Page 18
Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences Announce Two New DC Attractions for Abu Dhabi
Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, has announced the addition of two new DC-themed rides at the award-winning Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Designed to captivate fans of the franchise and thrill-seekers alike, 'Kryptonite Collider', set to open to the public on 26 July 2026, and 'Superman Up and Away' mark a major milestone in the ongoing expansion of Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Sets New Benchmark for Trusted, Seamless Travel Across Borders
As the FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) presents its latest research, “FIFA World Cup Border Management & Visa Facilitation: 20 Years of Evolution (2006–2026)”, highlighting how this historic tournament marks a turning point in global border management and brings together two decades of innovation to deliver one of the most seamless and secure travel experiences ever achieved.
Travel Tech supports new effort to stop dominant platforms from steering consumer choice
A bipartisan group of Senators is reintroducing the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA). The legislation is designed to promote fair competition in digital marketplaces by preventing dominant online gatekeepers from steering consumers toward their own products and services. It applies only to a small number of the largest platforms with at least $175 billion in annual revenue and significant U.S. user reach. Enforcement is carried out by the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, consistent with longstanding U.S. competition law.
Southern Europe and North America Lead Global Travel Demand Growth for Summer 2026
Destinations in Southern Europe, particularly Greece, Spain and Italy, are set to experience a significant surge in international demand during the Northern Hemisphere summer season, capturing 11.71% of global international travel intent between June and August 2026, up +2.47 percentage points compared with the same period last year, according to new analysis from The Data Appeal Company / Almaviva Group. The insights, based on Data Appeal Mabrian's data intelligence, the company's Tourism & Destinations division, provide an in-depth analysis of international travel intent performance using the Share of Searches Index* for June, July and August 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
Minor Hotels Partners with Saving the Wild to Launch Wine Collection in Support of Conservation
Minor Hotels is proud to announce a new partnership with Saving the Wild, a groundbreaking Africa-based conservation charity, with the launch of three ‘Saving the Wild’ wines which will be served in several Minor Hotel properties in Africa. The wines are produced by Hoopenburg Wine Estate, an award-winning wine farm, and feature a fine art label highlighting the need to protect three key species targeted for illegal poaching.
Italy’s travel market hits €30 billion as inbound tourism surges to record highs
A new Phocuswright report has revealed that Italy’s travel market reached €30 billion in gross bookings in 2025, rising 4.5% year over year as inbound tourism hit an all‑time high. New data from Phocuswright’s Italy Travel Market Brief 2026 shows a market defined by strong demand, rapid digital adoption and continued structural evolution across hotels, airlines and rail.
The travel funnel is collapsing: Inside the rise of AI agents
For two decades, the structure of the travel industry remained remarkably stable. Travelers searched, compared, booked and experienced in a linear funnel shaped by search engines, OTAs, metasearch platforms and increasingly sophisticated digital marketing systems.
Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum at Qatar Foundation Named One of TIME World's Greatest Places
Qatar Foundation's Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum in Doha, Qatar has been named one of the TIME World's Greatest Places 2026, the magazine's annual list recognizing 100 extraordinary destinations across the globe. The recognition marks a major milestone for the institution following its opening in November 2025, cementing its place as one of the world's standout cultural destinations as well as being a new addition to the arts and culture landscape of Qatar.
Flix Launches Its ChatGPT App, Bringing Sustainable & Affordable Travel Booking to Millions of Users
Flix, the global travel-tech company behind FlixBus and FlixTrain, today announced its integration with ChatGPT, enabling users to discover and plan bus and train journeys through natural conversation. With the integration, ChatGPT users can search for routes, compare travel options and seamlessly access Flix connections across Europe, North America, Türkiye, South America and Asia-Pacific. The experience combines conversational AI with Flix's real-time travel network and booking platform to make travel planning faster and more intuitive.
Etihad Airways doubles Kabul flights to twice daily as demand accelerates
Etihad Airways is to double its flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul from 15 July 2026, with the route's rapid growth since launch prompting the airline to add a second daily service in each direction. Kabul joined the Etihad network in March 2026, initially operating four times weekly. Demand has significantly exceeded expectations, with strong take-up from both point-to-point travellers and those using Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport as a hub to connect onwards to Europe and beyond.
Ghana Bets on Visa Liberalisation, Following a Playbook China Has Already Proven
Ghana has launched a new national e-visa platform while simultaneously waiving visa fees for travellers holding African passports, a move that positions the West African nation among the continent’s most progressive advocates of travel liberalisation. The initiative introduces online visa processing, significantly reduces administrative friction and, perhaps most importantly, sends a clear signal that Ghana sees connectivity as an economic growth strategy rather than a border control exercise.
LENNY PEARCE STEPS INTO THE HEADLINER SPOT AT BEACHES® RESORTS' FALL FAM JAM 2026
Beaches Resorts is unveiling the 2026 lineup for its annual Fall Fam Jam, returning this autumn with live performances by toddler techno sensation Lenny Pearce, and a new wave of Sesame Street® experiences. Running September through October across Jamaica and Turks & Caicos, the Fall Fam Jam brings forward a vibrant, all-inclusive, festival-style experience designed for families to connect and soak up the sun as fall begins to settle in.