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Canadian Resort & Travel Association

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Canada wants to be in the top 10 global tourism destinations — but it's struggling to get there

Source: CBC News

Canada has set ambitious post-pandemic tourism targets and has a new strategy to meet them, but experts say geopolitical challenges, cost of travel in the country and climate change will make those goals difficult to achieve.

Canada's goal is to get back into the top 10 tourist destinations in the world, after falling to 13th in 2021 on the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index. Canada was 11th on the 2024 index, but the federal government has set a goal of seventh by 2030.

It also wants to increase annual tourism revenues from $140 billion to $160 billion and to boost the sector's contribution to Canada's GDP by 40 per cent.

Highway 16 traffic flowing once again through fire-ravaged Jasper National Park

Source: Global News

The main east-west highway through Jasper National Park in Alberta reopened to all traffic Friday morning, after it was closed two weeks ago due to wildfires.

Parks Canada said Highway 16 is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., but that could change depending on fire behaviour and operational needs.

Drivers are not allowed to stop or exit off the highway, as there are still active fires in the park.

83% of Gen Z prefers booze-free travel, citing safety concerns

Source: Travel Press

Recent findings from Flight Centre Travel Group‘s (FCTG) State of Student and Youth Travel Report suggest so, with 83 per cent of Gen Z open to alcohol-free vacations—a refreshing trend shaping Canadian travel.

Gone are the days of wild nights and hazy mornings. Today’s young travellers are more interested in culture, adventure, and self-discovery. Contrary to the party-centric vacations of previous generations, only 21 per cent of Gen Z prefer clubbing while vacationing. Instead, 70 per cent prioritize sightseeing and city activities, with another 68 per cent emphasizing cultural exploration.

Canada looks to centuries-old indigenous use of fire to combat out-of-control wildfires

Source: USA Today

As Canada deals with the same wildfire problems plaguing the western U.S. — fires of increasing intensity burning larger areas as the climate and forests change — Canadian governments are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on more and better firefighting equipment, increased personnel, fire-tracking satellites and improving community readiness.

But some experts believe part of the solution to reducing catastrophic megafires involves practices that go back thousands of years, to the land's first inhabitants: fighting fire with fire.

NOAA updates 2024 hurricane forecast for rest of the season

Source: AL.com

A very busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is still likely, according to NOAA forecasters. NOAA released its first hurricane season outlook in May. It called for 17-25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger storms).

The new outlook is very similar. It is predicting 17-24 named storms (including the four we’ve had already), eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes. Forecasters still think this hurricane season will be very active.

An average hurricane season in the Atlantic has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

Archer Unveils Planned Los Angeles Air Taxi Network 

Source: Archer Aviation

Archer Aviation Inc. announced plans to launch a Los Angeles air mobility network—seeking to change how Southern California residents and visitors commute, travel and spend their free time.

The goal is for passengers to be able to go to a nearby vertiport, or vertical take-off and landing location, and then fly 10-20 minutes in Archer’s Midnight aircraft to their destination of choice within the network—saving hours versus sitting in traffic.

Canadian Resort & Travel Association

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