Tourism News Page 217
LAS VEGAS RINGS IN 2026 WITH EXOSPHERE COUNTDOWN, FIREWORKS, AND FIRST-EVER DRONE SHOW
Las Vegas welcomed 2026 in spectacular fashion with the 25th edition of “America’s Party,” lighting up the Strip with a synchronized Drone Light Spectacular and an eight-minute rooftop fireworks display by Fireworks by Grucci. Pyrotechnics launched simultaneously from the rooftops of 10 resorts:
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation’s First Destination Outside North America, is Now Open
Six Flags Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia’s first-of-its-kind theme park and entertainment destination, celebrated its grand opening Dec. 31 by welcoming guests from across the Kingdom and globe. The debut marks Six Flags Entertainment’s first theme park designed and built outside North America. The trailblazing new park blends immersive entertainment with innovative technology across its six themed lands.
Visit Lauderdale Launches New Global Brand Campaign, “Never Lose Your Splash”
Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, unveiled “Never Lose Your Splash,” a bold new global brand campaign that celebrates the carefree confidence, vibrant energy, and welcoming spirit that define Greater Fort Lauderdale. Designed to inspire both first-time visitors and returning travelers, the campaign encourages travelers to reconnect with what makes them feel most alive — and to find it here, where sunshine, water and joy flow freely.
Princess Cruises Rings in New Year’s Day with Star Princess Alaska-Themed Float in the Rose Parade®
Princess Cruises rang in 2026 in full bloom with a stunning appearance at the iconic 137th Rose Parade®, unveiling its “Together in the Magic of Alaska” float. The floral masterpiece depicted Star Princess sailing through Alaska’s natural breath-taking beauty, marking the highly anticipated inaugural 2026 Alaska season for the cruise line’s newest ship.
The 46th edition of the International Tourism Fair will be held from Jan 21 to 25 at IFEMA MADRID
Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, announced a wide-ranging program to showcase before the global tourism market the richness, diversity, and potential of Mexico for international investment. With the support of the Embassy of Mexico in Spain, the agenda of activities that Mexico will feature as Partner Country of FITUR 2026, the International Tourism Fair to be held from January 21 to 25 at IFEMA MADRID, has been unveiled. The announcement, hosted at the Residence of the Diplomatic Representation, was attended by Secretary of Tourism Josefina Rodríguez Zamora; Mexico’s Ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz; Coordinator of the Economic Development Advisory Council, Altagracia Gómez; President of ASETUR, Bernardo Cueto Riestra; and IFEMA MADRID’s Executive Vice President, Daniel Martínez.
The Green Horizon: Travel and Tourism Trends for 2026 and Sustainable Journeys
As 2026 dawns, the travel industry stands at the threshold of a new era—one where adventure meets awareness, and exploration is guided by responsibility. Travelers are no longer just seeking new landscapes; they want to connect deeply with destinations while minimizing their impact on the planet. Welcome to the age of sustainable journeys, where the horizon is greener, the experiences richer, and the footprint lighter.
Raffles Bali Introduces “Wings of the Wild”
Raffles Bali is pleased to introduce Wings of the Wild, a guided nature experience created for resident guests. Set across the resort’s verdant hillsides, coastal edges and flourishing gardens, the programme reflects the resort’s ongoing commitment to preserving culture and nature, while creating inspired and unexpected guest experiences that honour the island’s rich biodiversity.
Ras Al Khaimah Sets a New Guinness World Record With a Spectacular New Year’s Celebration
The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah rang in 2026 with a spectacular 15-minute drones and fireworks display that set a new Guinness World Records title for the ‘Largest aerial display of a phoenix formed by multirotors/drones’. The highlight of the celebration was an awe-inspiring drone performance that transformed the night sky into a living canvas. At the heart of this display was the record-breaking Phoenix, a mythical symbol of renewal, optimism, and rebirth, echoing Ras Al Khaimah’s own transformation and ambition to continuously reimagine its future. This display was brought to life by 2,300 drones, including 1,000 state-of-the-art pyro drones that ignited the Phoenix wings in a dramatic blaze of light as it soared above Ras Al Khaimah’s waterfront. The spectacle continued with another striking drone formation named ‘The Welcome’ – a human form rising from the sea with open arms, embodying the emirate’s spirit of warmth, openness, and hospitality.
New Taipei’s 2026 Cross-River Fireworks Show Dazzles
New Taipei City welcomed the coming of 2026 with its flagship New Year’s Eve event, Shining New Taipei 1314 Cross-River Fireworks, was held along the Tamsui River with dual main stages in Tamsui and Bali on the two sides of the river. Combining large-scale outdoor concerts with a spectacular cross-river fireworks display, the event attracted an estimated 90K visitors on December 31, marking one of Taiwan’s most iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Bayside Burger Co. Drops Anchor at Yas Bay with Retro Vibes and Seriously Good Burgers
A fresh wave of flavour and fun hits the capital with the opening of Bayside Burger Co., the new waterside hotspot bringing easy-going beach culture, retro vibes, and seriously juicy burgers to Yas Bay. Overlooking Yas Beach, Bayside is where the everyday turns remarkable. With space for 81 guests - 31 indoors and 50 on the waterfront terrace - the venue combines vibrant retro-inspired interiors with a modern design edge and easy-breezy vibes. Think sunshine-yellow accents, playful details, a neon glow, and just the right amount of good chaos.
Happy New Year to all our readers.
As we welcome in 2026, all of us at Breaking Travel News would like to extend our warmest wishes to our readers around the world. Whether you are travelling for business, leisure, or returning home to loved ones, we wish you safe travels and a very happy New Year. The past year has once again demonstrated the resilience, creativity, and global spirit of the travel industry. Across aviation, hospitality, tourism, cruise, and destination management, we have seen innovation accelerate, sustainability move higher up the agenda, and travellers return with renewed curiosity and confidence. Through it all, our readers have remained at the heart of the conversation—shaping, challenging, and celebrating the industry as it continues to evolve
Dubai introduces contactless hotel check-in technology
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has announced the citywide introduction of a one-time contactless hotel guest check-in solution. This initiative sets a new global benchmark for guest convenience, safety, and innovation in the hospitality sector, and will allow guests to bypass in-person check-in procedures once implemented at the city’s hotels and holiday homes. It represents a significant step forward in achieving the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for business and leisure.