The package, listed through Ctrip, Trip.com’s mainland China platform, is currently the most expensive publicly available space tourism product on the Chinese market and represents a striking example of how commercial space travel is beginning to enter the portfolios of conventional travel companies.

The six-day itinerary takes place in the United States, starting in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Travellers spend the first four days preparing for their flight before boarding a Virgin Galactic spacecraft for a 90-minute suborbital experience on the fifth day.

https://t.co/uV0odA123S's luxury travel platform started selling Virgin Galactic’s 2027 space tour ticket for CNY5.1 million (USD760,000), the most expensive public space tour product in the Chinese market. Two adventurous travelers have already secured a spot. Starting in Las… pic.twitter.com/e96rdUffMk

— Yicai 第一财经 (@yicaichina) September 16, 2026

The programme includes simulator-based training, centrifuge and G-force tolerance exercises, parabolic flights, sensory-overload training, emergency-response drills and equipment-operation training. During the flight itself, passengers are expected to experience several minutes of weightlessness and views of Earth through the spacecraft’s 17 windows.

China looks towards space tourism

While the flight itself is operated by an American company from US soil, its appearance on one of China’s largest travel platforms points to the country’s increasing interest in developing a market for space tourism.

That interest extends beyond selling overseas experiences. In November 2025, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s major state-owned space contractor, announced a Chinese space tourism initiative at the China International High-Tech Fair in Shenzhen.

The announcement came as China’s rapidly expanding commercial aerospace sector increasingly explores opportunities beyond conventional government-led space programmes.

China has already established itself as one of the world’s major space powers, operating its own Tiangong space station and pursuing plans for crewed lunar exploration. Cooperation between the China National Space Administration and Russia’s Roscosmos is also continuing on the proposed International Lunar Research Station, with site reconnaissance due to be completed in 2026 and construction expected to begin from 2028.

Tourism, however, represents a very different market. Rather than scientific missions lasting months or complex orbital expeditions, commercial operators are increasingly concentrating on shorter suborbital experiences aimed at wealthy private travellers.

The development comes amid an intensifying global space tourism race, with private companies such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin working to establish a regular market for paying passengers.

Virgin Galactic prepares for 2027 return

Trip.com’s new offer comes as Virgin Galactic prepares to resume commercial operations with its next generation of spacecraft.

The company opened bookings in April 2026 for a limited tranche of 50 spaceflight expeditions priced at US$750,000 (€633,000) per person. By 12 August, the tranche had been oversubscribed, adding more than US$50 million (€42 million) to Virgin Galactic’s expected future spaceflight revenue.

Virgin Galactic’s first new spacecraft is now expected to enter commercial service in February 2027, later than its previous target of the fourth quarter of 2026, as the company allows more time for avionics and systems installation.

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For Trip.com, that timetable means customers are effectively booking an experience ahead of Virgin Galactic’s planned return to commercial passenger operations.

The listing has prompted discussion on Chinese social media about both the price and safety of the product. Some users have questioned whether a few days of preparation are sufficient for spaceflight, while others have expressed doubts about how mature commercial space tourism will be by 2027.

Questions have also been raised about the physical demands of the experience and responsibility for passenger safety. At 5.1 million yuan, meanwhile, the price ensures that space tourism remains far beyond the reach of the overwhelming majority of travellers.

From astronauts to tourists

Space tourism itself is no longer new. American businessman Dennis Tito became the first self-funded space tourist in 2001, travelling to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

More recently, companies including Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin have concentrated on shorter suborbital flights. Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme had flown 92 passengers, representing 86 individuals, by the end of 2025.

The sector has also begun broadening the profile of those able to participate. In 2025, European Space Agency aerospace and mechatronics engineer Michaela Benthaus became the first wheelchair user to fly above the Kármán Line aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard.

But the appearance of a US$760,000 spaceflight on a major Chinese travel booking platform represents another step in the sector’s evolution. Instead of customers approaching specialist aerospace companies directly, spaceflight is increasingly being marketed alongside other high-end travel experiences.

For China, it also comes as the country develops ambitions of its own in commercial spaceflight and space-related tourism.

Trip.com’s package may currently send Chinese travellers more than 10,000 kilometres away to New Mexico before they can travel beyond Earth, but the combination of growing domestic demand and China’s expanding commercial aerospace industry suggests that the country is positioning itself to play a larger role in the emerging space tourism market.

