26 October 2025 marks a profound national milestone – 40 years since the Australian Government returned the title deeds of Uluṟu–Kata Tjuṯa National Park to its Traditional Owners, the Aṉangu People. The 1985 handback was not just a legal shift. It was a cultural and spiritual affirmation of connection to Country, the recognition of Traditional Ownership, and a new beginning for Aboriginal-led tourism - built on respect, storytelling and deep time knowledge. It sparked a national conversation about custodianship and paved the way for other landmark returns of land across Australia.

World Aviation Festival 2025, the global stage for aviation innovation, strategy and transformation, took off yesterday in Lisbon. Until October 9th, more than 4,500 global leaders from across the aviation industry will gather at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, while over 600 speakers, including CEOs and other C-Level executives of the biggest aviation players, will share their expertise on stage. Visitors will also be able to meet and learn about the latest developments in aviation from more than 400 travel tech companies in the exhibition area. In the more than 85 sessions celebrated on the first day of the event, speakers have covered topics including artificial intelligence, sustainability, digital transformation, cybersecurity, regulation, diversity, disruption management, and loyalty programmes.

Dubai welcomed 11.17 million international overnight visitors from January-July 2025, marking a 5% increase compared to January-July 2024. Adding to its appeal for international audiences, Dubai’s accommodation and attraction portfolios continue to evolve for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, offering quality at every price point. As the year progresses, the city continues to evolve as a global destination, unveiling a wave of exciting new openings across hotels, dining, attractions and events. From record-breaking properties and innovative culinary concepts to immersive experiences and major festivals, the rest of 2025 and into 2026 promise fresh reasons to explore Dubai.

The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards has announced a strategic partnership with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, to deliver data-driven insights and strategies that support a more sustainable future for global tourism. Through this collaboration, World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards and Tourism Economics will combine their expertise to deliver cutting-edge research, economic impact assessments, and actionable policy recommendations.

Sandals Resorts International (SRI), parent company of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, has received 16 honors at this year's World Travel Awards Caribbean and The Americas. The Gala Ceremony held at Sandals Grande St. Lucian honored the visionaries and trailblazers shaping the travel and tourism industry. The evening united government leaders and hospitality professionals for a night of celebration, recognition, and inspiration.

Risk management can be a daunting prospect for even the hardiest of travel managers and certainly recent years of pandemics, political elections and price rises have not made managing suppliers and traveler safety any easier. Surprising, then, to see results from the recent global buyer survey* from Business Travel Show America which highlighted that only just over a third – some 38% - provide traveler safety training for their travelers.