activities beyond the famed beaches, energizing theme parks, colourful cities, and far-out attractions (like the Kennedy Space Center).
WESTJET POSTS TOP ON-TIME PERFORMANCE
Hailing the ranking as a “major milestone in operational excellence,” WestJet reports it has earned a place among the world’s most on-time airlines in the latest Cirium On-Time Performance Report.
QANTAS PLANS WORLD’S LONGEST FLIGHT: 22 hours much better than four days
Qantas Airways plans to launch the world’s longest direct flight next year, a service of up to 22 hours nonstop between London and Sydney.
UNRUSHED IRELAND: Visitors invited to slow down and smell the shamrocks
In a world where travel often feels rushed and driven by checklists, Ireland has embraced the notion of “slow travel,” in which visitors are drawn deeper and beyond the expected toward richer encounters with its landscapes, culture and communities.