L’article China targets space tourism as Trip.com launches $760,000 package est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since 28 February 2026, air traffic across the Middle East has been heavily disrupted. During the first few months after the initial US-Israel attack on Iran, many of the airspaces in the region were closed more often than not. Yet even once the shutdown was over, the aviation industry encountered numerous hurdles on the way to recovery.

While at the time of writing, airports across the Gulf are accepting arrivals and departures again, international carriers are slow to return. Local airlines have been rebuilding their schedules for a while but travellers relying on Asian, European, and North American operators thus need to be patient.

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A post shared by Zayed International Airport (AUH) مطار زايد الدولي (@zayedintlairport)

British Airways is one of the international airlines that are cautiously planning a return to the Middle East. While flight routes were initially scheduled to resume one 1 fully 2026, that deadline has been pushed several times. The first connection to be reinstated was the route to Doha, which opened again on 2 September 2026 and offers one daily flight.

The next flight route set to resume is the one to Tel Aviv. As of 25 October 2026, the airline is planning to reinstate a daily flight from London.

The Middle East is once again at the top of Flightradar24's most-tracked list as aviation activity draws attention following new attacks in and around Iran. pic.twitter.com/pITzxaisif

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 1, 2026

British Airways is planning its return to Riyadh and Dubai on 3 November 2026, with one flight per day for both destinations in a first stage. During the summer of 2027, the number of daily flights to Dubai should increase to two.

Starting from 4 November 2026, British Airways should be organising four weekly flights to Amman.

However, British Airways will not be flying to two destinations in the Middle East before 2027. Flights to Bahrain should resume around the end of March 2027, while direct flights from London to Abu Dhabi aren’t expected to resume until the winter of 2027. In a statement to Metro UK, the airline blamed the late date on the conflict in the Middle East and ‘airspace instability’.

Travellers who wish to fly from London to Abu Dhabi before then have multiple options. Etihad is offering a direct connection from London Heathrow. Meanwhile, British Airways enthusiasts can catch a flight to Doha, from where a Qatar Airways connection will be able to bring them to Abu Dhabi – a voyage which takes approximately 11 hours in total.

Although the situation has calmed down since February, the airspace remains high risk. Israeli airstrikes in Syria remain likely and several countries still prohibit or strongly discourage their operators from entering the region’s skies.

Prospective flyers can check safeairspace.net for more info. British Airways customers who have booked a ticket to or from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Riyadh up to and including 31 October 2026 can request a full refund. This also applies to flights which are still set to operate.

L’article British Airways not to resume Abu Dhabi flights until late 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Tourism is no longer simply an industry defined by arrivals, hotel nights and visitor spending. It has become a strategic instrument for economic development, investment, diplomacy, urban transformation and international cooperation.

This is the space in which the Global Tourism Forum (GTF) is positioning itself: as a high-level meeting point where governments, investors and global business leaders come together to shape the future of tourism.

With its international operations centred in Dubai and Brussels, the Global Tourism Forum has evolved into a business-led organisation focused on public-private collaboration, tourism investment, destination development and policy dialogue.

Its purpose is not to replicate the traditional conference model. Instead, GTF aims to create an environment in which decisions can be accelerated, partnerships can be formed and destinations can connect directly with the capital, expertise and international networks required for growth.

A broader definition of tourism

The Forum’s agenda reflects the changing nature of the global tourism economy.

Aviation, hospitality and destination promotion remain fundamental, but today’s discussions increasingly extend to infrastructure, urban mobility, digital transformation, cybersecurity, real estate, sustainability, investment finance and international cooperation.

Tourism is connected to almost every major economic sector, and the Global Tourism Forum is designed around that reality.

This approach can be seen in the Forum’s growing international calendar.

In Brussels, the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting brings together ministers, government representatives, investors, chief executives, international institutions and influential figures from across the global tourism economy.

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The 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place on 9–10 November in Brussels, will once again place the European capital at the centre of a global conversation on tourism competitiveness, investment and international cooperation.

Brussels provides a particularly relevant setting. As the political capital of Europe and home to major international institutions, it allows tourism to be discussed not only as an industry but also as an increasingly important economic and policy priority.

