20 minute read
Canada's comeback
Be inspir ed by Canada
• Canada’s comeback • Rendez-vous Canada 2022 news • 48 hours in Toronto • My journey: Newfoundland and Labrador • Canada’s mountains •
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Canada’s Big Adventures
Canada has long been a ‘bucket list’ destination for UK travellers who are now, post-pandemic, converting that interest into bookings and planning trips that reveal more of the country, says Jessica Pook
Our three-man kayak slides eff ortlessly across a marblestill lake, the silence only occasionally broken by the odd chirp that is too irregular and distant to warrant being called birdsong.
Yet we were not alone. Over on the grassy bank a moose is munching on the twigs and buds of an aspen tree.
The male, immediately recognizable by its huge antlers, gives us a cursory glance before nuzzling its long face and the distinctive fl ap of skin that covers its throat back into a feast of aquatic vegetation.
Of all of Algonquin Provincial Park’s wildlife, moose are one of the most sought after species to see on any canoe or camping trip and this majestic creature had strolled into view just an hour into our daylong adventure.
Our guide, Roland, explains that the moose population in Algonquin is healthy and that spring is the best time to see them as they come out in force to feed on the new sprouting plants in the ditches and open areas.
He tells us that moose antlers are the fastest type of growing bone known on the planet: a moose may grow a set of antlers weighing up to 25 kilograms in just fi ve months!
Algonquin, the oldest provincial park in Ontario and the fi rst provincial park in Canada, is home to 7,630 square kilometres of canoe tripping opportunities and with 2,000 kilometres of canoe routes the park is perfect for a quick sample trip or for building a larger adventure amongst its backcountry.
Campsites are marked and maintained, motorboats are restricted to a few lakes and access into the park is limited to the Highway #60 “corridor”. As a result, most of Algonquin is only accessible by canoe.
About 250 kilometres north of Toronto, and about 260 kilometres west of Ottawa, Algonquin makes for a perfect and gentle introduction to Canada’s vast wilderness areas and wildlife.
Country life
Canada remains a big bucket list trip for Brits but with 70% of visitors arriving via four airports – Montréal, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto – most only see
Canada’s comeback / 41
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a pinprick of what the country offers. Destination Canada is hoping to change this by introducing new initiatives that drive visitors to more rural parts of the country.
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Canada’s Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, spoke of Canada’s successful but challenging tourism recovery at this spring’s Rendez-vous Canada 2022 trade show in Toronto, saying: “Confidence and demand for travel to Canada is strong and we saw arrival figures in March recover to 58% compared to pre-pandemic levels.”
He added: “So often we hear that after people come to Canada for the first time they end up coming back five times. On each visit they want to explore deeper and we want to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that travel around Canada is seamless – which is why a new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy will focus on facilitating travel to more rural parts of the country.”
Maureen Riley, Vice President at Destination Canada, said the tourist board has used the pandemic to rethink its tourism strategy going forward, saying: “There’s no denying that 2019 was a pinnacle year for Canada with arrival numbers reaching an all-time high, but we also noticed that some parts were starting to become quite busy with tourists. We want visitors to see more of what makes Canada truly unique.”
And what is it that makes Canada stand out? Riley thinks it’s down to its geography and people. “Canada’s geography has helped to shape many Indiginous cultures. We want visitors to engage with and reconnect with Canada through its people.”
Increased airlift is a main focus for Destination Canada as well as engaging with the travel trade to “create a level of comfort” in selling more diverse itineraries.
“Our focus is to create better accessibility to Atlantic Canada, Northern Canada and the Prairies,” says Riley. “These are areas that are considered off the beaten path, but are Canada at its most authentic.
“We are working closely with the travel trade to arm them with the tools they need to sell more of Canada. The summer months are the most popular for the UK market, and we have certainly seen a bounce back in bookings for 2022. We know that traditional coach tours aren’t big sellers for the UK market so we tend to focus on individual packages.”
Tour operators are reporting a spike in forward bookings for Canada. APT has launched a 2023 Canada & Alaska with Western USA touring programme in response to steep demand for longer haul travel next year. The nine tours include luxury coaches, Alaskan cruising with Holland America Line, rail journeys on the Rocky Mountaineer, and helicopter and light aircraft tours over national parks.
