Led by growth from Australia and Europe, the value of foreign golf tourism to Thailand may reach $US2 billion in 2012 for the first time. The strength of Thai golf tourism will be acknowledged later at the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony.

In recent years, Thailand has emerged as one of Asia’s most popular spa destinations, with its traditional ancient healing techniques that draw visitors from all over the world.

The term ‘staycation’ may have been applied more liberally to people from the UK opting to stay and holiday at home, rather than head off to foreign climes, but it’s not solely a UK phenomenon it seems. A revealing report from the Portuguese National Statistics Institute (INE), showed that in comparison to 2010, residents of Portugal have travelled significantly less.

Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTB) which has been nominated for World’s Leading Tourist Board at this year’s World Travel Awards, recently announced that it will play host to the high profile youth forum, One Young World in 2013. Lindiwe Kwele, Chief Executive, Johannesburg Tourism Company, explains to BTN what it is that makes this vibrant destination an ideal host for such a wide range of international events.

Following the undisputed success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, tourism leaders in South Africa have good reason to be optimistic about the country’s future as a leading destination for visitors from all over the world. Here Breaking Travel News catches up with industry leaders from top brands – including Mantis Collection, Sun International and Legends Lodges, Hotels & Resorts – to see what the future holds.

The contribution of tourism to African economic and social development should not be underestimated, according to the hosts of a new tourism industry event designed to explore possibilities of investment in the region.