For destinations, the value lies in access to decision-makers and capital. For private-sector participants, the Forum provides direct engagement with governments and new markets. For policymakers, it offers an opportunity to understand how global investors and industry leaders are responding to a rapidly changing international environment.

From dialogue to investment

The Global Tourism Forum model also extends far beyond Europe.

In June 2026, the organisation convened the GTF Angola Investment Summit in Luanda, bringing together political leaders, international institutions, global hotel groups, investors and development partners.

The summit attracted approximately 1,500 participants and resulted in around 15 memoranda of understanding covering investment, development, international cooperation and training.

Angola demonstrated one of GTF’s central principles: destinations need more than international promotion.

They need investment pipelines, bankable projects, international visibility, access to developers and operators, and structured engagement with the global investment community.

For emerging destinations in particular, tourism can act as a catalyst for employment, infrastructure development, foreign direct investment and economic diversification, but only when political ambition is connected with capital and execution.

The Forum therefore places a strong emphasis on outcomes.

Its meetings are designed to connect ministers and destination leaders directly with investors, operators, developers and strategic partners, with the objective of converting dialogue into projects, partnerships and long-term relationships.

Relationships matter

Alongside its major summits, GTF also uses smaller leadership formats to deepen relationships and move discussions forward.

Its invitation-only Leaders Dinners, organised in international centres including Berlin, Cape Town and Dubai, bring together a select group of ministers, ambassadors, investors, developers and senior executives in an environment designed for direct and candid conversation.

These gatherings complement the larger Forum meetings by creating space for potential partnerships, investment opportunities and policy priorities to be discussed away from the formal conference stage.

The combination of international visibility and smaller, relationship-driven engagement has become an important part of the Global Tourism Forum model.

Measuring the future

The same philosophy is shaping GTF’s broader work in research and investment intelligence.

Through initiatives such as the World Tourism Investment Index, the organisation is developing frameworks that can help governments, investors and businesses better understand tourism competitiveness and investment potential.

The Index assesses 217 countries through 18 indicators across five categories, offering a global perspective on investment conditions and market readiness.

Looking ahead, the Global Tourism Forum’s ambition is clear: to strengthen its position as a bridge between destinations and global capital, between governments and business, and between tourism policy and real-world investment.

The tourism sector is entering a new era in which competitiveness will depend on far more than visitor numbers.

Infrastructure, technology, mobility, security, sustainability, financing and international partnerships will increasingly determine which destinations succeed.

The Global Tourism Forum intends to be where those conversations become decisions, and where those decisions become investment, growth and long-term value for destinations around the world.

L’article Global Tourism Forum: Where tourism meets diplomacy, investment and global leadership est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Doha-based carrier plans to operate nearly 1,800 weekly flights by December 2026 through its hub at Hamad International Airport, as it resumes several routes and increases frequencies in key markets.

In Africa, Qatar Airways will resume daily flights to Zanzibar from 25 October. Johannesburg services will increase from 14 to 18 weekly flights from 2 December, while Seychelles will rise from four to seven weekly flights from 1 March 2027.

Qatar Airways will expand its global network to more than 170 destinations during the 2026-2027 winter season, reflecting the airline’s network growth and reinforcing its position as a leader in global connectivity.

The winter schedule will see Qatar Airways operate more than… pic.twitter.com/sPmXN80FEZ

— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) September 10, 2026

The airline is also expanding its Asia Pacific operations. From 25 October, Phuket will increase from 14 to 21 weekly flights, while services to Malé in the Maldives will rise from 12 to 21 per week. Ho Chi Minh City will receive 11 weekly flights from 7 November, up from seven, including the return of four weekly non-stop services from Doha. Kuala Lumpur will be served by 18 Qatar Airways flights per week, alongside 14 weekly services operated by Malaysia Airlines between the Malaysian capital and Doha.

Qatar Airways will return to Canberra on 9 December with daily flights operating via Melbourne. At the same time, Melbourne frequencies will double from seven to 14 per week. Partner Virgin Australia will also expand services to Doha from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth from December.

In Europe, London Heathrow will see an increase from 49 to 56 weekly Qatar Airways flights from 25 October, while British Airways will continue operating a daily service between London and Doha. Frankfurt frequencies will rise from 18 to 21 per week from 7 December.

