Skift Take Last year, overseas travel spend by Indians hit an all-time high. The trend this is year is consistent with 2023, indicating a sustained interest in overseas travel by Indians. Bulbul Dhawan Indians spent over $2 billion on international travel in August, data from the Indian central bank shows – the highest amount in the past 12 months. Travel held the … [Read more...]
NYC Names New Tourism Boss Ahead of City Hosting Major Events
Skift Take Julie Coker is trading San Diego's fish tacos for New York City's dollar slices by becoming NYC's new tourism champion. Coker is taking the reins from Fred Dixon, who bounced to Brand USA. Dawit Habtemariam NYC Tourism + Conventions, the city’s official destination marketing organization, announced Tuesday that it had named Julie Coker its next president … [Read more...]
Dubai Crown Prince Greenlights Rural Tourism Push
Skift Take Sheikh Hamdan has announced a new tourism masterplan in Dubai, one focused on culture rather than mega-malls and skyscrapers. Josh Corder The crown prince of Dubai has announced a new plan in his emirate, one which will push the city more towards rural and cultural tourism. Dubai will spend $106 million on projects across the “Saih Al Salam Scenic Route,” … [Read more...]
Saudi Arabia Targets Chinese Travelers to Boost Vision 2030 Tourism Goals
Skift Take As Saudi Arabia sets out to diversify its economy, Chinese tourists are becoming a critical part of its plan. With record-breaking numbers expected in 2025, the kingdom hopes Chinese travelers will accelerate its Vision 2030 goals. Sarah Kopit Saudi Arabia is setting its sights on the Chinese outbound tourism market as part of its strategy to transform the … [Read more...]
Q&A: The Road to Responsible Tourism in High-Traffic Destinations
This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner. In 2023, Lanzarote, part of the Canary Islands, welcomed over 3.1 million visitors — averaging more than 65,000 tourists per day. This figure includes La Graciosa, a smaller island governed under the same local administration, the Cabildo de Lanzarote. Combined with its resident population, this swelled the island’s daily … [Read more...]
Travelers Do Think of Sustainability, But They’re Not Sure How to Act on it
Skift Take You might be investing thousands in making travel more sustainable, but your audience is still scratching their heads. Time to get back to basics: simplify your message and educate them! Peden Doma Bhutia While there is a growing awareness about sustainability among travelers, there remains a gap between awareness and action, according to Trip.com’s … [Read more...]
Locals in Spain’s Canary Islands Rally to Limit Tourism
Skift Take You know how sometimes you go on vacation and think, "Wow, this place is great, I wish I could live here!" Well, it turns out the people who actually live there might be thinking, "Wow, I wish all these tourists would go away." Dawit Habtemariam Over a thousand people took to the streets in the Canary Islands on Sunday to protest mass tourism. The … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean to Open New Juneau Port After Vote Against Cruise Restrictions
Skift Take In a recent ballot initiative, Juneau’s residents expressed frustration with cruise tourism. Dawit Habtemariam Royal Caribbean Group is opening a new port in Juneau, Alaska, a move it claims will help disperse foot traffic in the city’s downtown as residents continue to debate the cost and benefits of cruise ships. The announcement came on … [Read more...]
Meet the New Face of German Tourism: An AI Travel Influencer Named Emma
Skift Take Germany aspires to set the standard for AI's future in destination marketing. However, we wonder whether Germany's new AI influencer can actually build an audience and earn their trust. Those tasks are challenging even for humans. Dawit Habtemariam Tourists looking to explore Germany can expect a helping hand from the country’s first AI-generated travel … [Read more...]
Jordan Tourism Drops From Summer High
Skift Take Jordan had a good summer for tourism, but that didn't last long. Josh Corder August was Jordan’s busiest month of the year with 654,000 overnight arrivals. Then came a big drop: There were just 429,000 overnight arrivals in September, a 34% decline, according to data from Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. For the year through September, … [Read more...]
