Skift Take Not only is the final game worth millions in tourist spending, destinations will win bragging rights and put themselves on the map with new tourist markets. Dawit Habtemariam FIFA’s 2026 World Cup with be in North America and the biggest U.S. cities have their eyes on one big prize: Hosting the final match. The contenders are most likely Los Angeles, … [Read more...]

Skift Take While international travel is poised to continue growing this year, one country increasingly stands out as a rapidly emerging outbound tourism market. Here's a look at what we found. Rashaad Jorden Although Skift reported in its recently released State of Travel 2023 report that international travel in most global regions still trails 2019 levels, there is … [Read more...]

Skift Take Investors continue to weigh travel demand and the anticipation of future growth-promoting events against profit-taking and extreme weather challenges. Selene Brophy European travel stocks stumbled into some profit-taking as earnings season kicked off and extreme weather hit in July, but many investors are betting relatively attractive valuations and solid … [Read more...]

Skift Take Our goal is to constantly come up with new ways of looking at the world – and understand how shifts affect global travel. Rafat Ali We started Skift on July 30, 2012, and set out to define the future of travel. We reported when the industry made bold, innovative moves – and called out missteps and wrongdoing. Observers called us “cool” and the “most … [Read more...]

Skift Take Disney will be phasing out its advanced park reservation system in 2024, part of the controversy in the recent Dream Key Pass lawsuit. What this means for crowd control going forward remains to be seen. Selene Brophy Disney has reached a preliminary settlement in a lawsuit over alleged deceptive practices tied to its Magic Key … [Read more...]

Skift Take Travel executives and travelers are eager to make the industry greener, but are they really making tangible progress on reducing travel's massive carbon footprint? Rashaad Jorden Travelers have increasingly prioritized sustainability, however, companies across the industry have struggled to make substantial progress in going green. And with travel — … [Read more...]

Skift Take After years of strict lockdowns, Australia has a run of international sporting events which will support the nation's tourism return. Jess Wade The FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off in Australia last week and is expected to bring a significant tourism boost to the country. Tourism Australia estimates the 35-match tournament to have an economic benefit … [Read more...]

Skift Take The younger demographics actively engaging with travel agents underscores the need for adaptation. Agents are blending traditional and digital methods to connect with clients, staying relevant by catering to their evolving preferences. Peden Doma Bhutia As Chinese travel agents embrace modern communication channels to stay relevant, a survey by Dragon … [Read more...]

A Report We’ve been Reading…Skift’s State of Travel report 2023 adds interesting insights into the Middle East’s travel sector. What we learned: Except aviation, the performance of all sectors – hotels, vacation rentals or car rentals – have surpassed 2019 levels in the Middle East. While international travel in most regions still lags 2019 levels, the Middle East is the only region to … [Read more...]

India’s outbound tourism is expected to reach $44.7 billion by 2032, according to a report titled ‘Unlock the Potential: A Look into Outbound Tourism’ by Nangia Andersen, in association with the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The report also highlighted the recommendations for growing the future of outbound tourism, which include tax rebates, collaboration with destinations … [Read more...]

Skift Take Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks closer at what hotel CEOs will discuss in earnings season, U.S. tourism recovery, and Icelandair’s strong second quarter. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Monday, July 24. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. Listen Now … [Read more...]

Skift Take Despite the substantial progress the U.S. has made, the country's tourism industry still has a ways to go to fully rebound from the pandemic. Here are the reasons why. Rashaad Jorden The U.S. travel industry has made tremendous progress in its recovery from the pandemic. Bookings for hotels, car rentals and tour activities have risen almost 30% from last … [Read more...]

Skift Take China has stepped up its tourist visa program, looking for visa-free travel for its citizens in return. Selene Brophy China will resume 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei from Wednesday, its embassies in the two countries said, more than three years after the visas were suspended to stop the spread of Covid-19. Visa-free entry to … [Read more...]

Deep in the Panamanian jungle, Venezuelan migrant Franca Ramirez was scrambling to reach higher ground as a rushing river broke its banks, he said, when something caught his eye: a group of young men, snapping photos of the landscape. The former police officer, who says he fled imprisonment and torture in Venezuela, was surprised. They were more than a day’s journey into the Darien Gap. The … [Read more...]

Skift Take Travel demand remains strong as Amex Travel sees a surge in purchases for travel and entertainment experiences. Selene Brophy American Express reported an all-time high in spending through its card products during the latest quarter, driven by travel and entertainment experiences demand. Spending was up by double digits both from U.S. consumers and … [Read more...]

Skift Take Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks closer at World Cup tourism, short-term rental over-saturation, and American Airlines’ earnings. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, July 21. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. Listen Now 🎧 … [Read more...]

Skift Take World Cup destinations better get their political playbook ready if they want to successfully host the games in 2026. Dawit Habtemariam North American destinations are getting ready for the 2026 World Cup, said city officials at the session titled “On the World Stage: Leveraging the 2026 FIFA World Cup Across North America and Beyond” at the Destinations … [Read more...]

Skift Take After easing remaining Covid restrictions, Japan's record inbound tourists in a month is testament to just how much the world missed this country. Amrita Ghosh Tokyo sushi stalwart Kyubey is among Japanese retail businesses riding a tourism boom, fueled by the weak yen and fostering an increase in consumer prices and hopes for a boost to the broader … [Read more...]

Skift Take Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks closer at global passport power, United’s Asian play, and Thailand’s Middle Eastern ambitions. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, July 19. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. Listen Now 🎧 … [Read more...]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is actively focusing on the Middle East as a crucial source market for tourism, aiming to attract 400,000 visitors from the region this year. Saudi Arabia is expected to lead the way with a projected 150,000 visitors, driven by the restoration of direct flights and enhanced diplomatic relations with Thailand. This marks a significant shift as Saudi Arabia … [Read more...]