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Across the Americas, Montréal will increase from five to seven weekly flights from 25 October, representing a 40% increase in seat capacity. In the Middle East, Qatar Airways is restoring twice-weekly services to four Saudi Arabian destinations – Qassim, Taif, Yanbu and Tabuk – bringing its Saudi network to 12 destinations and more than 155 weekly flights.

The expansion comes as passenger traffic continues to recover following regional disruptions earlier this year. Qatar Airways Group CEO Hamad Ali Al-Khater told Euronews that “passenger numbers have recovered to around 90%-95% of last year’s levels”, with Hamad International Airport currently handling more than 140,000 passengers per day.

Alongside its network growth, Qatar Airways is continuing to roll out Starlink connectivity. More than 150 of its widebody aircraft are now equipped with the service, enabling up to 340 Starlink-enabled flights per day. The airline is also preparing for further fleet expansion, with 138 new aircraft expected to join its fleet over the next five years.

L’article Qatar Airways expands winter network to over 170 destinations with nearly 1,800 weekly flights est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The global average jet fuel price rose by 6.1% in a week to $181.46 (€153) per barrel, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), highlighting a cost increase that extends well beyond the United States and is also being closely watched by European carriers.

Executives from American, United and Southwest outlined plans to adjust their schedules at Morgan Stanley’s annual Laguna Conference on Wednesday, with some flights already set to disappear from schedules towards the end of the year.

American Airlines Chief Financial Officer Devon May said fuel prices for the fourth quarter were running approximately $1 per gallon above the level the carrier had forecast in July. The difference is expected to add around $1 billion (€843 million) to American’s fuel bill.

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“What’s happened in the last four weeks, though, is fuel’s run up probably $1 a gallon or something like that for the fourth quarter alone,” May said.

American is consequently planning further capacity adjustments towards the end of the fourth quarter. However, demand remains strong, with the airline expecting third-quarter revenue to increase between 16% and 19% compared with the same period last year.

United Airlines is also removing flights from its schedule. Chief Financial Officer Michael Leskinen said some services originally planned for December would no longer operate.

“As you look into the fourth quarter, there’ll be some flights in December that we won’t fly that we thought we were going to fly,” Leskinen said. “If fuel remains high, we’ll make some adjustments into the first quarter and beyond into 2027.”

The airline has not disclosed which routes will be affected. Leskinen said that routes at the lower end of profitability can become unprofitable when fuel prices rise sharply.

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Southwest Airlines has meanwhile reduced around half of the modest year-on-year capacity growth it had originally planned for 2026. Chief Financial Officer Tom Doxey said further reductions would be a “natural response” if fuel remained elevated.

However, Southwest later clarified that schedule adjustments made so far had been minimal and that Doxey was illustrating how the airline could respond if fuel remained expensive rather than announcing substantial additional cuts.

Cheaper flights under pressure

The reductions could have a disproportionate impact on travellers looking for lower fares. Flights operating at less popular times or on routes with thinner demand are generally more vulnerable to capacity cuts because their margins are already lower.

That could include services on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as well as very early morning or late-night flights, according to aviation experts cited by CNN.

The situation is particularly challenging for budget-conscious passengers in the United States following the disappearance of Spirit Airlines, which halted operations in May, while other low-cost carriers have increasingly sought to attract passengers willing to pay for more premium products.

Jet fuel costs more than crude oil. The difference between the two is called the jet fuel crack spread. The strong correlation between jet fuel and crude oil prices has weakened, meaning higher and more volatile crack spreads. Learn why in the #WeeklyChart https://t.co/MuuCoXlxrj pic.twitter.com/nS5HMPOd9C

— IATA (@IATA) September 12, 2026

Airlines have nevertheless reported little evidence that higher prices are significantly weakening overall passenger demand.

United said its fourth-quarter bookings remained “tremendously strong”, with premium travel, corporate demand and economy bookings all proving resilient.

“Bookings have continued as we expected, so that piece of the equation is resilient – very little evidence of demand destruction,” Leskinen said.

Strong demand combined with reduced capacity could make it more difficult for passengers to find cheaper tickets, particularly if fuel prices remain elevated into 2027.

