News that has caught Chris' eye in the Travel World

The Wildlife Trafficking Alliance (25 January, 2017)

In an effort to help travellers recognize and avoid purchasing the illegal wildlife products that are decimating global populations of elephants, rhinos and many other endangered species, a number of travel groups have teamed up to support the mission of the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance.  These groups include Cruise Lines International Association, the Adventure Travel Trade Association and the American Society for Travel Agents.

The Alliance is a public-private partnership in which travel businesses and non-profit member organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, work together with government  to raise awareness about the dangers of wildlife trafficking and to stop consumer demand for endangered species products. Together, the associations serve more than 25 million travellers annually.

Members of the Alliance have made commitments to distribute wildlife trafficking educational material and lend the voice of their vast networks to speak on this critical issue.

The illegal wildlife trade is threatening the survival of many species in the wild. In a recent three year period, approximately one-fifth of the entire African elephant population – 100,000 elephants – were killed for their ivory. African lion populations have   plummeted  by almost 50 percent in the past three decades. As animals disappear from the wild, the opportunity to view them decreases – creating a domino effect that ripples across the tourism industry. Ensuring animals remain in the wild is not only good for the planet, but it’s also good for business. And so this move by the travel industry is very welcome and perhaps overdue.  

In related news earlier this month came the announcement that China will be closing its domestic ivory market by the end of this year.

Safety travelling abroad (18 January, 2017)
 

There have been two high profile gun violence incidents this month in tourist areas that have raised concerned about travellers’ safety. And I preface all my comments with sympathies for those affected by this senseless violence.

On January 6th at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Broward County, Florida, a gunman opened fire near the baggage claim in Terminal 2. Five American vacationers were killed, while six others were injured in the shooting.

In the early hours of January 16th, a Canadian working as security was killed after a shooting at a nightclub in Playa del Carmen Mexico, which left five dead and several injured.

The Canadian government updated the crime section of its online travel advisories for Mexico on Monday and mentioned the shooting. It notes that “crime rates in Mexico are high. However, the level of crime in resorts and major tourist cities and destinations isn’t nearly as high.” And goes on to say: “More than 1.9 million Canadians travel to Mexico each year, the vast majority of them without incident.”

The government’s observation is appropriate. While both these incidents are tragic, they should not deter Canadians from travelling south this winter. Millions of us fly south each winter to the Southern States, Mexico and the Caribbean without any incident and the chances of becoming involved in a violent event are much more remote than sustaining an injury on the roads here in Canada. The incidence of violent crime in the state of Mexico where the nightclub shooting took place is actually less than the rate across Canada. Everything is relative. So check out the government website at www.travel.gc.ca  for the latest safety information, consult with your local travel agent, make sure you have travel insurance… and then travel worry free as you enjoy your trip to the sun this winter.