Brad Bennetts, APT’s new UK Head of Sales & Business Development, said: ”Touring is a fantastic way for travel agents to supply the finest experiences, already neatly packaged up, to their clients.
“We’ve done the hard work in bringing together all the show stopping elements, so they don’t have to.”
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Cruising amongst the natural beauty of the 1000 Islands and the St. Lawrence River it will trace the historic routes of those early Upper Canada explorers. unDiscovered Tours in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has three new craft liquor tours: Saskatoon Craft Brewery tour, Saskatoon Cocktail Tour and Saskatoon Craft Liquor tour.
Frontiers North Adventures, in Churchill, Manitoba, will introduce its first Conservation Journey: Beluga Whales tour this summer and is taking bookings for 2023. It is also in the process of converting its fleet of tundra buggies to electric power, with plans to convert all 12 vehicles by 2030. The company is adding more departure cities, launching trips out of Montréal beginning autumn 2022, and by autumn 2023 will have direct trips from WInnipeg, Montréal and Calgary.
Metis Crossing, Alberta, has launched three new tours: Vision Hopes & Dreams, a guided wildlife tour to see white bison, wood bison, plains bison, elk and Percheron horses; Paddle into the Past, a four-hour tour including canoeing on the North Saskatchewan River; and Walk in our Mocs Archery Program, a two-hour experience learning archery, and cultural traditions.
Parks Canada has nine new tours that will appeal to travellers interested in soft adventure, historical, natural history and Indigenous culture. From Old Québec to Whale Country is a sevenday adventure through Québec’s whale country while Let’s Conquer Québec City is a three-day getaway that dives into the history of the province. 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours in Ontario has introduced a Seaway and Cider Tour: a heli tour viewing of Singer Castle, Boldt Castle, and shipwrecks, plus a tour of local cidery BUSL, a tasting flight of
norThErn LighTs aT aurora ViLLagE, yELLowkniFE, nwT oTTawa’s sTriking FairMonT ChâTEau LauriEr
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four cider, a light meal and the return flight. Total flying time is 30 minutes. attractions: Prince Edward Island’s 700-km Island Walk was unveiled during the pandemic. The walk can be done in sections or as one lengthy journey. Suggested itineraries from four to 14 days have been designed and tour operators have partnered to help with accommodation and transportation between stops.
Qaumajuq Inuit Art Centre opened in 2021 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. It showcases contemporary Inuit art. Inua, the inaugural show, runs until 2023.
Opening next month in Saint John, New Brunswick, is Area 506’s Container Village, a waterfront hub designed entirely with shipping containers. It will have a stage for live performances, retail space and a waterfront beer garden.
Local Guy Adventures offers Fat biking within the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Geopark in Nova Scotia. Well used oldgrowth forest trails lead to the ocean floor passing sculpted rock formations and ripples in the sand left by the tides.
Splashifax is Halifax’s first ever floating water park located on the grounds of Hatfield Farm Cowboy Adventures in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia. It has a giant outdoor floating playground, obstacle park and is also home to the world’s largest inflatable unicorn! accommodation: Forest Park Hotel in Jasper, Alberta, opened in June. A 88-room hotel was connected to the former Sawbridge Inn & Conference Centre to create a wilderness-inspired resort.
A new 40-room boutique lodge opened earlier this year at Metis Crossing, and this summer stargazing pods will be introduced.
Sépaq, the agency of the Government of Québec that manages parks and wildlife reserves, is introducing solar-powered Horizon chalets in 13 provincial parks, along with hunting and fishing packages.
In 2023, Royalmount will open in Montréal, Québec. The 1,500-room property is being built in the middle of an ecologically-rooted new development.
Toronto will welcome both an Ace Hotel and a W Hotel in 2022.
Gros Morne Inn opens its doors this year in Western Newfoundland and Labrador. Its 15 luxury guest rooms will be surrounded by the nature of Gros Morne National Park. Guests will be able to enjoy outdoor cedar tubs, a sauna and a menu of locally sourced food.