European airlines also exposed to fuel surge

Although the latest capacity announcements concern US carriers, the underlying increase in jet fuel prices is global, meaning European airlines are exposed to the same energy-market pressures.

Fuel represents one of the aviation industry’s largest operating expenses, and sustained price increases can affect decisions on capacity, routes and ultimately ticket prices.

European airlines may have some protection through fuel hedging, whereby carriers lock in part of their future fuel requirements at predetermined prices. This can reduce exposure to sudden short-term increases, although it cannot completely protect airlines from a prolonged period of high prices.

The pressure also comes as European aviation faces additional costs associated with fleet renewal, sustainable aviation fuel requirements and the wider decarbonisation of the sector.

Aircraft delivery delays have added another challenge by forcing some airlines to operate older and generally less fuel-efficient aircraft for longer than originally planned. For passengers, however, higher fuel prices do not automatically translate into equivalent increases in ticket prices. Airfares ultimately depend heavily on supply and demand, as airlines balance operating costs against the number of seats available and passengers’ willingness to pay.

With US carriers already beginning to remove less profitable capacity, airlines on both sides of the Atlantic will be watching closely to see whether the latest jet fuel surge proves temporary or begins to influence schedules further into 2027.

L’article US airlines cut flights as jet fuel prices surge est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Azerbaijan’s Formula One Grand Prix takes place at the Baku City Circuit, a 6.003-km street circuit designed by Hermann Tilke in the heart of the country’s capital. Formula 1 first raced in Baku in 2016, when the event was held as the European Grand Prix, before becoming the Azerbaijan Grand Prix the following year.

Until the addition of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in 2021, Baku was home to the fastest Formula 1 street circuit, mainly because of its long straight sections. It is also the third-longest circuit on the calendar in 2026, after Spa-Francorchamps (7.004 km) and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit (6.201 km).

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A decade of Formula 1 in Baku

The 2026 edition marks 10 years since Formula 1 first arrived in Baku. Over the past decade, the race has developed a reputation for unpredictable action, with the characteristics of the street circuit contributing to several eventful Grands Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo came from 10th on the grid to win a chaotic race in 2017, while Lewis Hamilton took victory in 2018 after Valtteri Bottas suffered a puncture with just three laps remaining. Sergio Perez won an eventful 2021 edition, Oscar Piastri triumphed for McLaren in 2024 and Max Verstappen dominated in 2025, taking pole position, victory and the fastest lap.

Part of the circuit’s appeal comes from the contrast between its different sections. Its 20 corners combine narrow streets around Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City with a roughly 2.2-km flat-out section along the Caspian Sea waterfront. The passage around the medieval city walls between Turns 8 and 10 is particularly narrow, leaving drivers little margin for error.

At the other extreme, the long run towards Turn 1 allows Formula 1 cars to reach some of the highest speeds seen on a street circuit and creates opportunities for overtaking. Teams therefore face the difficult task of finding a set-up that provides enough downforce for the technical sections without sacrificing too much speed on the straights.

The anniversary will extend beyond the racing itself. The 2026 Grand Prix weekend will include an F1 Fan Zone and live entertainment, with Katy Perry and Calvin Harris scheduled to perform as Baku celebrates a decade of Formula 1.

This year, the Baku Grand Prix is set to take place on Saturday 26 September to avoid coinciding with Azerbaijan’s National Remembrance Day on 27 September. Although it is not yet clear how many people will attend the event, the 2024 edition attracted 76,000 spectators. Of those, 80% were international visitors, who spent more than €2,000 on average over the weekend, while 72% said they intended to return in 2026.

More like Baku Pretty Circuit

Always an incredible backdrop for a Grand Prix!#F1 #AzerbaijanGP @BakuCityCircuit pic.twitter.com/NdV1rXRtRU

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 16, 2025

Visas on arrival

In a bid to make things easier for international visitors and boost attendance, Azerbaijan is granting visas on arrival to both Formula 1 ticket holders and racing personnel. The measure runs until 30 September 2026, four days after the race, encouraging visitors to extend their stay and discover Azerbaijan beyond Baku.

“Formula 1 fans tend to decide late, and a visa issued on arrival against a ticket or accreditation means that spontaneous decision can become a weekend in Baku. That is where the lasting value lies for us: turning a three-day motorsport trip into a week in Azerbaijan, and a first-time visitor into a returning one,” Florian Sengstschmid, chief executive of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, told Euronews.

