Tag Archives: Tourism

Mokulele Airlines wins four-year DOT contract for flights to Lanaʻi

14 Monday Sep 2026

Posted by in Aviation, Aircraft, Airlines, Hawaii, U.S. Department of Transportation

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A Mokulele Airlines Cessna Grand Caravan. Photo: Surf Air Mobility.

LOS ANGELES – Mokulele Airlines has won a four-year, $19.4 million U.S. Department of Transportation contract to continue providing scheduled air service to Lana’i, Hawaii, from Honolulu and Kahului, its parent company, Surf Air Mobility, said Monday.

At 140.5 square miles, Lanaʻi is Hawaii’s smallest inhabited island and is 98% owned by Oracle founder and CEO Larry Ellison.

The Essential Air Service contract provides subsidized revenue through August 2030, excluding passenger fares. Mokulele was selected through a competitive process, Surf Air Mobility said.

Under the contract, Mokulele will operate 126 weekly flights, including 42 round trips to Honolulu and 21 to Kahului.

The Transportation Department cited Mokulele’s record of serving the Lanaʻi community, its established infrastructure in Hawaii and its interline connectivity in selecting the airline, Surf Air Mobility said.

Mokulele has interline agreements with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Japan Airlines at Honolulu and Kahului, providing connections from Lanaʻi to other destinations in Hawaii, the continental United States and internationally, the company said.

Mokulele currently operates about 112 daily departures across five islands. Over the past year, it has added Cessna Caravan aircraft and upgraded ground and lounge facilities in Hawaii.

Alia’s demonstration flight. Photo: Surf Air Mobility.

Surf Air Mobility said the new contract supports the company’s broader strategy of developing its SurfOS air mobility platform and its goal of launching commercial passenger electric flights using BETA Technologies’ Alia aircraft once certified.

In June, Surf Air Mobility participated in a demonstration flight of BETA’s all-electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft in Hawaii.

The company has since placed a firm order for 25 Alia aircraft, with an option for another 75.

Prix Versailles reveals the world’s most beautiful airports of 2026

16 Tuesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Airports

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Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

PARIS — Prix Versailles, which administers international architecture and design prizes, has revealed its list of the world’s most beautiful airports for 2026, and a majority of them are in Asia.

The seven airports are Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport – Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, China; Frankfurt Airport – Terminal 3 in Frankfurt, Germany; Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport – Terminal 2 in Guwahati, India; Navi Mumbai International Airport – Terminal 1 in Navi Mumbai, India; Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Pittsburgh International Airport in the United States and San Diego International Airport – Terminal 1 in the U.S.

Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, Guwahati, India.

Featuring distinctive designs, these projects show how airports are redefining established norms to create a more inspiring and balanced perspective for global travelers, Prix Versailles said Monday.

“Whether they have newly appeared on the horizon or undergone a major renovation, contemporary airports and airport terminals are innovative, inescapable hallmarks of their regions and their eras,” said Jérôme Gouadain, secretary general of the awards organization.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou, China.

At the end of the year, three projects from the list will be honored with a World Title in the Prix Versailles, Interior or Exterior categories.

Through its awards program, Prix Versailles seeks to advance a vision of intelligent sustainability that integrates cultural values while extending beyond purely environmental considerations.

All images are courtesy of Prix Versailles.

Boeing says Middle East market hot

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, Embraer, News, Sheikh Mohammed, Tourism, Transport, Travel, UAE

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ek1

The inaugural flight on Oct. 25, 1985.

The inaugural flight on Oct. 25, 1985.

Dubai’s Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum marked the 30th anniversary of Emirates airline last month with a bold statement.

“Our vision for Dubai is clear: we are not building the largest airports in the world. We are building the aviation capital of the world.”

He noted the airline’s humble beginning in 1985 with two leased airplanes and its exponential growth in the past three decades, becoming one of the world’s largest airlines with 240 aircraft in service and another 267 on order.

“Our vision for Emirates for the next 30 years is rooted in innovation: to reinvent aviation with new products, technologies and services.”

Today, the world’s largest manufacturer of airplanes predicted that airlines in the Middle East will need 3,180 new airplanes, valued at $730 billion, over the next 20 years.

ME
According to the Boeing Current Market Outlook, released ahead of next week’s Dubai Airshow, 70 per cent of that demand is expected to be driven by rapid fleet expansion in the region.

Single-aisle airplanes will command the largest share of new deliveries, with airlines in the region needing more than 1,400 aircraft, Boeing said.

Twin-aisle aircraft will account for a little under half of the region’s new airplane deliveries over the 20-year period, compared to 23 per cent globally, it added.

