Dive Destinations Articles

(Dive Travel Business News - April 11, 2012) -- Mexico's Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) recently announced that 2011 was a record-breaking year that saw 22.67 million international travelers. That's 2 percent higher than in 2010, which in turn was 5.7 percent higher than 2009. More important, 2011's international arrivals were 0.2 percent higher than 2008, Mexico's best year in history to that point. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - September 30, 2011) -- The Egyptian revolution in January 2011 posed several challenges for the travel industry – evacuating tourists, accommodating media, protecting hotel property from protesters. The most difficult time came when tour operators grounded their planes, stifling the flow of tourists. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 25, 2011) -- A joint project to develop tourism links between Cuba and Mexico could open the U.S. tour market to the Caribbean islands in the form of vacation packages that combine Mexico and Cuba.

The decision by Cuba and Mexico to work together to promote vacations that combine both countries was unveiled at Cuba’s recent 31st International Tourism Fair in Cuba (FITCUBA 2011). FITCUBA is Cuba’s annual international trade event, attracting travel agents and tour operators from 40 countries, including Western Europe and Canada – but not the U.S.

Cuba is the Caribbean’s third most popular destination, according to Cuba’s tourism ministry, and that’s without benefit of travel from the destination’s number one travel market – the U.S. The U.S. market accounts for more than half of the Caribbean’s annual vacation visitors.

At least one American proponent of opening U.S. travel to Cuba sees the joint promotion with Mexico as a foot in the door for American travelers. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - March 24, 2011) -- Learning Through Travel recently sponsored a familization (FAM) trip of US based dive shop owners traveling to Egypt on March 5-19th to tour Cairo, Luxor and to dive in the Red Sea resort cities of El Quseir, Marsa Alam, Safaga, Sharm el Sheikh and Dahab. 

The group saw that normalcy has definitely returned for tourism in Egypt and all Red Sea resort cities. The mood in Cairo and Luxor was calm and quiet but tourist numbers were increasing daily. The highlight of the trip was the Red Sea diving.  Pharaoh Dive Club in El Qusier, Pharaoh Divers in Sharm and Dive In Dahab took excellent care of the divers. The group also had the opportunity to tour Blue O Two's luxury live-aboard fleet.  read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - December 7, 2010) -- The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has updated the Puerto Rico Travel Expert education and companion Incentive/Rewards program. Travel professionals who complete the General Courses (Chapters 1-4) gain access to the incentives platform.

At the incentives platform, Travel Pros can enter their Puerto Rico bookings for the period October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 to be eligible to win cash prizes: First Prize: $4,000, Second Prize: $2,500. Third Prize: $2,000, Fourth Prize: $1,000 cash. Random drawings will also take place for $500 cash and Four-Night/Five-Day Trip To Puerto Rico, including air and accommodations for two.

In addition, all agents who complete the current Master’s Course (Chapters 5-11) and enter at least one verified booking in the new Incentives/Rewards platform will receive a $25 gift certificate. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - November 4, 2010 ) -- The Magic of Mexico is the official program of the Mexico Tourism Board. The program offers online lessons, webinars, fams, news, maps, videos and resources for travel professionals selling vacations to Mexico.   For travel agents and tour operators, the site offers a variety ways to become a Mexico Specialist with three online programs. Visit Magic of Mexico.

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(Dive Travel Business News - September 9, 2010) -- Following the success of its initial virtual travel agent training event last year, a technology-savvy Tourism Fiji US regional office will repeat the online exercise again in October. Attracting travel agents from the U.S. and Canada and as far afield as Hong Kong and Europe last year, the national tourist office is looking to increase the number of agents trained online in 2009, a total of 754, to over 1,000 when it stages the two-day Virtual Trade Show event on Oct. 4 and 5. Agents interested in joining attending the online show, can register at events.unisfair.com/rt/virtualfijime~2010. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - June 30, 2010) -- In a vote of 25 to 20, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee approved the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act.  This is the first hurdle towards lifting the ban on US travel to Cuba, in a measure that also eases restrictions on the sale of American commodities there.  The Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act must still get through another House committee and pass the full House. Then the Senate would have to pass its own version of the bill before it could be signed by the president.

Before the final vote, the Agriculture Committee rejected several amendments that would have eliminated the travel ban reversal or delayed its enactment. Opponents of the bill argue that while export restrictions should be eased, lifting the travel ban would benefit only the Communist government led by Fidel and Raúl Castro. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 3, 2010) -- When your clients visit the Cayman Islands between May 15 and September 6, 2010, they'll enjoy a family vacation like no other. Kids stay, play and eat for free this summer in the Cayman Islands with the Summer Splash promotion.

Book a minimum 5-night stay and get the th night free along with a free trip to legendary Stingray City. Kids can attend the Cayman Islands Sea School with SpongeBob SquarePants, free of charge. Families can also save on fun things to see and do around the Cayman Islands, like diving, snorkeling and other watersports, wildlife tours and cultural experiences.

