GlobalData Cities & Tourism

The Philippines Government has shut down Boracay Island for six months from April over environmental concerns that the area had turned into what President Rodrigo Duterte called a “cesspool” due to the high influx of visitors over the past decade.

British Airways has become the latest airline to offer a so-called basic economy fare on their long-haul flights in a bid to compete with their low cost airline competitors as well as addressing traveller demand for cheaper way to get to their destination.

People aren’t happy about hidden fees pushing the cost of air fares upwards when booking flights.

Saudi Arabia’s plans to transform its economy have been ramped up, with it issuing the first tourist visas from 1 April.

Airbnb is evolving as a company, aiming to be involved with all aspects of the travel experience.

The popularity of music events and festivals is increasing globally and opportunities exist not just in hosting events, but in incorporating them into national tourism strategies.

Europe has numerous cities that are considered romantic and are consequently popular among tourists who take a city break to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Recreational marijuana is gradually being legalised across a number of countries worldwide — decriminalising cannabis in an attempt to generate new economic activity, not least in the tourism industry.

A number of companies are competing to be the first to make space tourism a reality, namely Virgin Galactic, Boeing, SpaceX, and Blue Origin.

Spain is expected to become the second most popular tourist destination in the world, overtaking the US, as the so-called Trump Slump is causes tourism to the US to dip.

Hosting large sporting events is often seen as a win for city officials.

Transformative travel through mountain climbing and trekking is very popular around the world and especially in the US, Germany, France, and Switzerland.

China is the largest outbound tourism market in the world, with international departures from the country growing rapidly.

Skiing is expensive; convincing people it’s worth the cost is important for the future of the sport, but, loss of snowfall due to climate change is the industry’s biggest challenge.

US president Donald Trump has recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and officially presented his plans to relocate the country’s US embassy from Tel Aviv.

The UK’s tourist industry will undoubtedly be the main benefiter of the royal wedding.

Saudi Arabia seems ready to open its doors to tourists, hoping to rival Dubai as a tourism hotspot.

Airbnb this week revealed it had taken $1bn in revenue for the third quarter of 2017.

At the World Travel Market international trade show at London there were two obvious themes: the need to promote sustainable tourism, and to embrace technology.

The crisis in Catalonia has come to a head with ousted politicians of the regional government being charged with rebellion, sedition, and misuse of funds and jailed.