“Traffic growth in the Middle East continues to grow at a healthy rate and is expected to grow 6.2 per cent annually during the next 20 years,” said Randy Tinseth, vice-president at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

There is a reason for such rapid growth.

Hub“About 80 per cent of the world’s population lives within an eight-hour flight of the Arabian Gulf.” Tinseth said.

“This geographic position, coupled with diverse business strategies and investment in infrastructure is allowing carriers in the Middle East to aggregate traffic at their hubs and offer one-stop service between many city pairs that would not otherwise enjoy such direct itineraries.”

The Dubai Airshow runs from Nov. 8 through Nov. 12.

The organizers say more than 160 commercial, business and military aircraft will be on display at the show.

Images are courtesy of Emirates and Boeing.

CSeries skips Dubai Airshow

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, News, Tourism, Transport, Travel

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D1
CSBombardier will be showing off a few of its airplanes at next week’s Dubai Airshow, but the brand new CSeries aircraft will not be among them.

A list of aircraft that will be on display at the show released by the organizers does not include the CS100 or the CS300.

Instead, the Canadian manufacturer is sending the Q400 turboprop, Learjet 75, Challenger 350 and Global 6000 to one of the world’s premier airshows.

The CSeries aircraft made their airshow debut in Paris this summer, but Bombardier was unable to win any new orders at Le Bourget.

Cost overruns, long delays and most crucially a lack of new orders have beset the CSeries program.

300In an effort to resuscitate the CSeries, the Quebec government announced last week that it will invest US$1 billion in the program in exchange for a 49.5 per cent stake in a newly-created partnership.

“This partnership comes at a pivotal time, with the CSeries on the verge of certification,” said Alain Bellemare, president and CEO of Bombardier Inc., in announcing the deal.

“The market is there, our leadership is in place, we have the best product and with the support of the government, we are ready to make this aircraft a commercial success.”

Quebec has also asked the Canadian federal government to match its investment in the single-aisle aircraft project.

The CS100 can carry up to 125 people while the bigger version, the CS300, is meant for up to 160.

In all, Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

D2The Dubai Airshow runs from Nov. 8 through Nov. 12.

The organizers say more than 160 commercial, business and military aircraft will be on display at the show.

Orders worth more than US$200 billion were announced at the last show in Dubai, but analysts say no mega deals are expected this time.

Images are courtesy of Dubai Airshow and Bombardier.

Wow! Reykjavik for $99 from Canada!

01 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Business, Iceland, Montreal, Montreal Airport, News, Pearson Airport, Reykjavik, Toronto, Tourism, Transport, Travel, WOW air

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W6Iceland’s only low-cost airline is making an irresistible offer to Canadians travelling to Reykjavik: $99 one way from Toronto or Montreal, tax included!

For an additional $149, passengers can travel one way to several destinations in Europe, including London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

WOW air made the announcement in Toronto on Thursday ahead of the launch of flights from Toronto and Montreal in May.

Service from Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau will begin May 12 and Toronto’s Pearson on May 20. The flights will be operated, using a fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Wow2“WOW air prides itself on offering the lowest fares possible as well as the biggest smile and the friendliest service,” said Skuli Mogensen (right), owner and CEO.

“I’m thrilled to now announce our new routes to Canada, especially as I lived in Montreal for nearly a decade and also because the Icelandic people feel a special affinity for Canada.”

The airline said its entry into the Canadian market was expected to create an estimated 100 jobs.

Launched in November 2011, WOW air flies from Reykjavik to 20 destinations in Europe and the United States.

Its expansion into the Canadian market follows the launch of transatlantic services from Boston and Washington, D.C., in early 2015, the airline said.

Wow5“We have just had our best summer ever and, with these new routes launching in May 2016, next summer is another chance to break records,” said Mogensen.

“These great Canadian cities will become our newest destinations but I look forward to announcing even more in the not-too-distant future!”

All images are courtesy of WOW air.

CS100: ‘The quietest in its class’

10 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, EASA, Embraer, Environment, FAA, ICAO, News, Toronto, Tourism, Transport, Travel, TSB

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CS1
The message was loud and clear as the all-new Bombardier CS100 made its Toronto debut Thursday: It’s the quietest aircraft in its class.

The company told a gathering of government officials and airline executives that the “aircraft’s noise performance and its outstanding short-field capability make it ideal for city centre operations.”

The CS100 is the smaller version in the CSeries and is on course for certification later this year.
CS3

The aircraft that debuted in Toronto was in the colours of launch customer SWISS, or Swiss International Air Lines, and is expected to make the first commercial flight before the middle of next year.