To benefit from the special visa-on-arrival measure, applicants need to provide one of the following documents:

• An accreditation card or other document confirming accreditation in accordance with the relevant rules of Formula One Management Limited and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the international organisers of Formula 1 races.
• An accreditation card for Baku City Circuit Operations Company.
• A ticket, including an electronic ticket, or a document confirming the purchase of a ticket for the Formula 1 race to be held in Baku in 2026.

Those who intend to attend the event but do not yet have a ticket can obtain a visa through the electronic ASAN system or through an Azerbaijani embassy or consulate.

Tickets for the Baku Grand Prix are still available and start at €186 for general admission. Beyond the race, visitors can explore Azerbaijan’s capital and its many attractions, including the undying flame of Yanar Dag and the Carpet Museum, as well as destinations elsewhere in the country.

L’article Baku celebrates 10 years of Formula 1 with visas on arrival for fans est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A third runway for Heathrow has been on the cards for nearly a quarter of a century, with plans for it twice approved since it was first proposed in 2003. Today’s administration has an ambition to open the facility by 2035, with Chancellor John Healey insisting the “economic case stacks up and will help bring growth.”

The present blueprint, costed at around £33 billion (around €38.5 billion) would see a 3,500-metre runway and new terminal constructed to the northwest of the airport’s current footprint, demolishing 750 homes across at least three villages and requiring the M25 motorway encircling London to be diverted.

The expansion is intended to boost flight capacity at the UK hub by around 58%, handling up to 756,000 flights per year, instead of 480,000. The UK’s Department for Transport claims any Heathrow expansion will align with net zero goals, and pointed to government investment of £219 million in sustainable aviation fuel production and a further £43 million in cleaner technologies “to support greener aviation, while expansion could deliver around £40 billion to the economy and support up to 60,000 local jobs.”

But environmental champions, including Transport & Environment (T&E) and the Climate Change Committee (CCC), say the increase in flights would exceed the UK’s carbon budgetsand put 2050’s net-zero target out of reach.

To avoid that scenario, Nigel Topping, the chair of the CCC, said the UK government needs to introduce measures to make the aviation sector responsible for managing its emissions within climate thresholds, through increasing the proportion of “sustainable aviation fuels” (SAF) they use, and by paying for the permanent removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere.

“The government cannot expand Heathrow airport without requiring the aviation industry to clean up its emissions. Therefore, the government should legislate policies that require the aviation industry to fully address all of their emissions by 2050, either directly or by purchasing engineered removals. The polluter-pays principle must apply,” Topping said.

But aviation stakeholders such as industry group Airlines UK implied that cost would eventually be passed onto consumers, “pricing Britain out of the skies.” Chief Executive Time Alderslade said the CCC’s suggestion would “put holidays out of reach for millions, turning the clock back to a time when flying was the preserve of the rich”. Instead he called for “affordable SAF … more direct routes and scaled up removals.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Heathrow said: “Heathrow expansion cannot be a choice between economic growth and net zero – it must deliver both” and added it would “continue working with government and partners across the aviation sector to ramp up today’s proven technologies, while examining options for how the billions of pounds passengers already pay in carbon taxes can be used to support this.”

L’article Heathrow expansion plans should make airlines pay for CO2 removal, climate advisers say est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA), which opened to the public on 6 September, occupies an industrial complex dating back to 1912. Designed by architect Wilhelm Heinzelmann for the city’s first tramway, the site later became part of Tashkent’s electricity network and remained in use for more than a century before being entrusted to the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) in 2019.

Rather than erase the building’s industrial past, Studio KO, founded by architects Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, preserved much of its original character. Early 20^th-century brickwork has been restored, while the former diesel station now serves as the centre’s main exhibition space. The old administrative building has been converted into a bookshop and specialist research library, and the courtyard has been adapted for gatherings, workshops and outdoor film screenings.

New interventions draw heavily on locally sourced materials and craftsmanship. Studio KO developed a concrete mixture using local materials and commissioned bespoke tiles from the Rakhimov family ceramics studio in Tashkent. The architects said their approach was intended to respect the site’s industrial heritage while incorporating traditional Uzbek materials and light-filtering motifs.

