Holiday & Travel

The wait is over for Cayman Airways customers who have been anxiously looking to book tickets for the airline’s second weekly Los Angeles flight and its new nonstop service between Grand Cayman and Barbados.

The Turks and Caicos Islands continues to shine on the global stage, once again clinching the prestigious titles of the Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination and the Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination at the World Travel Awards’ Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony.

The countdown for TIME 2023 on the Island of the Gods began.

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is inspired to announce a substantial increase in air service offerings targeting the US market during the upcoming Winter and Spring of 2024.

It was an exciting weekend for Jamaica on the international stage with the destination taking home over 30 major awards at the 2023 World Travel Awards Caribbean & The America’s Gala, held on August 26 in St. Lucia.

Ever since the world of tourism went through the biggest crisis the sector had ever seen, one country has made headline after headline.

Continuing to cement its position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, Jamaica is expecting an increase in scheduled air capacity from the U.S. market this September through December with approximately 140,000 additional inbound seats available across carriers.

Network Rail has completed a range of essential upgrades to the railway between London Euston, the Midlands, and North West over the August bank holiday.

It was recently announced that the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan will now reduce the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) to US100, per person, per night.

Preparations for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s much-anticipated State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) are well underway, with the program set to take place at The Shore Club Turks & Caicos on Providenciales from October 9-13, 2023.

CTO’s business meetings and destination media briefings will precede the official conference program, which features panel discussions spanning diverse themes – from tourism investment and financing to aviation competitiveness and the burgeoning film industry. CTO’s popular Caribbean Youth Congress also makes its return this year.

Neil Walters, CTO’s Acting Secretary General, anticipates a plethora of meaningful discussions and industry networking to unfold in Turks and Caicos: “SOTIC has traditionally been the CTO’s flagship event held in the Caribbean, and with its return this year under the leadership of our newly appointed Secretary General Dona Regis-Prosper, we are confident the forum will set the stage for sharpening our industry’s collective vision to become even stronger and more effective in positioning the Caribbean as the world’s leading destination for leisure as well as business travel.”

Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism for the Turks and Caicos Islands, shared her pride in hosting the return of SOTIC after a hiatus of five years, stating: “The selection of Turks and Caicos reflects our dedication to hospitality and excellence. As the first major event being held under our new destination marketing and management organization, SOTIC is a significant opportunity for us to collectively shape the narrative of our region’s growth in a post-COVID environment.”

“As Minister of Tourism and Vice Chair of the group of British Overseas countries and territories within the Caribbean Tourism Organization, your presence at SOTIC 2023 holds immense importance,” said Minister Connolly, as she extended a heartfelt invitation to delegates.

Minister Connolly looks forward to showcasing the captivating beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Territory’s dedication to sustainable tourism development. She underscored the potent impact of coordinated action and regional collaboration that conveys a strong message of unity to stakeholders within and beyond the region’s borders.

With small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs) accounting for 80 percent of all tourism business, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says that sector is being positioned to meet the demands of today’s travellers.

In that regard, Minister Bartlett identified the need for three elements to aid the SMTE sector, including training to build capacity, funding for capital development and marketing support.

His remarks were directed at 55 graduates in the third cohort of trainees in the Central Jamaica Social Development Initiative (CJSDI) Youth Entrepreneurship Training Programme at their graduation ceremony on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at Tropics View Hotel.

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, is now an autism-accessible hotel, ensuring inclusive options are now available. This important designation marks the property as the first CAC-certified hotel in Greater Palm Springs, California, as well as the first JW Marriott to gain certification.

Preparations for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s much-anticipated State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) are well underway, with the program set to take place at The Shore Club Turks & Caicos on Providenciales from October 9-13, 2023.

CTO’s business meetings and destination media briefings will precede the official conference program, which features panel discussions spanning diverse themes – from tourism investment and financing to aviation competitiveness and the burgeoning film industry. CTO’s popular Caribbean Youth Congress also makes its return this year.

Record cruise executive attendance, increased economic benefits for Mazatlán and all of Mexico, and invaluable opportunities for attendees were discussed at a press conference last week in Mazatlán, Mexico ahead of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show, taking place November 7-10, 2023.

“This is the only event in the region that puts any attendee in direct contact with cruise executives that can drive business,” said Micky Arison, Chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc and FCCA.

Slovenia's peak tourist season is in full swing despite the floods last weekend, which hit certain destinations and impacted travel. Nevertheless, most of Slovenia remains fully functional, assuring a pleasant getaway. Destinations and tourism providers are doing their best to offer guests a safe and comfortable stay, and the best travel experience, which Slovenia is known for. 

The World Tourism Network will announce a new chapter in Nepal after Pankaj Pradhanang of Four Seasons Travel in Kathmandu, and Deepak Raj Joshi, former CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board met in Kathmandu to lay the groundwork for the new World Tourism Network Chapter in Nepal.

The announcement on social media said: ‘The WTN Nepal Chapter kick-off meeting took place today. @World Tourism Network stay tuned! Thanks, @Deepak Ra Joshi for all your input and energy!’ Pankaj Pradhanang, Kathmandu, Nepal