The CS100 can carry up to 125 people while the bigger version, the CS300, is meant for up to 160.

It is not the first time Bombardier is stressing the efficiency of the aircraft. Just before this year’s Paris Air Show, the company declared that the performance of the CSeries was “better than advertised.”

“We announced previously that the CSeries aircraft are exceeding their original targets for fuel burn, payload, range and airfield performance,” said Rob Dewar, vice-president of the program.

“Now we are delighted that the CS100 aircraft’s noise performance tests have confirmed it as the quietest in-production commercial jet in its class.”

The company said the first production CS100 will soon start function and reliability testing, signalling the start of the final flight testing phase.

Fred2“For these tests, the aircraft will operate on a commercial airline type of schedule from key airports in North America.”

In all, Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

No new orders were announced Thursday but Fred Cromer (above), president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, was very optimistic.

“The momentum continues to grow,” he said.

CS8

All images are by the author.

Cochin becomes world’s 1st fully solar-powered airport

20 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by in Air India, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Bosch, Business, Calicut, Cochin, Electricity, Environment, God's Own Country, Kannur, Kerala, Kochi, Kozhikode, News, Pollution, Tourism, Transport, Travel, Trivandrum

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Cial2Cial 5Cochin International Airport (COK) in southern India was opened just 16 years ago. This week it is celebrating a major environmental milestone – it has become the world’s first fully solar-powered airport.

More than 46,000 solar panels laid across 45 acres are generating 12MW of power, enough to run the airport smoothly.

“Now, Cochin airport will have 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day to be consumed for all its operational functions, which technically make the airport absolutely power neutral,” its operator, Cochin International Airport Ltd., said in a release.

CIAL has been a trendsetter since its launch in the late 1990s. Cochin is the first Indian airport to be built under a public-private partnership model.

Cial1The company forecasts the project will help mitigate carbon emissions by more than 300,000 tonnes in the next 25 years. That is equivalent to planting three million trees, it said.

The busiest airport in Kerala state and the fourth largest in India, Cochin handled nearly seven million passengers in 2014-15.

The project was built by Bosch Energy and Building Solutions.

Images are courtesy of CIAL.

Austrian quits ‘unsustainable’ Dubai

20 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Austrian Airlines, Aviation, Business, Colombo, Dubai, Dubai Airports, Emirates, IATA, Lufthansa, Mauritius, Miami, News, Tourism, Transport, Travel, UAE, Vienna

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AustrianDubai is a hot destination for many airlines, but not so for Austrian Airlines. Not anymore.

The Lufthansa subsidiary announced Monday it will stop offering direct flights from Vienna to Dubai as of September in the wake of intense competition and price wars.

“Unfortunately, the Vienna-Dubai route has become unsustainable for us,” said CCO Andreas Otto.

Austrian, which began flying to Dubai in 1996, said up to 800 seats per day were on offer on the Vienna-Dubai route.

The last Austrian flight to Dubai will be on Sept. 13, returning home next day.

“The capacities which will become available will be deployed for attractive, new destinations, such as Miami, Mauritius and Colombo starting in October,” Otto said.

The image is courtesy of Austrian Airlines.

First Dreamliner goes on show in Nagoya

07 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by in Airports, ANA, Aviation, Boeing, Business, Centrair International Airport, Dreamliner, Japan Airlines, Museum, Nagoya, News, Technology, Tourism, Transport, Travel, ZA001

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ZA001Several key parts of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner are made in Nagoya, the heart of Japan’s aerospace industry.

They are then flown from the city’s airport in a converted 747-400 freighter known as Dreamlifter to Boeing assembly plants in the United States.

AirportToday, Boeing rewarded the city for its contribution by donating the first 787-8 flight test aircraft to the Chubu Centrair International Airport.

Code-named ZA001, the airplane first flew on Dec. 15, 2009. It touched down in Nagoya on its last flight on June 22, 2015.

Many of its parts, including the main wing, forward fuselage and centre wing box, were manufactured in Nagoya.

“It is fitting that we bring Boeing’s first-ever 787 Dreamliner back home to Nagoya,” said George Maffeo, president of Boeing Japan.

“Many of our partners here spent countless hours to develop and produce the 787 Dreamliner’s airframe structure and Centrair was with us from the very start of the journey.”

He said the ZA001 had grown to symbolize the partnership between Boeing and Japan’s aerospace industry.

Airport4
“We are honoured to be selected by Boeing to house the permanent display of the world’s first-ever 787 Dreamliner,” said Masanao Tomozoe, president and CEO, Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd.