Skift Global Forum Video: Shaping the Future of Heritage Tourism
Skift Take Careful planning is required to balance a surge in heritage tourism with the delicate responsibility of protecting the historic sites that hold so much appeal. At this year’s Skift Global Forum, Melanie de Souza of the Royal Commission for AlUla discussed the region’s blueprint for sustainable heritage travel in the modern age. AlUla This sponsored content … [Read more...]
Japan Tourism Sets Yet Another Record As Visitor Spending Exceeds Last Year’s High
Skift Take The tourism sun is shining bright over Japan as visitor numbers and revenues reach an all-time high in 2024. The challenge: sustaining the growth through 2025. Peden Doma Bhutia Foreign visitor spending in Japan in the first nine months of this year surpassed 2023’s full-year record of JPY 5.3 trillion ($35 billion). International tourists spent JPY … [Read more...]
Expedia’s ‘Phenomena Tourism’ Trend: 5 Tips for Destination Marketers
Skift Take In 2025, some remote locations will enjoy more popularity because they offer access to celestial events, animal migrations, and other natural experiences. Here are 5 tips for destination marketers to capitalize on the growing interest. Dawit Habtemariam Many travelers want to see eclipses, meteor showers, volcanic eruptions, penguin migrations, and other … [Read more...]
How India Can Boost Sports Tourism – India Report
Skift Take Indian travelers want to experience live events. But India has a long way to go before it can fully monetize the potential of sports tourism. Bulbul Dhawan India’s sports tourism market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 17% and reach $53 billion by 2033. A new report by KPMG – ‘Harnessing India’s Sports Tourism Potential’ – looks at the challenges … [Read more...]
Greek Prime Minister Dismisses Overtourism Fears, Pushes for Off-Peak Growth
Skift Take Greece's prime minister has dismissed the notion of overtourism being a national problem. Kyriakos Mitsotakis is more focused on improving the country's infrastructure to handle more tourists. Dawit Habtemariam Most destinations in Greece need more tourists, not fewer, said the country’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Tuesday at a conference … [Read more...]
America’s Cup Sparks Protests Against Mass Tourism in Barcelona
Skift Take Barcelona has to convince locals it can adequately balance community needs with being a host for mass tourism events. Dawit Habtemariam Thousands of locals in Barcelona took to the streets on Sunday to demand that the city stop hosting the America’s Cup and other large tourism events. Under the slogan “America’s Cup, never again,” the demonstration … [Read more...]
Saudi Arabia Reveals New Plans For Budget Tourism Development
Skift Take A new report lists almost 250 hotel and tourism projects and many are outside of luxury. Josh Corder The 1,800-kilometer Saudi Red Sea coast is split into three areas by authorities: the north side for luxury; the center for culture and entertainment at a variety of prices; and the south for mid-market and budget choices. But most of the attention has … [Read more...]
The Woman Traveler – Key Data and Insights: Skift Research
Skift Take Women are reshaping travel as key decision-makers, prioritizing meaningful, independent experiences. Athira Thoppil Women travelers are a dominant force in the travel industry, and their influence is far-reaching: 82% of all travel decisions are made by women, whether it’s choosing the destination, booking accommodations, or deciding on tours and … [Read more...]
How to Win Indian Tourists: Start With the Food
Skift Take Destinations are responding to the demands of Indian tourists, making Indian food and services a common sight in global travel hotspots. Varsha Arora On my recent trip to Hanoi, walking through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, I had no trouble finding comfort food: Indian restaurants were thriving in almost every lane. It was a stark contrast to my … [Read more...]
Bali Tourists Risk 20-Year Jail Sentence for Visa Violations
Skift Take The intent of Bali’s crackdown on visa violations seems clear. However, its success will depend on how the government can maintain order while making sure that it doesn’t alienate the very tourists and investors it seeks to attract. Peden Doma Bhutia Foreign tourists overstaying their visa permits in Indonesia or engaging in illegal activities now risk … [Read more...]