Beyond its galleries, the centre includes educational areas, public meeting spaces, a concept store and restaurant, bringing exhibitions, performance, film, research and education together in one cultural complex.

CCA Tashkent opened with Hikmah, meaning “wisdom”, curated by the centre’s chief curator Dr Sara Raza. The exhibition brings together Uzbek and international artists, featuring themes such as knowledge, spiritual heritage, cultural memory, and the interplay between historical traditions and contemporary artistic practices.

The exhibition will feature 11 works by renowned artists, among the works is Flying Carpets (2011) by Tunisian-Ukrainian artist Nadia Kaabi-Linke, presented in Tashkent from the collection of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Uzbek ceramicist Shokhrukh Rakhimov, meanwhile, presents The Colour of Silence, In Search of Truth (2026), a site-specific installation of seven ceramic forms using locally sourced minerals and pigments.

“It’s a very nice stage where I can show my work to the world audience,” Rakhimov said, highlighting the opportunities the centre creates for collaboration with artists from other countries.

The opening also drew international cultural figures, including Mariet Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation. “Any serious city for art around the world has both historic art and cultural heritage, but also very much the latest art, the art of our own time,” she said.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the centre ahead of its public opening, placing the project within the country’s broader efforts to promote contemporary culture alongside its historic heritage. “Of course, it is natural for us to promote our great heritage and cultural treasures,” Mirziyoyev said. “But promoting our contemporary history is also both our responsibility and our duty.”

The CCA is expected to host a year-round programme of exhibitions, residencies, research, film and performance, as well as collaborations with cultural institutions abroad. Its inaugural Hikmah exhibition runs until 31 January 2027.

L’article Studio KO transforms historic Tashkent tram depot into contemporary arts centre est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Planning a Walt Disney World holiday can involve much more than choosing a hotel room. Visitors may also need to consider the distance from the theme parks, available transport, restaurants, swimming pools and facilities for children. Disney’s research found that some guests visited and revisited the website between 20 and 30 times before completing a booking. The company says the redesigned experience should reduce those repeated searches and help travellers make decisions with greater confidence.

One of the main additions will be a guided search tool that allows travellers to describe their plans in ordinary language. Guests could enter information about their group, budget, interests and reason for visiting instead of selecting options from several separate menus. Disney gave the example of two adults attending the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival who want easy access to the park. The system could recommend a nearby resort and explain why its location and transport connections match their plans.

The recommendations can also take a guest’s favourite Disney characters and preferred facilities into account. A family organising a seventh birthday for a child who likes The Lion King, for example, could be directed towards Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The property has family suites based on the film, while Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge could be suggested because of its savannah area. Search results will contain a summary of each property and an explanation of why it may suit the information provided.

Travellers with flexible dates will be able to search for accommodation by season or individual month. A new calendar is designed to display hotel availability and room prices across different dates. According to Disney, the results will include the best available offers and rates that apply to the selected stay. This could make it easier to identify a less expensive travel period without repeatedly changing dates and carrying out new searches.

However, price will be only one part of the comparison. A new map will show where each resort is situated in relation to Walt Disney World’s theme parks. Comparison pages will set out differences in dining, transport, facilities and other services, while resort pages will contain additional photographs and videos. This information could help travellers decide whether a cheaper hotel remains good value once journey times and their daily plans are considered.

A new transport section will explain how visitors can travel from each resort to the parks and approximately how long the journey should take. Guests will also be able to ask follow-up questions based on the accommodation they are considering. A question about walking from Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to EPCOT would not receive only a response saying that the journey is not possible on foot. The tool would instead present the available transport alternatives and place the answer within the context of the guest’s plans.

Disney says the answers generated by the system will use information from official Walt Disney World resources. Restricting the source material may reduce the risk of receiving unrelated information from elsewhere online, but it cannot guarantee that every answer will always be complete or current. The limited beta test will therefore allow Disney to collect feedback and examine how the tools perform in real booking situations. The company has not yet announced when the updated experience will become available to all visitors.

Using the guided search and its AI functions will remain optional. Travellers who do not want personalised automated recommendations will still be able to use the existing search and booking tools on DisneyWorld.com. Independent travel agents and employees at Disney’s call centre will also continue helping guests organise their visits. The new system will therefore provide an additional planning method rather than replacing the human and conventional booking options already available.