Book it with
first class holidays
The operator’s 13-day self-drive Peaks and Vineyards tour starts and ends in Vancouver and takes in Osoyoos (a lakefront community), Kelowna, Sun Peaks and Whistler. Included along the way is time in Vancouver, visits to the vineyards, cellar doors and fruit farms of the Okanagan region, hiking, golfing or biking at Sun Peaks and a night in Whistler Village. Prices start at £1,599pp, including flights. firstclassholidays.com; 0161 888 5630. •
Venture outdoor s in Atlantic Canada
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With 43,000km of wild coastline, shifting tides and miles of hiking trails, Atlantic Canada was made for outdoor adventure
With pre-departure testing a thing of the past, it’s easy for clients to experience Canada’s rugged beauty and ionic wildlife with coastal adventure and inland hikes across Atlantic Canada.
Kayak the rocks
Clients can experience the highest tidal paddling experience on earth with Baymount Outdoor Adventures. Famed for having a tidal diff erence of 16 metres, the Bay of Fundy boasts a dramatic coastline from hidden caves to sandstone statues, fossil fi lled beaches and the entirely unique “fl owerpot” rock formations found at The Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick. There’s even the chance to kayak after dark to see the stars. Suggest that clients revisit the rocks at low tide for a “before and after” shot. tourismnewbrunswick.ca
See ocean giants
During the spring and summer months it’s not uncommon to see a 10,000-year-old iceberg drifting down Iceberg Alley or a humpback whale feeding just off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. These ocean giants are best seen on a boat tour with Gatherall’s Puffi n & Whale Tour which takes in the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Those looking for a more gentle excursion can paddle the Avalon Peninsula with A Little Cup of Sea which off ers paddleboarding excursions from June through September. newfoundlandlabrador.com
ISLAND WALK ACROSS PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
WHALE SPOTTING IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR VIEW OF HALIFAX FROM GEORGES ISLAND NIGHT KAYAKING AROUND THE HOPEWELL ROCKS
Pack a picnic
Hop on a ferry to Georges Island, located in the middle of Halifax harbour, and take in views of the city skyline. Explore historic tunnels, learn how the native Mi’kmaq people lived and walk the walls of Fort Charlotte. When hunger strikes there’s no better way to enjoy the surroundings than with a Parks Canada Perfect Picnic off ered by Cable Wharf Kitchen & Patio. Finish with a guided Halifax Harbour kayak tour with Harbour Watercraft Tours and Adventures. novascotia.com
Take a hike
Prince Edward Island’s 435-mile Island Walk passes red sand beaches and verdant forests. Suggested itineraries from four to fourteen days have been designed and tour operators have partnered to help with accommodation and transportation between stops. Alternatively, the 169-mile Confederation Trail runs from the west of Prince Edward Island to the east. It’s best explored by bike or on foot. tourismpei.com •
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canada
Rendez-vousing in Toronto
Selling Travel joined the first in-person Rendez-vous Canada since 2019. Held in Toronto, global buyers and sellers engaged in 48,000 appointments. Jessica Pook rounds up the news
Canada to invest in remote tourism
A new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy will focus on facilitating travel to more rural parts of the country, Selling Travel was told at Rendezvous Canada 2022 in Toronto.
The flagship event for Canada’s tourism industry, which hosted over 700 delegates, celebrated in-person meetings and the country being “open for business.”
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Canada’s Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, spoke of Canada’s successful but challenging tourism recovery, saying: “Confidence and demand for travel to Canada is strong and we saw arrival figures in March recover to 58% compared to pre-pandemic levels.”
Canada’s hotel industry is also projecting an increase in revenues, with some expecting a 20% increase over 2019.
Boissonnault added: “Now is the time to be bold. We have built a long-term resilience plan which includes improved infrastructure, engaging with the community and preventing labour shortages.”
He added: “We’re serious about rural and remote tourism because Canada is not known for its urban experience, it’s known for its great outdoors.”
Speaking to Selling Travel at the show, Maureen Riley, VP International at Destination Canada, agreed, saying: “We now have a business strategy to increase air access into Canada as well as within Canada. We will combine that growth and infrastructure with the stories that we can tell about our rural communities.” Some key new Indigenous experiences include the Metis Crossing, Alberta’s first major Métis cultural interpretive destination; the Klahoose Wilderness resort in British Columbia and Madaahoki farm in Ottawa.
