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Category: Travel (Page 1 of 3)

Chinese government has not approved Canada as international travel destination for tour groups

2023-08-17 /

Janyce McGregor, CBC »

In a media statement, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on August 10 that an additional 78 countries had been added to a list of destinations approved for group tours and package travel. Travel agents from mainland China work from this list when they promote and book foreign travel for Chinese nationals.

In response to an inquiry from CBC News about China’s rationale for excluding Canada, the public affairs office at China’s embassy in Ottawa wrote that lately, the Canadian side has repeatedly hyped up the so-called ‘Chinese interference’ and rampant and discriminatory anti-Asian acts and words are rising significantly in Canada.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the safety and legitimate rights of overseas Chinese citizens and wishes they can travel in a safe and friendly environment, the embassy added.

» China’s Communist Party, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Media Statement

Canadians have the world’s 7th-most valuable passport – up from 8th in last year’s rankings

2023-07-24 /

According to the much respected Henley Passport Index, which ranks the world’s passports based on official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), 🇨🇦 Canadians can claim the world’s 7th-most valuable passport this year – up from 8th last year. Canada had been ranked 8th since 2021.

In a bit of a shakeup, 🇯🇵 Japan has been knocked off the top spot on the Henley Passport Index for the first time in five years and bumped into 3rd place. 🇸🇬 Singapore is now officially the most powerful passport in the world, with its citizens able to visit 192 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free. 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇮🇹 Italy, and 🇪🇸 Spain all move up into 2nd place with visa-free access to 190 destinations, and Japanese passport holders join those of six other nations — 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇫🇷 France, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇰🇷 South Korea, and 🇸🇪 Sweden — in 3rd place with access to189 destinations without a prior visa.
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The world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train, the Coradia iLint, is being tested in Quebec’s Charlevoix region

2023-07-23 /

France 24 »

Designed in France by rolling stock manufacturer Alstom, the zero-emissions train runs on electricity produced by mixing hydrogen with oxygen, meaning that moisture its only waste product. Alstom said Europe has already placed an order for 41 hydrogen trains.

 

Environnement : la locomotive à hydrogène vert à la conquête de l'Amérique • FRANCE 24

World's first hydrogen powered passenger train • FRANCE 24 English

The Economist names Vienna the world’s most liveable city for 2023, while Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto remain in the top 10

2023-07-22 /

Vienna has retained its crown as the world’s most liveable city, according to Economist’s annual index.

The 2023 Global Liveability Index quantifies the challenges presented to an individual’s lifestyle and standard of living in 173 cities worldwide. The 2023 Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual ranking has also included three Canadian cities among the worlds top 10 most liveable. Australia and Switzerland each have 2 entries. Denmark, Japan, and New Zealand each had one city in the top rankings.

1. Vienna 🇦🇹
2. Copenhagen 🇩🇰
3. Melbourne 🇦🇺
4. Sydney 🇦🇺
5. Vancouver 🇨🇦
6. Zurich 🇨🇭
7. Calgary 🇨🇦 (tie)
7. Geneva 🇨🇭 (tie)
9. Toronto 🇨🇦
10. Osaka 🇯🇵 (tie)
10. Auckland 🇳🇿 (tie)

The Global Liveability Index 2023: optimism amid instability

The Economist »

Favourite luxury hotels in Canada

2023-07-17 /

Travel+Leisure released their list of their readers’ favourite city hotels in Canada. Montreal’s Hotel Nelliganl and Hôtel Place D’Armes top the list among the luxury travellers.

  1. Hotel Nelligan — Montreal, Quebec
  2. Hôtel Place D’Armes — Montreal, QC
  3. Auberge Saint-Antoine — Quebec City, QC
  4. The Ritz-Carlton — Toronto, Ontario
  5. Rosewood Hotel Georgia — Vancouver, British Columbia
  6. Pan Pacific Vancouver — Vancouver, BC
  7. Magnolia Hotel & Spa — Victoria, BC
  8. Fairmont Pacific Rim — Vancouver, BC
  9. Four Seasons — Montreal, QC
  10. JW Marriott Parq — Vancouver, BC

Source » Travel+Leisure

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