L’article Disney World to test AI hotel search for prices and resort comparisons est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The two tour operators frame the collaboration around a shared mission of “exploring the world and leaving it better than they found it”. That mindset is at the heart of the itineraries, which are designed to pique travellers’ interest and curiosity and help them gain a deeper understanding of the places they visit.

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It is an ambitious programme, one that only companies with such complementary expertise, and years in the field to back it up, could pull off: science and storytelling for National Geographic, and community-rooted tourism for G Adventures.

Twenty-four of the new or updated itineraries are new National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures, while six are updated National Geographic Family Journeys with G Adventures.

The trips span the globe and encompass a wide range of experiences, including city breaks, nature retreats, culture-steeped itineraries, and wildlife encounters. Destinations include the Galápagos Islands, the Amazon rainforest, the vineyards of France, and the Christmas markets of Central Europe.

Among the most anticipated new journeys is the eight-day Wildlife of the Galápagos Islands itinerary, which focuses on the archipelago’s extraordinary wildlife. Travellers will meet conservationists working to protect the islands, spend time with researchers at the Charles Darwin Research Station, and go on a boat excursion with a naturalist.

Other highlights include visiting an organic farm to learn about local crops and snorkelling off the shores of an uninhabited island.

For families, the nine-day Peru Family Journey could become a winner. The Amazon & Machu Picchu, open to children aged seven and over, combines rainforest wildlife with Inca history. Activities include exploring Machu Picchu with a local guide before heading out into the Amazon at night to spot nocturnal creatures or observe the southern sky through telescopes at the Cusco Planetarium.

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Exotic, however, does not necessarily mean far from home. A special journey has been designed for the Christmas season, taking travellers from Prague to Budapest with stops in Český Krumlov and Bratislava, as well as a day trip to Vienna. Highlights include a Czech cooking class, a Danube dinner cruise and a chocolate-making workshop. Glühwein is generously provided throughout the journey, which should be enough to convince the unconvinced.

For those who want the Wein without the Glüh, another eight-day tour of the Loire Valley and Bordeaux might be just the thing. Travellers will visit France’s most famous castles, including Chenonceau. A local historian will be on hand to guide visitors as they make their way through the castle, sharing its rich history and, hopefully, some of the lesser-known tales that have been passed down over the years. 

The trip is punctuated by wine tastings that ground the trip in place, In vino veritas, after all, as travellers make their way from the banks of the Cher to the ancient catacombs of Saint-Émilion, discovering the region’s grapes, and its people, along the way.

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It’s official: National Geographic Signature with G Adventures is HERE! See the world through National Geographic’s iconic lens with this all-new collection of refined itineraries that reveal a world unseen. Travel with a National Geographic Expedition Expert, a leading specialist whose insight brings each place vividly to life. Unlock rare access to places few travellers ever see, with invite-only experiences beyond the guidebook. Experience Signature Moments — exclusive, expert-led encounters rooted in National Geographic storytelling and closed to the public. Enjoy five-star hospitality in extraordinary, story-rich properties that feel like living history, chosen for their distinctive spirit. Explore with peace of mind thanks to seamless planning, 24/7 support, and Guaranteed Departures. Travel with purpose, with every tour directly supporting local communities and showcasing travel’s power to be a force for good. Joining Journeys and Family Journeys in our collection of National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures, Signature represents the next chapter in a partnership shaped by curiosity, discovery, and a love for our world. Bookings are now open for early 2027 departures. Explore what’s ahead via the link in our bio. Discover National Geographic Signature. Discover A World Revealed.

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Asia gets its share of adventure, too. The 12-day Southeast Asia Family Journey whisks families from Hanoi to Siem Reap, through Vietnam and Cambodia.

Children and adults alike can cruise through Ha Long Bay, learn how to cook Vietnamese food, try their hand at making authentic noodles and even pick up some circus skills in Cambodia during a workshop with Phare, the Cambodian Circus.

There is quite a lot of cooking involved, but food is, after all, a universally recognised way of bringing people together across cultures and generations.

L’article National Geographic Expeditions and G Adventures unveil 30 new itineraries est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.