Canada as Top Travel Destination in 2017

Canada is emerging as a top travel destination in 2017. While travelers are looking at it as a great destination for some adventure, experience or vacation, many are even planning to work and live in Canada. But before we get to that part, let us first look at the lists that name this country as a must-visit place for this year.

(Featured image above is By Guenter Wieschendahl – Own Work–Eigenaufnahme, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3304026)




Each year media outfits come up with a list of places who are in the running as great travel destinations. They have different standards and recommendations and I try to read them for some inspiration. Last year, I pored over 10 websites that listed their respective best travel destinations and I summarized those that have consistently made it to the list. (READ: 2016 Travel Destination Lists)

This 2017, Canada seems to be a front runner in this race. I checked  10 sites and Canada is a consistent choice as one of the top travel destination for this year. Why is that so, let’s find out.

Montreal
Montreal Harbor CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=138428.

Celebrating Canada’s History

All roads seem to lead to Canada this year because it is celebrating its 150 years as a confederation while Montreal is turning 375. It traces its roots in Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island wherein the Charlottetown Conference — independent provinces talked to becoming one nation — took place. It was in 1867 when the British Parliament passed Canada’s Constitution Act, which give birth to this country.

Canada birthplace
Reenactment of Canada’s foundation at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. By Share Bear ([email protected]) – Own work – Public Domain, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1653839.

The celebration is all year round and the various events and attractions will make you stay longer. Campers and backpackers can explore the national parks as they offer free admission with its 2017 Discovery Pass. Indeed, this will make travelers take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which will only happen this 2017.

Canadian Rockies
Commune with nature in Canada. By Guenter Wieschendahl – Selfmade–Eigenaufnahme, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3114489.

Best Places Lists

Here are the 10 lists that have picked Canada as one of the best places to travel this 2017:

1.) Lonely Planet: Best in Travel 2017 Top Countries – Lonely Planet names this is the number one country to visit. From its young, active leader to its livable cities to the politeness of its food to its fusion food, Canada has plenty to offer. Plus, it is affordable to travel here with the low exchange rate of the Canadian dollar.

2.) The New York Times: 52 Places to Go in 2017 – Out of 52 places in the New York Times list, Canada made its way to the top. The mix of urban cities and natural attractions, as well as being the second largest country in land area, make this country a great place to explore and have an adventure.

3.) Conde Nast Traveler: The Best Places to Travel in 2017 – Conde Nast Traveler’s editors named 17 places that you must visit this year and Canada is named first. National parks across this country is open to outdoor lovers while its cities are awaiting party goers to celebrate with them.

4.) CNN: 17 Best Places To Visit in 2017 – CNN consulted with its experts to come up with this list and Canada again takes the crown. This media outfit is suggesting a trip to Prince Edward Island where the nation was born. It has breathtaking views that will make your visit not only historic but also postcard-worthy.

Charlottetown Harbor Lighthouse in Prince Edward Island. By David Broad, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54939406.

5.) Frommer’s Best Places to Go in 2017 – Frommer’s also features Canada first in its slideshow of Best Places to Go and it names Montreal as the place to be. It’s no big surprise because Montreal is also celebrating its 375 years as a city, on top of the country’s 150th year. Known for its Cirque du Soleil, Montreal is one huge carnival and party place with all its events and shows.




6.) Express: Top 10 Places to Visit in 2017 – UK’s Express mentions Canada second in its list, acknowledging the tourism boom of this country. The events of the 150th confederation anniversary, the weakened Canadian dollar, the energetic Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the metropolitan hustle and bustle, the countryside adventures, and its active beach life are some of the reasons that Express has pointed out why travelers must go to Canada this year.

Justin Trudeau
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during an event in Vancouver. By vl04 – Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45198328.

7.) The Telegraph: The 20 Best Destinations to Visit in 2017 – Another UK-based publication conferred with its experts for its 20 Best Destinations list. Canada came second to Chile. Highlighted are the Canadian Rockies and other landscapes in the country worth visiting were also mentioned.

