News.


Christian Nielsen is a journalist and keen tourism industry watcher based in Brussels. He writes pretty much anything that takes his fancy, from  the woes of travelling with kids to the latest ‘impact investing’ developments in Europe. But most of his output these days is in EU affairs, sci-tech writing and marcoms.

26 September 2023

Mandatory emissions reporting looms large over travel and tourism industry

Mandatory carbon emissions reporting has either been introduced or soon will be in major travel markets around the world. As from next year, the European Union […]
26 September 2023

Bangkok Airways is latest airline to weigh passengers before flights

Flyers with Bangkok Airways are being asked to step on the weighing scales before take-off. Between 15 September and 31 October 2023, the airline is carrying […]
26 September 2023

First Pakistani to reach space with Virgin Galactic

Namira Salim will be the first Pakistani to reach space on Virgin Galactic’s upcoming mission, Galactic 04, scheduled to launch from New Mexico’s Spaceport America on […]
26 September 2023

Biggest US hot air balloon to soar up to nearly 11,000 meters

The biggest hot air balloon ever designed and built is set to soar to altitudes of 10,668 meters or more in support of the US veteran […]
26 September 2023

Iceland to introduce tourist taxes to relieve pressure on “unspoiled nature”

Iceland is the latest country to announce it will be introducing tourist taxes to help manage impact of tourism and, more importantly, relieve the pressure on […]
26 September 2023

European Commission blocks Booking acquisition of eTraveli

The European Commission has blocked the acquisition of air booking specialist eTraveli by Booking Holdings, under the EU Merger Regulation, as the merger would have allowed […]
26 September 2023

Brazil considers onboard WiFi for all domestic flights

Flyers in Brazil may soon benefit from free WiFi connectivity on flights lasting more than two hours, if a bill introduced to the Brazilian parliament goes through. […]
25 September 2023

Travel agents accuse Air Belgium of “blatant disregard for passengers”

Around 20,000 flyers thought to be affected by Air Belgium’s cancellation of passenger flights will not receive prompt refunds unless the European Commission steps in, according […]
25 September 2023

UK visa costs set to rise for wide range of visitors and students

Visa fees for international visitors and students entering the UK are set to rise steeply from 4 October 2023. Vital funding Following warnings in July that […]
25 September 2023

What to expect from UNWTO’s General Assembly in Samarkand this October

Samarkand is preparing to host the 25th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, which will take place 16- 20 October 2023. Uzbekistan was chosen […]
25 September 2023

Peru in state of emergency with new travel advice issued

Peru has announced a 60-day state of emergency in two parts of the country, as ongoing political unrest and a spike in crime cause fear and […]
25 September 2023

Frankfurt Airport trials world’s first walk-through security scanner

Trials for the world’s first walk-through security scanner have begun at Frankfurt Airport, Fraport, the company managing the airport, revealed in a statement. The aim of […]
25 September 2023

Plane makes U-turn to collect wheelchair user “left behind” at gate

A plane that was already taxiing to the runway for take-off has made a U-turn and returned to the departure gate to ensure a passenger in […]
25 September 2023

Singapore Airport to offer seamless passport-free travel by 2024

Singapore’s Changi Airport is set to join the small number of world airports where passengers benefit from automated border clearance. No need for boarding passes and […]
22 September 2023

SpaceX must make 63 corrections to Starship before being allowed to launch again

Following SpaceX’s Starship first test flight on 20 April, which had to be ended with a manually triggered explosion, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) launched […]
22 September 2023

International tourism reached 84% of pre-pandemic levels in first half of 2023

International tourism is continuing its steady recovery after coming to an almost complete standstill during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the first half of 2023, it reached […]