“This milestone will allow us to significantly contribute to the aerospace community as well as the Greater Nagoya region by spurring the imagination and interest of future aviation pioneers here in Japan.”

Airport5Located on a man-made island off the coast of Nagoya, Centrair is an international hub serving some 30 cities.

Boeing has now donated three of the six Dreamliner flight-test and certification program aircraft.

The ZA002 was presented to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Ariz. and the ZA003 to the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Images are courtesy of Boeing.

Vietnam Airlines gets its first A350 XWB

30 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in AerCap, Airbus, Airbus A350XWB, Aircraft, Aviation, Boeing, Business, Dreamliner, News, Paris Air Show, Tourism, Transport, Travel, Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines

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VietVietnam Airlines has been in the news a lot in the past few weeks – all for good reasons.

The airline’s brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner was one of the main attractions at this month’s Paris Air Show.

Today, the Vietnamese flag carrier has received its first Airbus A350 XWB (above) through a lease agreement with AerCap.

It will become the second airline in the world to operate the aircraft after Qatar Airways.

Viet2The A350-900 will be first used on a domestic route and then for regular non-stop service between Hanoi and Paris.

The aircraft is configured with a three-class layout, with 29 seats in Business Class, 45 in Premium Economy and 231 in Economy, Airbus said.

The airline already operates 59 Airbus aircraft — 49 A321s and 10 A330s. The new aircraft is one of the 14 A350s it has ordered.

“The arrival of the A350 XWB marks the start of a major upgrade of our long-haul fleet,” said Trinh Ngoc Thanh, executive vice-president of Vietnam Airlines.

“Combining the latest technologies, a wider cabin and the highest levels of comfort, the A350 XWB will enable us to fly our passengers in style whichever class of travel they choose.”

Viet4In all, Vietnam Airlines has 90 aircraft and flies to more than 50 cities, including 21 international destinations.

Airbus has received 781 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 40 customers worldwide.

Images are courtesy of Airbus.

Bombardier: CSeries ‘better than advertised’

14 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by in A350XWB, A380, Airbus, Aircraft, ATR, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Dreamliner, Embraer, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Paris Air Show, Tourism, Transport

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CS300 2On the eve of the opening of the Paris Air Show, Bombardier has announced that the performance of its all-new CSeries aircraft is “better than advertised.”

It said, based on flight tests results, its CS300 and CS100 airplanes exceeded their original targets for fuel burn, payload, range and airfield performance.

“In addition, the CSeries aircraft are on track to meet noise performance targets, making them the quietest commercial jets in production,” the Canadian aircraft manufacturer told a special media event in Le Bourge.

It said the CSeries aircraft’s maximum range had been confirmed to be up to 3,300 NM (6,112 km), some 350 NM (648 km) more than originally targeted.

The CSeries is delivering more than a 20 per cent fuel burn advantage compared to in-production aircraft, and a greater than 10 per cent advantage compared to re-engined aircraft, Bombardier added.

FC“The CSeries performance is better than advertised,” said Fred Cromer (right), president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

The long-delayed CS300, designed for the 100- to 149-seat, single-aisle market, is making its air show debut in Le Bourge, four months after its maiden flight.

The aircraft is expected to enter service in late 2016.

Bombardier believes the CS300 offers the best seat-mile cost in its category and is ideal for a range of routes from short-haul to longer transcontinental markets.

CS100
Test flights for the smaller CS100, which can carry up to 125 people, began in 2013.

Certification for that aircraft is expected in the second half of this year with commercial flights starting shortly after that.

Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

Show logoThe 51st edition of the Paris Air Show opens Monday.

The week-long event has attracted more than 2,200 exhibitors from 45 countries including 18 from Canada.

IATA launches Cabin OK logo for carry-ons

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Baggage, Boeing, Bombardier, Carry-ons, Embraer, IATA, Passengers, Tourism, Transport, Travel

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Bag1The International Air Transport Association has finally decided to address the perennial problem of carry-on luggage.

The group that represents more than 260 airlines has announced a new initiative to optimize the accommodation of cabin baggage.

“Working with airline members of IATA and aircraft manufacturers, an optimum size guideline for carry-on bags has been agreed that will make the best use of cabin storage space,” it said Tuesday.

“A size of 55 x 35 x 20 cm (or 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches) means that theoretically everyone should have a chance to store their carry-on bags on board aircraft of 120 seats or larger,” it said in a release issued in Miami, Fl., where IATA is holding its annual general meeting.

logoTo facilitate a smooth check-in, IATA has also developed an “IATA Cabin OK” logo, indicating that a bag meets the agreed size guidelines.