8.) Rough Guides: Best Places in 2017 Top 10 Countries – This travel guide puts Canada on number three, citing the country’s wilderness and biodiversity as one of the reasons to travel there this year.

9.) National Geographic: Best Trips Places You Need to Visit in 2017 – Under the list of attractions for Nature, Banff was named. The lakes, the mountains, and the hot springs of Canada are great escapes for weary travelers who want to spend more time in the outdoors and commune with nature.

10.) CNBC: Some of the Best 2017 Travel Recommendations are in the US – While the article is focused on destinations within the US, a section was devoted to Canada as a wonderful trip destination for Americans. Again, the celebrations up north are cited as some of the reasons for such travel.

Montreal Canada
Downtown Montreal as seen from Mont Royal. By AnnaKucsma at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1375097

Working and Living in Canada

Apart from being a great destination to visit, Canada also boasts of livable cities where people will want to migrate. It is no wonder that citizens from various parts of the world want to make Canada as their home. I have known a lot of Filipinos who have also settled in this country and are enjoying life there.

For those in the Philippines who want to work in Canada and who are in the nursing profession, they can take part in the first Canada Nursing Career Expo by Enhance Visa. This will be held in three key cities in the Visayas area:

  • January 28 – Cebu (Radisson Blu Hotel),
  • January 30 – Bacolod (Bacolod Business Inn)
  • January 31 – Iloilo (Sarabia Manor Hotel)

Attendees will learn from Canadian speaker Tony Burke about the Licensing Program for nurses in Canada which is an assured pathway for permanent residency there. Burke is the Vice-President of OMNI College, one of the top institutions specializing in healthcare programs for foreign-trained nurses in Vancouver, Canada. NCLEX passers are also welcome to attend.

“Since 1999, OMNI has trained nurses for the Canadian Registered or Practical Nurse Licensing Exam and has maintained a 95% success rate. We are committed to our clients because their success is also our success,” says Ron Burke, CEO and founder of OMNI College.

To know more about this event, visit www.enhanceimmigration.com or contact +63 917-799-7700. Enhance Visa specializes in immigration consultation to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It provides effective Study to Permanent Residency pathways to these countries. The company has taken a holistic approach in assisting clients by ensuring that they receive sound advice on the best immigration option which can ultimately lead to a better future for them and their families.

Sources:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/countries
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/travel/places-to-visit.html?_r=0
http://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-best-places-to-travel-in-2017
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/06/travel/best-places-to-visit-in-2017/
http://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848142-frommer-s-best-places-to-go-in-2017
http://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/736512/Top-ten-destinations-travel-2017-holiday-cuba-canada
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/20-best-destinations-for-2017/
https://www.roughguides.com/best-places/2017/top-10-countries/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/best-trips-2017/#banff
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/26/some-of-the-best-2017-travel-recommendations-are-right-here-at-home.html




4 Comments

  1. My partner and I have been discussing potential destinations. Canada keeps coming back into the conversation time and time again.
    After reading your post it’s reaffirmed my dream to one day travel there to explore the National Parks and to learn a little bit about the history! Thank you for sharing! 🙂

  2. Although I’m a kind of a person who would usually avoid crowded places. But seems like a festival time would give lot of opportunities to study the local culture. About Canada, I can say that from your pictures, both the cityscape as well as the natural scenic beauty, both look pretty inviting.

    I especially loved the light house picture because there’s a similar picture I captured at Andaman Islands just a few years ago.

  3. My parents are frequent travelers and they’ve told me that Canada is the best and most beautiful place they have ever been to. It is on my bucket list to go there, also because my cousins live there. The photos from your post made me want to go to Canada even more. Hopefully one day my dream can come true!

  4. I’ve always wanted to be able to visit Canada because I’ve been seeing a lot of beautiful photos of nature parks being shared by my friends who live there. It will always be part of my bucket list and I’m hoping to check it off my list someday! Thank you for sharing this post about Canada. 🙂

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