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Karin, Isabell, and the #famousteam
- Bad omens for the winter vacation: Economic uncertainty and rising costs could slow down the previously flourishing winter tourism in the Alps, despite stable wages and low inflation. German holidaymakers are increasingly saving money, attaching importance to the main trip in summer and more frequently foregoing expensive second trips such as skiing vacations. Austria and Switzerland, which are heavily dependent on German guests, are expecting a decline in bookings. At the same time, long-distance travel is on the rise again, while domestic German destinations such as Bavaria are suffering from high operating costs and lower demand. Read more
- These destinations are trending at Tiktok: TikTok is increasingly inspiring travel plans, especially among Gen Z, where 35% consume videos about travel destinations. According to a TUI study, Dubai (32.7 million hashtags), London (12.1 million) and Barcelona (10.5 million) are among the most popular TikTok destinations, with skyscrapers, historic architecture and vibrant culture. In Europe, Madrid, Paris and Marseille are experiencing a hype thanks to vibrant art, impressive architecture and a Mediterranean atmosphere. Asian cities such as Hanoi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur fascinate with temples, street markets and modern infrastructure. In America, S?o Paulo, Lima and Los Angeles attract millions of TikTok users with their art, culinary delights and iconic events. Read more
- How tourism is performing on the stock market: Shares in the tourism sector are showing a mixed picture. TUI is currently trading at 7.95 euros, which is above its low for the year but still well below pre-pandemic prices. In the airline sector, traditional network carriers such as Lufthansa and Air France/KLM, whose share prices have almost halved since 2019, are weakening. In contrast, the value of Ryanair has doubled and the share is close to its high for the year. Platform companies such as Booking and Expedia are showing strong growth. Booking recorded an increase of 72 percent last year, while Expedia gained around a third. Both companies are trading close to their highs. The hotel industry is also developing positively: Marriott and Accor are well above their lows and are approaching their highs for the year, with Marriott standing out with a five-year increase of 118 percent. The situation is more difficult for car rental companies such as Sixt, whose share price has fallen by 17% since 2019 and is currently close to its low for the year. Overall, the industry is benefiting from various factors, but economic uncertainties and high costs continue to weigh on many players. Read more
- TRAVEL INSIDE survey: How the industry uses social media: A survey by TRAVEL INSIDE shows how Swiss travel professionals use social media for business purposes. 39% use the platforms professionally, primarily for marketing, sales and promotion as well as customer loyalty (20% each). Other goals include networking (16%), feedback (9%) and customer support (6%). Trend analyses play a lesser role at 5%. In terms of platforms, WhatsApp (22%) is ahead of Instagram (19%) and Facebook (18%). LinkedIn (16%) and YouTube (13%) are also in demand, while TikTok and other platforms are used less. Travel professionals prefer LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for TRAVEL INSIDE's presence. The magazine is currently represented on LinkedIn and Facebook. The results make it clear that social media is a versatile tool in the travel industry. Read more
- What trends will shape the travel industry in the coming year?: Accor's Travel Trend Report 2025 shows that travelers in Europe want to spend more money and travel more in 2025, especially in Poland, Germany and Spain. Sustainability remains an important issue: 73% of respondents are looking at environmentally friendly options, although price is often an obstacle. Overtourism is also influencing the choice of destinations, with many avoiding crowded places. Demand for workation travel is growing, as is interest in long-haul travel, particularly to Asia and North America. Accor is calling on the industry for more transparency and sustainable solutions to meet travel demands. Read more
- Hotelplan looks ahead to the 2025 travel year: According to Hotelplan, the travel year 2025 promises a variety of trends and exciting destinations. A look back at 2024 shows an unbroken desire to travel among the Swiss, with beach vacations in Greece, Spain, Egypt and Turkey as well as strong demand for individual travel in North America, Thailand and Finland. These trends will also continue in 2025: families often book at short notice, while tailor-made trips are planned for the long term. Mediterranean destinations and Nordic countries remain particularly popular, complemented by insider tips such as Peru, Madagascar and the French Antilles. European destinations such as Montenegro, Corsica and Malta are also coming into focus. Hotelplan recommends booking early in order to benefit from attractive offers. Read more
- Condor cancels flights to Cuba for the summer: Condor is canceling all flights to Cuba in summer 2025. According to Reise vor 9, the last connection to Holguín will be operated on April 27, 2025, while flights to Varadero and Havana will end at the end of April and beginning of May. Condor justifies the decision with economic necessity and a shift in capacity to destinations with higher demand. It remains unclear whether Cuba will be served again in winter 2025/2026. Problems such as the economic situation and the stricter travel advice from the Federal Foreign Office may have affected demand. Read more
- Lufthansa adds destinations for the summer season: Lufthansa has announced further new destinations for summer 2025. From April 6, the southern Italian city of Lamezia Terme will be served once a week from Frankfurt, with an additional connection on Thursdays from May 1. From May 17, a new connection to Figari in Corsica will be added, also once a week. There are also new additions to the Lufthansa subsidiaries: Swiss will be flying from Zurich to Dubrovnik from April 17, and Brussels Airlines will be launching flights between Brussels and Funchal on Madeira at the beginning of April. Read more
- Air fares to rise only slightly in 2025: In its forecast for 2025, business travel provider BCD Travel predicts that the days of sharply rising air fares are over. For 2025, the experts expect an average increase in global air fares of 0.1 percent compared to the current year. This will put pressure on airline yields. Read more
- Renovations at Schiphol airport: The terminal at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands is to be extensively renovated. The operating company is planning an investment of six billion euros and a construction period of five years. The design of the terminal is no longer uniform due to a number of extensions in different styles, which is why the airport speaks of a “puzzle whose pieces no longer fit together”. An architect is currently being sought to design a future, harmonious appearance. Read more
- BULGARIA: According to the Bulgarian Statistical Institute, 2024 is expected to be the most successful year in the history of Bulgarian tourism. In the period from January to September, Bulgaria already recorded 10.7 million foreign visitors, an increase of 2.5 percent compared to the pre-corona year 2019. The outlook for the rest of the year is also positive, according to the Bulgarian Institute for Analysis and Forecasting in Tourism. Read more
- FIJI: Tourism Fiji is launching a new marketing campaign at the end of the year under the motto “Happy Passports”, which aims to convey the infectious joie de vivre of the inhabitants of the island nation in the South Pacific. An accompanying YouTube video tells the stories of a customs officer and a photographer for passport photos at the airport. Their message: no matter how serious people seem when they arrive in Fiji, they will soon have adopted the cheerfulness of the Fijians. The campaign is being distributed worldwide in cinemas, social networks and on online platforms. Read more
- CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech Tourism hosted a Fam Trip for travel and wedding planners from November 11-17, 2024. The Fam Trip was led by Barbara Andelova, International Markets Manager of Czech Tourism. The trip began in Prague, where participants explored the city's history, culture and luxurious hotels. The group then traveled to the Central Bohemia region and discovered enchanting locations ideal for luxury weddings and celebrations. These locations, all within an hour's drive of Prague, offer backdrops for weddings that could appeal to Indian tourists in particular. The trip showcased the variety of options the Czech Republic offers for weddings, group events and celebrations abroad. Participants also experienced the seamless transition from fall to winter and explored the connectivity and service levels of accommodations and venues across the country. In addition to Prague, the Czech Republic has something to offer every traveler, from history to art to shopping and dining, making it an ideal week-long destination. This Fam Trip should show how the Czech Republic can meet the needs of Indian celebrations.” As Czech Tourism points out, most foreign weddings in the Czech Republic take place in chateaux, castles or other historical monuments. Read more
