Tourism News Page 256
Get your ticket now: ITB Berlin 2026 kicks off its anniversary year
The ITB Berlin 2026 ticket shop is open now! Early birds can save until 14 January and experience the 60th anniversary of the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show featuring strong partners and new highlights.
Silversea Deepens Commitment to Onboard Guest Experience with Suite of Enhancements
Silversea, the leading experiential luxury and expedition travel brand, is evolving its onboard experience with a suite of new offerings across wellness, entertainment, and sports – including two cruise industry firsts: amp, an AI-powered strength training system, and Off the Deck’s SeaDrivePro, a portable golf simulator designed for superyachts. “Our guests expect extraordinary, rarely available experiences, and we’re focused on delivering just that,” said Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea. “With these new onboard enhancements, we’re elevating our offering to further rival the world’s finest resorts and private clubs, all while giving our guests a unique look at the world.”
Holland America Line’s 2027-2028 Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Season
With longer cruises and new overnight stays in Australia and Fiji, Holland America Line launched its 2027-2028 Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific season. These itineraries, ranging from 14 to 35 days, promise deep immersion in the region’s wonders, from vibrant coral reefs to dramatic volcanoes and bucket-list destinations like Bora Bora and New Zealand’s Bay of Islands.
Brand Dubai and RTA launch visual tribute to UAE’s Founding Fathers on the Dubai Metro
Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, has unveiled a visual tribute to the UAE’s Founding Fathers on the Dubai Metro’s Red Line. The creative display features images of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, along with verses from the poem ‘The People and the Leader’ by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, celebrating the enduring legacy of the Founding Fathers. Implemented in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai (RTA), the initiative was launched under the umbrella of the ‘National Month’ celebrations in Dubai and as part of the #ZayedAndRashid campaign.
SriLankan Airport and Ground Services Rolls Out Self-Check-In Service for Customer Airlines
SriLankan Airlines’ Airport and Ground Services, the sole ground services provider at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)‚ is rolling out its self-check-in service for passengers of customer airlines ahead of the winter travel high season, which is expected to bring over 300,000 tourists to the island in December alone. The initiative, made possible by the airline’s IT team, follows the installation of 20 new self-check-in kiosks at the departure terminal last month, bringing the total to 28 and boosting airport efficiency and the overall passenger experience in line with Sri Lanka’s tourism development efforts.
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IndiGo Deepens Network in Madhya Pradesh
IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, today announced new daily, direct flights between Indore and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, starting 22 December 2025. This new route makes IndiGo the first carrier to offer direct connectivity between the two cities. The flights on this route will be operated using IndiGo’s ATR aircraft, offering affordable and reliable travel experience to its customers. With this new service, IndiGo will connect Rewa to its vast destination network, offering convenient onward connections to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Lucknow, and Nagpur. Bookings are now open on IndiGo website (www.goIndiGo.in), the IndiGo mobile app, and across authorized travel partners.
SWISS Airbus A350 takes off for Boston on first full ‘SWISS Senses’ flight
SWISS’s first Airbus A350 HB-IFA departed from Zurich for Boston at 18:37 last (Thursday) evening on its first revenue long-haul flight. The event marks a further milestone for the airline: travelers on the Zurich-Boston route can now enjoy in full the completely new cabin and enhanced inflight service of the new ‘SWISS Senses’ long-haul air travel concept in all seating classes. SWISS’s first Airbus A350 will continue to be deployed on short-haul services, too, over the next few weeks, to train crews on the new twinjet as efficiently as possible. Montreal will be the new SWISS A350’s second long-haul destination.
Africa in focus: TUI Group strengthens hotel clusters across the continent
Africa is increasingly in the spotlight as one of the world’s emerging destinations for holidaymakers. With its diverse cultures, natural wonders, and growing appeal among international travellers, the continent is becoming a focus for global tourism. Reflecting this trend, TUI Group continues its strategic expansion across Africa with the addition of seven new hotels to its regional clusters. In North Africa, four resorts joined the portfolio in November, reinforcing TUI’s commitment to offering diversified experiences across the continent. The first TUI Blue hotel in The Gambia has also opened its doors, strengthening the group’s presence in West Africa. Looking ahead, two additional hotels are set to open in Zanzibar by early 2026.
UN Tourism Advances Accessibility with focus on Ukraine
With Ukraine’s State Agency for Tourism Development, UN tourism hosted the International Webinar on Accessible Tourism for All: Focus on Ukraine, welcoming experts from the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), as well as from Spain, Portugal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The webinar emphasized accessibility both as a fundamental right and a major economic opportunity for destinations and companies to expand their market outreach and reduce seasonality.
ITC Hotels Limited honoured with host of top titles at World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards
Indian hospitality leader ITC Hotels Limited has been honoured with a series of top titles at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA). The company, which today encompass over 140 hotels across 90+ destinations, was voted: • World’s Leading Sustainable Organisation 2025 • World’s Leading Sustainable Employer 2025 • World’s Leading Sustainable Food & Nutrition Initiative 2025 • World’s Leading Sustainable Marketing Campaign 2025 The prizes were revealed in front of hundreds of global leaders of sustainable tourism gathered in Dubai for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025. The VIP ceremony was held at Terra, Expo City Dubai and recognised the individuals and organisations that are accelerating change in net positive tourism
Iberostar Group honoured with World’s Leading Marine & Biodiversity Conservation Programme title
Hospitality provider Iberostar Group has been recognised with the title of World’s Leading Marine & Biodiversity Conservation Programme 2025 for its Wave of Change program at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA). The prize was revealed in front of hundreds of global leaders of sustainable tourism gathered in Dubai for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025. The VIP ceremony was held at Terra, Expo City Dubai and recognised the individuals and organisations that are accelerating change in net positive tourism.
Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor honoured by World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards
Luxury hotel Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor has been recognised with the title of World’s Leading Sustainable Water & Waste Innovation 2025 by voters at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA). The prize was revealed in front of hundreds of global leaders of sustainable tourism gathered in Dubai for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025. The VIP ceremony was held at Terra, Expo City Dubai and recognised the individuals and organisations that are accelerating change in net positive tourism.