Tourism News Page 11
ONE MOUNTAIN, THREE COUNTRIES, ONE EPIC ADVENTURE: THE RANDONNÉE DU MONT BLANC RETURNS
On 25 July 2026, Courmayeur will host the start and finish of the second edition of the Randonnée du Mont Blanc, the cycling event organised by EPICDAYS.CC. The route circles Mont Blanc clockwise through Italy, France and Switzerland, offering participants a choice between a 330 km course with 9,000 metres of elevation gain and a shorter Express route of 100 km with 3,000 metres of climbing. Both options are available in road and off-road versions, including gravel and mountain bike formats. With no rankings and no timing, the event is designed as a journey, encouraging riders to rediscover the spirit of sharing and adventure.
Sunset World Group Confirms It Is Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season
With the start of hurricane season in the Atlantic, Sunset World Group announced that its hotels and staff are prepared to handle any weather-related event, thanks to the ongoing implementation of its Storm and Hurricane Prevention and Response Program. The program includes specialized training for staff at all of the group's hotels to act before, during, and after the impact of a tropical storm or hurricane, with the primary objective of safeguarding the well-being of its members, guests, and staff.
Wego and Spain Tourist Office (Turespaña) Partner to Inspire MENA Travelers to Discover Spain
Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a strategic partnership with Turespaña, Spain's official tourism office, to showcase the country's diverse summer experiences and inspire travelers across the MENA region to discover Spain's unique blend of culture, gastronomy, coastal escapes, and vibrant lifestyle offerings.
Travel's next battleground: checkout
Travelers increasingly expect the same payment flexibility when booking a trip as they do when shopping online, whether that's paying in installments, using local payment methods, or combining loyalty points with cash. In fact, 60% of travelers are likely to abandon a booking if their preferred payment method isn't available. Yet many travel payment systems weren't built for that level of complexity. This is what John Lunn, CEO of Gr4vy and former PayPal executive, explores in his latest piece on why traditional payment service providers are struggling to keep up with modern travel commerce.
Half of UK Families Can't Afford a Summer Holiday This Year, New Survey Reveals
As the school summer holidays approach, new research from Park Christmas Savings shows families across the UK are bracing for six weeks of financial strain — with food costs, days out and childcare all piling pressure onto already-stretched household budgets. With the school gates set to close for summer in the coming weeks, a major new survey of UK by Park Christmas Savings has laid bare the financial reality facing families this year.
Check in. Drive out - City Lodge Hotels partners with Avis and Budget to transform travel
At a time when rising costs and the demand for flexibility are reshaping how South Africans travel, City Lodge Hotels, Avis, and Budget have responded with a new partnership deal. Guests checking into easy online at www.citylodgehotels.com can now also enjoy 15% off Avis car rental and 10% off Budget car rental. From quick business trips to family getaways, travel plans just became even more affordable. Together, these brands are committed to simplifying the travel journey from end to end and delivering meaningful value to both business and leisure travellers. (Terms and conditions apply.)
WHY SOME OF AFRICA'S MOST PROMISING ROUTES STILL HAVE NO FLIGHTS
Two of Sub-Saharan Africa’s strongest unserved routes still have no direct flight: Johannesburg to Mumbai, and Brussels to Cape Town. Both appear in the Airbus Exploring the Horizons study among high-demand corridors where passengers continue to route through a third city because no carrier has yet launched a service. Some of the continent’s connectivity gaps have narrowed over the past year. Qantas added Perth to Johannesburg, Edelweiss introduced its A350 service to Windhoek, Air Congo announced a Brussels link to Kinshasa, and Ethiopian secured approval to serve Mauritius. If those routes can move from proposal to operation, why do others with similarly strong demand remain unserved? That question sat at the centre of a discussion at AviaDev Africa 2026 in Gaborone, the continent’s main route development forum, where airlines, airports and tourism bodies meet to build new air links. It was chaired by Natalia Rosa, Project Lead at the Southern Africa Tourism Alliance (SATA).
2026 Hainan Cultural and Tourism Promotion Events Held in Hong Kong
On June 16, the 2026 Hainan Cultural and Tourism Promotion Events, under the theme of "Sunny Hainan · Heart's Desire," were held in Hong Kong. Leaders from Hong Kong's cultural and tourism authorities, heads of industry associations, and representatives of key cultural and tourism enterprises from home and abroad gathered to explore new opportunities for cooperation and draw up a blueprint for the industry's future.
ITB Berlin 2027 launches new campaign: Travel & Tourism in Motion
The World’s Leading Travel Trade Show will take place in Berlin from 16 to 18 March 2027. With its new campaign it focuses on the developments shaping global tourism, i.e. changing travel habits, innovative mobility solutions and new technological, economic and social conditions. It shows how markets, destinations and business models are constantly evolving, creating new prospects for tomorrow’s world of travel.
The RuMa Launches The Kuala Lumpur Escape, an Exclusive Offer for ASEAN Travellers
The RuMa Hotel and Residences, a one MICHELIN Key awarded five-star property, introduces “The Kuala Lumpur Escape,” a thoughtfully curated stay experience that invites residents of ASEAN countries to step away from the everyday and rediscover Kuala Lumpur through a lens of calm, comfort, and understated luxury.
Make the most of Tokyo’s dramatic summer fireworks festivals
Summer in Tokyo has its own set of rituals and events that mark the season, and one of the most popular is the annual fireworks – or hanabi - festivals that light up the night skies week after week throughout the summer.
TUI introduces ‘Last Minute, Holiday Check It’ service across retail network
TUI has launched a new in-store “Last Minute, Holiday Check It” service to support customers booking holidays closer to departure, as new research highlights the pressures many face when planning at short notice. The move comes as late booking demand continues to build across the market, with research from ABTA pointing to a strong late booking trend this summer. TUI’s study of 2,000 UK adults found that booking closer to departure is often associated with increased pressure, with nearly half (48%) agreeing it intensifies the need to “get it right”. Many also report feeling anxious (29%) and overwhelmed (21%) when making last-minute holiday decisions.