“A number of major international airlines have signalled their interest to join the initiative and will soon be introducing the guidelines into their operations,” the group said.

“The development of an agreed optimal cabin bag size will bring common sense and order to the problem of differing sizes for carry-on bags,” said Tom Windmuller, IATA’s senior vice-president for airport, passenger, cargo and security.

“We know the current situation can be frustrating for passengers. This work will help to iron out inconsistencies and lead to an improved passenger experience.”

IATA said it was working with baggage tracking-solutions provider Okoban to manage the approval process of bag manufacturers.

“Recognition of the ‘IATA Cabin OK’ logo is expected to grow with time as more airlines opt-in to this IATA initiative,” the group said.

Bags carrying the label are expected to reach retail shops later this year.

Images are courtesy of IATA

The stars of the Paris Air Show 2015

08 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by in A350XWB, A380, Airbus, Airlines, Airports, Airshow, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Dreamliner, Embraer, Le Bourget, News, Paris, Tourism, Travel

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Some of the aircraft that will be on static/flying display at the Paris Air Show next week.

The Bombardier CS300

The Bombardier CS300

The Bombardier CS100

The Bombardier CS100

The Airbus A350XWB

The Airbus A350 XWB

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

The Bell 429 WLG

The Bell 429 WLG

The Embraer ERJ135

The Embraer ERJ135

 Images are courtesy of Bombardier, Qatar Airways, Boeing, Bell and Embraer.

CS300 to make air show debut in Paris

03 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Embraer, France, Le Bourget, News, Paris Air Show, Tourism, Transport, Travel

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CS3Less than four months after its maiden flight, Bombardier’s CS300 is set to make its air show debut at the world’s premier aviation event in Paris this month.

The long-delayed airplane, designed for the 100- to 149-seat, single-aisle market, is expected to enter service in late 2016.

Bombardier believes the CS300 offers the best seat-mile cost in its category and is ideal for a range of routes from short-haul to longer transcontinental markets.

CSTest flights for the smaller CS100, which can carry up to 125 people, began in 2013.

Certification for that aircraft is expected in the second half of this year with commercial flights starting shortly after that.

Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

The 51st edition of the Paris Air Show opens on June 15. The week-long event has attracted more than 2,200 exhibitors from 45 countries including 18 from Canada.

The United States will have the biggest presence – more than 350 companies will gather at the American pavilion.

In all, 150 aircraft will be on display at the show and 40 of them will take to the skies of Le Bourget.

Logo “Paris Air and Space Show is a major player in the aerospace industry, and shows its richness and diversity,” says Emeric d’Arcimoles, the show’s chairman and CEO.

“More than just a showcase, the show is an extraordinary exchange tool, in which every actor of this industry finds the contacts and ideas that will help them to grow.”

Images are courtesy of Bombardier and Paris Air Show

Niagara Falls hosts Rendez-vous Canada

26 Tuesday May 2015

Posted by in Alberta, Business, News, Ontario, Rendez-vous Canada, Tourism, Travel, Travel Market

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TravelNiagara Falls. There couldn’t be a better Canadian city to host the country’s premier travel market, Rendez-vous Canada 2015.

The four-day annual event, which opens Tuesday, has attracted hundreds of travel buyers from around the world.

Showcasing Canadian tourism products and services to them will be promoters from every part of the country.

This year’s event includes presentations from Banff Lake Louise Tourism, Edmonton Tourism and Aboriginal Tourism.

But the city that needs no introduction will benefit most.Travel5

Niagara Falls, which attracts 12 million visitors on average every year, is expected to get a big bounce from the market.

“Rendez-vous Canada provides an unparalleled opportunity to showcase this iconic destination to the world’s leading influencers of travel purchasing behaviour!” said   Catherine McNabb, executive director of Niagara Falls Tourism.

“The impact of this level of exposure, among key decision makers, will be felt for many years to come in the entire Niagara region,” she added in an email to exitStamp.

Travel6No wonder, the city is laying out a lavish welcome to the delegates.

The organizers say there will be a full evening event beginning at 6:30 p.m. and culminating with a “surprise experience” at 10:30 p.m.

Official estimates show more than 600,000 Canadian jobs depend on tourism.

Fortunately, the industry is steadily growing.

The Canadian Tourism Commission reported this week that in the first quarter of 2015, more than 2.3 million international travellers came to the country.

That is up 7 per cent over 2014.

Rendez-vous Canada 2016 will be held in Montreal.