For a list of offers, details and restrictions, click here.

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(Dive Travel Business News - July 30, 2010)-- St. Croix, U.S.V.I. has launched a “Fantastic Flight” package offering travelers a $400 airfare credit for bookings made through August 12, 2010, for travel between August 15 and October 31, 2010.  Does not include airfare taxes, fees and destination charges. To reserve the package visit  CheapCaribbean.com.

The participating hotels include the Buccaneer, the Carambola Beach Resort the Chenay Bay Beach Resort, Palms at Pelican Cove, Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, Buccaneer and more. The package is based on double occupancy, applies to new bookings only and cannot be combined with other promotions. For more information, visit the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism’s website at VisitUSVI.

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(Dive Travel Business News - April 12, 2010) -- In its fourth year, the“Bonaire Dive Into Summer” is the island of Bonaire's popular extended summer visitors' program that is scheduled from June 1 through September 30, 2010. read more »

(Travelpulse.com - Nov 17, 2009) -- For dive and snorkel travelers planning a trip to Jamaica, Air Jamaica is extending its Winter Fare Sale until Nov 26 valid for travel from Jan 1 - Feb 11, 2010.  Sample roundtrip fares between Jamaica and some US cities include Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, $188; New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, $198; and Chicago $248.

Fares are per person, roundtrip and valid for travel in economy class. U.S and foreign government imposed taxes and fees (up to $105 per person) and a September 11th security fee of $2.50 per person per U.S. enplanement are additional and due with final payment.  For more information, call 800-523-5585 or visit Air Jamaica.

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(Dive Travel Business News - Oct 23, 2009) -- Queensland and NSW will set aside their State of Origin rivalry to become an irresistible destination for international tourists Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced today.

The Premier said the "tourism ceasefire" meant the blues and maroons would join forces in a landmark marketing partnership to drive more international visitors to the two states.

"As far as tourism is concerned we're on the same side. We want people to come from overseas and enjoy our two great states," said the Premier.

Ms Bligh said Tourism Queensland would work with Tourism New South Wales in a range of key countries including Japan, the USA, China, the UK and Europe.

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(Sydney Morning Herald - May 29, 2009) -- The travel industry has been warned there will be no grace period for changes to the Trade Practices Act to outlaw component pricing, by which a supplier advertises a price that doesn't include additional taxes and charges.

The changes were enacted last week but had been in the pipeline for three years, since they were first proposed by the previous federal government.

Two industries travel and automobiles were singled out as the biggest users of component pricing in Australia, even though three of the four domestic airlines have voluntarily observed a pricing-transparency code for most of the past three years.

Now, the agency that will enforce the new legislative changes, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, says no mercy will be shown to lawbreakers.

"It's not as if it has crept up on people without notice, without warning," says ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - April 8, 2008 -- Tourism Corporation Bonaire announced the program highlights for Bonaire Dive Into Summer 2008 (June 1 through Sept. 30). The program offers visitors the flexibility to enjoy their planned vacation on-island, and as an added bonus, the option to take part in interactive dives and seminars.

As a focal point destination for the International Year of the Reef, all of the summer activities in Bonaire will incorporate reef-friendly practices to increase awareness and understanding of coral reefs, and to further conserve and manage coral reef and associated ecosystems. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - February 26, 2008) -- Vanuatu recorded a 19 percent increase in tourists arrivals last year compared to 2006. Better accessibility facilitated the 81,345 visitors in 2007.

Vanuatu is one of five Pacific island nations in the Pacific Islands Air Services Agreement (PIASA) along with Samoa, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Australia, Fiji, Niue, Nauru, Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia. PIASA, commonly referred to as the region’s “open skies” agreement now almost two years old, is helping the islands establish more efficient air services. Visit: VanuatuTourism.com

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(Dive Travel Business News - June 13, 2008) — Bonaire's program for International Year of the Reef (IYOR) Week, part of Bonaire “Dive Into Summer 2008″ will feature activities, seminars, prizes and giveaways. Each day of IYOR Week offers visitors to Bonaire the flexibility to enjoy their planned vacation on island, and the option to take part in interactive dives and seminars.

The Coral Reef Alliance’s Program manager, Bryan Dias and EarthEcho International’s co-founders, Janice and Alexandra Cousteau, will lead specialized dives and conservation-related seminars throughout the week at Sand Dollar Condominium Resort, the host hotel of IYOR Week, and other Bonaire locations. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 30, 2008) --The Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau Americas is partnering with Sport Diver Magazine to produce a virtual destination tour of Fiji, which will launch next month. The Bureau has identified the dive market as one with significant opportunities for Fiji and has identified the online medium as one representing a cost effective and comprehensive way of reaching this market.

The tour will be supported by an online marketing program, which will include the following key elements: Virtual Fiji Me destination tour during a 12-month period; Enhanced e-brochure for 12 months; Homepage leader board banner for two months; homepage lead feature for two months and an E-newsletter program. read more »