Rendez-vous Canada 2023 will be held in Québec City. rendezvouscanada.ca
Viking to cruise the Great Lakes
VI k ING Viking Cruises has added a collection of Great Lakes itineraries for 2022, including a sailings between Toronto and Duluth.
Designed specifically to reach the Great Lakes region, the Viking Octantis will remain in the Great Lakes until October 2022.
Viking Octntis is the first expedition cruise ship to be introduced by Viking Cruises under its Viking Expeditions brand and will accommodate 378 guests in 189 staterooms and have a modern Scandinavian design.
During Viking’s inaugural 2022 season, the company is operating four new itineraries in the Great Lakes. These are: Undiscovered Great Lakes, an eight-day journey from Thunder Bay to Milwaukee; the eightday Great Lakes Explorer, which sails the reverse route from Milwaukee to Thunder Bay; Niagara and the Great Lakes, an eightday sailing from Toronto to Milwaukee, and Canadian Discovery, journeying from New York to Toronto. On the cruises guests will have the chance to see Niagara Falls, glide in a kayak through the UNESCO Biosphere of Georgian Bay, discover Toronto and learn about the Anishinaabe indigenous heritage of the Thunder Bay area.
A second expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris, will debut later this year and will join the Viking Octantis in the Great Lakes for the 2023 season.
This will be accompanied by a new 15-day voyage, a 15-day Great Lakes Collection sailing from Toronto to Duluth.
“This region has been historically undiscovered by cruise lines and we are pleased with the strong demand. Our expedition ships were designed with the Great Lakes in mind,” said Torstein Hagen, Viking Chairman. vikingcruisescanada.com
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Canada’s Michelin debut
Toronto is to become the first MICHELIN Guide destination in Canada. The MICHELIN Guide, which will be published in autumn 2022, will celebrate Toronto’s food scene and award MICHELIN Stars – One, Two or Three – to unparalleled cuisine.
Toronto offers foodies “global eats and charming cafes as well as high-end dining experiences.” It is expected that a selection of restaurants will receive honours.
The upcoming MICHELIN Guide Toronto selection will follow MICHELIN’s historical methodology, based on five universal criteria: 1) quality products; 2) the mastery of flavours; 3) the mastery of cooking techniques; 4) the personality of the chef in the cuisine; 5) consistency between each visit (each restaurant is inspected several times a year).
“For the first time in its history, the MICHELIN Guide lands in Canada, and our inspectors are excited to experience the impressive culinary landscape of Toronto,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. “This first selection for Canada’s largest city, and our first in the country, will represent the local flavours, international inspiration, and distinct creativity that makes Toronto’s dining scene world-class.”
“Toronto’s culinary scene is as diverse as the city itself, and the MICHELIN Guide is the perfect way to celebrate this,” said Scott Beck, President & CEO of Destination Toronto. DestinationToronto.com
Ottawa showcases culture
Ottawa Tourism has granted special museum status to 76 of Ottawa festivals, restaurants, concert venues, and attractions as a way to shine a light on some of the city’s cultural hidden gems.
The Unofficial Museums campaign aims to attract travellers to Ottawa by celebrating culture and creativity in Canada’s capital.
The newly anointed museums include the Unofficial Museum of Croffles (First Bite Treats), where you can experience Ottawa’s first-ever union of waffle and croissant, and the Unofficial Museum of Second-Hand Treasures (Highjinx), an antiques and vintage social enterprise shop where proceeds go towards providing food, clothing, and support to those in need within the community.
TOURISM OTTAWA
Ottawa Tourism has also launched ‘the Third Night on Us’ offer to encourage visitors to stay longer and save: if they book a three-night or longer stay at a participating Ottawa hotel before October 10, 2022, the third night is on Ottawa Tourism. ottawatourism.ca
Food trails for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has created three ‘Amazing Trails’ to showcase its food and drink scene.
Foodies can discover some of Nova Scotia’s famous lobster on two seafoodfocused culinary trails: the Lobster Trail and the Chowder Trail.
