Holiday & Travel

A Grand Tour in both name and nature, the world's biggest annual cycling sporting event shows off France’s rural villages, medieval cities, and breath-taking landscapes with pride.

As one of France’s national sports, it's only fitting that those visiting the nation should take to the saddle to explore. This fact has long been recognised by Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours. Included on board all of Scenic’s luxury 5-star Space-Ships are a host of bike and e-bikes that allow guests to explore a range of cycling routes around France, and enhance their luxury river cruise experience.

Jamaica is pleased to announce that it will be the backdrop for the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA’s) 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace to be held next May in Montego Bay.

The announcement was made jointly by the island’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, and President of CHTA, Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig, during the destination update press conference that took place on May 10 at CHTA Marketplace in Barbados.

The Future Hospitality Summit, hosted in Riyadh, returned to Saudi Arabia after an sold-out event in 2022.

The conference program included tracks from the Saudi Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC), Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) with a continued focus on sustainability, innovation, startups and human capital development. It has been a very good occasion to discuss on the untapped opportunities that Saudi Arabia has to offer, especially when it comes to the global wellness sector, worth $800 billion in 2022.

"The state of the Caribbean industry is fantastic," said Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), at the second edition of the Caribbean Travel Forum, an event held yesterday prior to the start of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, where Madden-Greig provided the first brushstrokes of her diagnosis on the health of the region's tourism sector. 

"The state of the Caribbean industry is fantastic," said Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), at the second edition of the Caribbean Travel Forum, an event held yesterday prior to the start of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, where Madden-Greig provided the first brushstrokes of her diagnosis on the health of the region's tourism sector. 

A combination of soaring demand, limited supply and surging airfares have helped airlines book record revenues during the past two quarters, but this golden age of enhanced revenues is coming at the expense of customer satisfaction.

According to 2023 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, released today, customer satisfaction with major airlines is down significantly for a second consecutive year, introducing the risk of possible brand damage if the current pattern of price hikes, staffing shortages and reduced routes continues.

Jamaica Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett received a prestigious award at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association event. The Caribbean Tourism Excellence Award was bestowed on the Minister at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) luncheon held in Bridgetown, Barbados, with the Minister receiving the award from CHTA President Nicola Madden-Gregg.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) 41st Caribbean Travel Marketplace is set to take place in Barbados over the next few days, and as someone who is deeply invested in the Caribbean tourism sector, I couldn’t be more excited to be “back home” for this event.

For many of us who work in Caribbean tourism, travel and hospitality, the past few years have been challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the industry, with travel restrictions, border closures, and reduced demand for travel leading to decreased revenues and job losses across the region.

As most travel restrictions connected to the COVID-19 pandemic have been lifted worldwide, commercial air traffic is set to soar to pre-pandemic levels on most routes in 2023, according to UN aviation agency.

So are the air fares. The price of air travel is set to soar this year too, spelling the end of low-cost travel as we know it.

Guests staying in Sandals Royal Curacao‘s Kurason Island Suites and Awa Seaside Bungalows can explore the colourful island of Curacao in a stylish and sporty MINI Cooper as part of their vacation. Curacao is nestled in the heart of the Leeward Antilles on the coast of a tiny beautiful island where natural and cultural wonders connect to create a beautiful mélange unseen anywhere else. Sandals’ newest all-inclusive resort in Curacao is where the natural romance of this intimate island comes alive.

The European Commission launched the 2024 edition of the European Capital of Smart Tourism, as well as the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions; calling for cities to submit their leading examples of smart and sustainable tourism practices in Europe.

Tourism is the EU’s third largest socio-economic activity, representing around 10% of the EU’s GDP. The sector plays a crucial role in generating growth and jobs, but still holds untapped potential – especially in the area of smart and sustainable tourism. Innovation, accessibility, and sustainability are the future of tourism, and the European Commission aims to keep European tourism ahead of the curve.

Jamaican Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has welcomed the announcement by low-cost Norwegian airline Norse Atlantic Airways that it will expand its services to the Caribbean to include Jamaica this winter season. “This service is coming at an opportune time as we seek to diversify the options available to our visitors from the UK, which is our largest European market,” noted Minister Bartlett.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica is placing special focus on the world’s most populated country, India, as a nation to pull visitors from in coming years as part of a renewed campaign to diversify Jamaica’s tourist markets as he and his team pound the pavement at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates this week. Jamaica gets the bulk of its visitors from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.  

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) has announced the expansion of its membership, as Bermuda officially re-joins the organisation through a collaborative partnership with the Government of Bermuda and the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA).

With its unique, distinctive attributes, Bermuda further strengthens the organisation’s ability to promote the depth of the Caribbean experience as it seeks to explore new growth opportunities. With Bermuda’s membership, CTO marks yet another milestone in its efforts to expand its reach and influence in the regional tourism sector.

As has become customary, year after year Cuba holds its international tourism fair, FITCuba, which in its 41st edition presents novelties worthy of being disclosed.

Once again, Caribbean News Digital and the Excelencias Group are also present at the major tourism exchange in the largest Antillean Island, covering every relevant event.

The 2023 cruise season at the Port of Montreal got off to a great start this morning with the arrival of Holland America Line’s Zaandam, one of the largest cruise ships that visits the Port of Montreal, with a capacity of 1,440 passengers.

To mark the occasion and honour the 150th anniversary of Holland America Line, a plaque was presented to the captain of the Zaandam, Ane Smit. The season will run until October 30, 2023, and the number of international passengers is expected to exceed 45,000, up nearly 20% more than last year.