Tourexpi
The 19th UN Tourism/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and
Outlook brought together over 230 participants from 30 countries to discuss how
research, data, and innovative policies can foster a smarter, more sustainable
tourism ecosystem. Organized by UN Tourism and the Pacific Asia Travel
Association (PATA), in collaboration with the Guilin Municipal People’s
Government and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the event reinforced its role
as a leading regional platform for global insights.
Strong recovery in Asia-Pacific
UN Tourism data show that international arrivals in
Asia-Pacific grew 11% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, outpacing the
world average, though still 8% below 2019 levels. North-East Asia led with 20%
growth, reflecting the renewed influence of China as the world’s largest
outbound market.
Data at the core of smart tourism
Sessions explored governance and policies backed by
innovative intelligence systems, with contributions from Australia, India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Republic of Korea
and Vietnam. Key topics included:
·
Smart destinations: Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, and Spain shared
case studies on digitalization, collaboration, and community well-being.
·
MICE opportunities: Experts from China, Greece, and Korea underlined the
role of data in identifying new market partnerships.
·
Young talent and research: Chinese academia stressed the importance of
training future leaders in data-driven tourism.
Industry perspectives
Keynotes from Fliggy and TUI provided insights on
European travel to Asia-Pacific and the digital transformation of the Chinese
market.
Looking ahead
The 20th edition of the UN Tourism/PATA Forum will
again be organized by UN Tourism, PATA, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
and the Guilin Municipal People’s Government in 2026.
Image
Credit: © UN Tourism
The most interesting news
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WTTC aims to support one million tourism SMEs worldwide
New research suggests that improving productivity among smaller tourism businesses could generate an additional US$63 billion in direct tourism GDP across eight major economies
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European travel and tourism growth to reach 3.1% in 2026
WTTC forecasts stronger growth than the wider economy as more than 1,000 industry leaders gather in Malta for the organisation’s Global Summit
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Atlas Ocean Voyages expands Antarctica programme for 2028/29
The cruise line introduces 25 polar expeditions, more fly-and-sail departures and extended itineraries reaching South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Circle
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Lufthansa named Best European Airline at Asian travel awards
Travel industry professionals across Asia recognise Lufthansa as the airline prepares to introduce its new Allegris cabins on flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
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Biman Bangladesh Airlines orders 10 Airbus aircraft for fleet expansion
The national carrier plans to introduce A350-900 and A321neo aircraft from 2033, strengthening long-haul and regional operations alongside major Boeing orders
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Ryanair to suspend all Bremen flights from April 2027
The airline plans to withdraw 500,000 annual seats from the German airport, citing high operating costs and aviation taxes as it shifts capacity to other European markets
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LOT Polish Airlines launches direct Warsaw–Bangkok flights
The new connection strengthens Thailand’s access to Central European markets, with five weekly flights planned for winter and Polish arrivals expected to reach 250,000 in 2026
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Six Mexican beaches rank among the Americas’ best in 2026
Tulum takes second place in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, while destinations in Baja California Sur, Jalisco and Nayarit also receive recognition
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Da Nang strengthens MICE appeal with new Marriott event facilities
Courtyard by Marriott Danang Han River offers 13 meeting venues, a rooftop event space and 296 rooms as the Vietnamese city targets nearly 93,000 business event visitors in 2026
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Delta expands free Wi-Fi to trans-Pacific flights in October
The airline has secured regulatory approval to extend Delta Sync connectivity across its Pacific network, completing the final major stage of its global Wi-Fi rollout
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Thailand plans tourism experiences for transit passengers
New partnership between tourism and aviation organisations aims to turn longer flight connections into short visits to local attractions, restaurants and communities
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IHG opens InterContinental Taipei with 347 rooms and seven restaurants
Located within the Taipei Dome complex, the new luxury hotel strengthens IHG’s presence in Taiwan and expands its partnership with Farglory Group
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TransNusa increases Jakarta–Singapore flights to four daily
Indonesian carrier expands capacity on the busy regional route, offering additional evening connections for business and leisure travellers
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Marriott identifies local cuisine as Asia Pacific’s leading dining trend
New Future of Food 2027 report highlights growing demand for regional flavours, informal dining spaces and shorter fine-dining experiences
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Delta postpones Atlanta–Riyadh flights until March 2027
The US airline delays its planned nonstop service to Saudi Arabia amid regional developments, offering affected passengers flexible rebooking and refund options
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Thailand launches nationwide travel sales campaign in Spain
Tourism Authority of Thailand partners with Viajes El Corte Inglés to promote winter holidays, targeting 20 million consumer impressions and 3,000 package bookings
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WTTC honours Türkiye’s Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy
The Global Champion Award recognises public-private cooperation and tourism development as Türkiye’s travel economy is forecast to grow further in 2026
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WTTC identifies eight priorities to strengthen European tourism
New research forecasts Europe’s travel and tourism economy will reach US$3.8 trillion by 2036, but warns that investment, connectivity and workforce shortages require urgent policy attention
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Marriott Bonvoy brings 14 Hong Kong hotels to Wine & Dine Festival
The four-day culinary event will feature leading chefs, mixologists and new tasting experiences celebrating Hong Kong’s diverse food culture
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Anantara opens luxury safari camp in Zambia’s Kafue National Park
The new 13-suite riverside retreat combines wildlife safaris, conservation initiatives and private wellness experiences in one of Africa’s largest national parks
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EXPO 2027 Belgrade strengthens tourism cooperation with North Macedonia
Business networking in Skopje highlights joint travel opportunities as Serbia prepares to welcome an estimated four million visits during the international exhibition