The Nova Scotia Lobster Trail includes 28 lobster trail stops. Clients can collect stamps on a passport and enjoy traditional lobster dinners, lobster rolls and locally-inspired lobster dishes, or take on The Chowder trail featuring 36 stops.
The province has also introduced Canada’s first winery, craft brewery, cidery and distillery trail, named the Good Cheer Trail. novascotia.com
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NEWS IN BRIEF
• New Indigenous exhibit set for Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park, Alberta, reopened its doors on July 1 with a new signature exhibit named The Indigenous Peoples Experience. The exhibit explores the life of First Nations’ and Métis peoples local to the Beaver Hills (Edmonton) region, gathered through engagement with local Indigenous communities, historical documents, and research. fortedmontonpark.ca
• Travel Yukon launches travel planning app
The new Yukon Sights and Sites app acts as an on- hand expert travel guide, providing essential information on driving routes and points of interest across the Yukon. It includes more than 200 Government of Yukon locations run by Historic Sites, Wildlife Viewing Program and Yukon Parks. The planning tool is free to download from both the App Store and Google Play. yukon.ca
• Toronto to welcome W Toronto in 2022
The W Hotel will make its debut in Toronto this summer with the opening of W Toronto. The hotel will be a nine-storey, 254room luxury property on Bloor Street, in the trendy Yorkville neighbourhood. Other openings for 2022 include the Ace hotel, a 123-room property in the heart of the Garment District. Opened in August 2021, the sustainable-first 1 Hotel is located in the Kings Street West neighbourhood. Park Hyatt Toronto reopened in September 2021.
Globe hopping SELLING CANADA 48 Six of the best... / Sponsored feature
Autumn in Alberta
Advise clients to visit Alberta in the autumn months, to enjoy the western province’s golden trees and emerald-green skies
Alberta is often thought of as a destination for world-class skiing in winter and mountain exploration in the summer. But autumn in the province, which lasts from early September until late October, is not to be missed.
Hike amongst the larch trees
Larch trees make their presence known come autumn, turning a golden shade of yellow from mid-September to early October. Banff National Park is replete with larch hikes, and Larch Valley is the most well-known of the bunch. Accessing the trail requires a trip to Moraine Lake followed by a 2.67-mile hike to reach the valley. Go early in the day before the trail gets crowded and book a spot on the Parks Canada shuttle to get there.
Kananaskis Country is another great larch hike – and it’s often less crowded than Banff . Ptarmigan Cirque, Pocaterra Ridge, and Arethusa Cirque take in stunning mountain scenery. Be sure to dress in layers as the weather can change rapidly, and take sturdy shoes, water, snacks – and bear spray.
Watch for wildlife
With fi ve national parks and a plethora of provincial parks, wildlife is abundant in Alberta. Over 600 species call the province home including grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, cougars, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, bison, and plenty more.
The mountain parks are a great place to spot wildlife, too. In Banff National Park, join
AUTUMN IS A GREAT TIME FOR HIKING SPOT BEARS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS
JASPER’S DARK SKIES
Top tip
Take a road trip up the Icefi elds Parkway and stop at the Columbia Icefi eld Skywalk or go on the Columbia Icefi eld Adventure, available until mid-October.
GOLDEN LARCH TREES IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Banff Wildlife Tours on an Evening Wildlife
Safari (evening is one of the best times to spots animals) or head to Jasper, Canada’s largest Rocky Mountain park, for an all-ages wildlife discover walk with Sundog Tours.
Dancing night sky
Did you know Alberta is where you’ll fi nd the two largest dark sky preserves on the planet? These areas are protected from light pollution and you can see the stars (and possibly even the aurora borealis) twinkle like nowhere else. Jasper National Park is one of these preserves (the other being Wood Buff alo National Park in northern Alberta), and every autumn the night sky is celebrated during the Jasper Dark Sky Festival.
Held in October, the festival hosts a roster of free and ticketed events for all ages to enjoy, including presentations from renowned scientists and artists. Advise clients to dress in warm layers and check out the festival’s tips for night-sky photography to capture the dazzling sights up above. •
