Destinations
Belize introduces new Digital Immigration, Customs Declaration System
Belize’s Department of Border Management and Immigration Services and the Customs and Excise Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics, and E- Governance, have launched a new online departure and arrival immigration and customs declaration system, designed for all travellers entering and leaving Belize. The platform allows travellers to complete and submit the required immigration and customs information in advance through a user-friendly web link, enhancing data accuracy and streamlining the travel experience. The system is now...
Tourist Office of Spain promotes travel to diverse regions for 2025
The Tourist Office of Spain treated Toronto’s travel trade to some Mediterranean hospitality on Nov. 28, providing the latest tourism updates with a side of tapas. Isabel Martin-Benitez, the tourist office’s new director in Canada, shared that Canadian visitation to Spain remains strong, with the first nine months of 2024 bringing 520,000 arrivals. On their Spanish travels, Canadians most commonly seek connections to local culture and heritage, unique gastronomic experiences and sunny beaches. And while the most visited areas are Madrid, Catalonia and Andalusia, regions like...
Ecuador announces new hotels and experiences for 2025
Ecuador has announced a series of transformative tourism projects set to launch in 2025. With a consistent increase in revenue each year, local and international hospitality brands are investing in the Ecuadorian tourism sector. Committed to enhancing travel experiences, the country will welcome new hotels and cruise offerings, adding to its existing portfolio of 4,957 hotels and 15 cruises currently operating in Ecuador. According to the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador, visitors surpassed 589,000 in the first six months, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 2.88% until 2029,...
Turks and Caicos welcomes 1M cruise passengers
The Turks and Caicos Islands have welcomed one million passengers in the first 10 months of 2024. There have been 1,034,251 cruise passengers arriving at the Grand Turk Cruise Center up to Oct. 31, 2024, far surpassing the 924,250 total number of passengers that arrived in 2023. “Grand Turk is on fire!” said Minister of Tourism, Josephine Connolly. “Grand Turk has certainly seen an uptick in the number of ships and passengers arriving at the Cruise Center throughout the year, and this is supported by a recent BREA report that showed over the last year, $116 million dollars was...
WestJet introduces new route from Newfoundland to Dublin
WestJet is reestablishing a direct connection between Newfoundland and Ireland with a new non-stop St. John’s-Dublin route for summer 2025. This long-anticipated route offers travelers from Newfoundland and Labrador a seamless gateway to the Emerald Isle, highlighting the strong historical and cultural ties shared between the two regions. Sandra Moffatt, director, Canada for Tourism Ireland highlighted the strong demand for direct flights to Ireland from the Canada’s east coast stating, “This development offers Canadian travellers a seamless and efficient journey to Ireland, with...
St. Kitts launches new packages for couples
This season, St. Kitts Tourism Authority is speaking the language of love, offering couples exclusive packages and exciting activities designed for reconnection, escape and indulgence. Through the new "St. Kitts: Your New Love Language" campaign, travellers can discover an off-the-beaten path destination for an adventurous escape or a luxurious, intimate retreat. The destination offers a variety of exciting activities for couples, whether they're eloping or seeking to reconnect through adventure and relaxation. From hiking the island's dormant Mount Liamuiga and exploring its lush,...
Türkiye posts record-breaking visitation numbers for 2024
During the first nine months of 2024, Türkiye has welcomed 49.2 million visitors, marking a record-breaking year for the country’s tourism industry. With a nine per cent increase in visitor numbers and a 7 per cent rise in revenue over last year, Türkiye is set to surpass its target of 60 million visitors by year-end. At a press conference in Istanbul, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy reported the country’s third-quarter results, which included a total revenue for 2024 of $46.9 billion USD to date. Average daily spending per international visitor also rose to...
Upbeat Brand USA meeting paints positive picture for tourism
The tourism body promoting the United States to international travellers has high hopes for the country's tourism trade. Participants in Brand USA's Nov. 18 board of directors meeting were told that the country is expected to host 73 million people this year, while 2025's figure will reach 83.3 million. The U.S. Department of Commerce figures also predict that international visitations will reach 90.6 million in 2026 and 94.5 million in 2027. Sporting events are expected to help fuel the growth, with the USA hosting such sporting extravaganzas as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup...