Qatar has unveiled a national events calendar spanning sports, cultural, entertainment and gastronomy across 2026 and 2027, as the country seeks to convert the visibility and infrastructure created for the 2022 FIFA World Cup into repeat leisure and business travel.

Sport is the headline engine. The published programme includes the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, MotoGP at Lusail, the Qatar T100 triathlon final and the Doha Marathon, followed in 2027 by top-tier tennis, the FIBA Basketball World Cup and Formula 1.

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Around those anchor dates, Visit Qatar is packaging concerts, food festivals, shopping and art events — including appearances linked to Hans Zimmer, Angham and Saint Levant, as well as the Qatar International Food Festival and Art Basel — to broaden demand beyond stadium audiences. The calendar was assembled with almost 780 stakeholders and will be promoted through print, digital channels, embassies, and Qatar Airways flights.

The scale reflects a wider economic objective. Qatar wants tourism to account for 12% of gross domestic product by 2030. Officials say the country received more than five million visitors in 2025, while hotel occupancy exceeded 71% and tourism supported over 163,000 jobs.

That ambition is being matched by practical infrastructure. A planned unified ticketing system is due by the end of 2026, while the Hayya platform is being used to streamline entry and visitor incentives. New cooperation agreements with Qatar Rail and other domestic partners are intended to connect the calendar more closely with Doha Metro and Lusail Tram services, reducing friction between airports, hotels, venues, and attractions.

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Air access too is central to the proposition. Qatar Airways plans to serve more than 170 destinations and operate close to 1,800 weekly flights through Hamad International Airport by December 2026, with added capacity in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. Its rapid rollout of complimentary Starlink connectivity across widebody aircraft also strengthens Doha’s appeal as a connected transfer hub for long-haul event travellers.

Yet the route map sits against a less predictable regional backdrop. As of 21 September 2026, the principal airports and most Gulf flight information regions were operating, but conditions were not fully normal: European safety guidance advised affected operators to avoid Persian Gulf waters within the Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and UAE flight information regions except where necessary for arrivals and departures, while Kuwait continued to restrict overflights. Airlines were restoring services on different timetables as tactical rerouting, compressed corridors, air traffic congestion, and widespread global navigation satellite system interference complicated operations. For passengers, an open airport does not guarantee that every airline or codeshare itinerary will operate as scheduled.

For Qatar, the events calendar is therefore both a tourism product and a statement of resilience. The country is offering a year-round reason to visit, supported by venues, public transport, and a high-frequency home carrier. However, Qatar Airways’ expansion does not remove wider regional exposure: the programme’s success will also depend on sustained airspace access, reliable partner-airline schedules, and travellers’ confidence that itineraries can operate without short-notice disruption.

L’article Qatar bets on year-round events as Gulf aviation recovery remains uneven est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The visit comes as the Arctic territory finds itself at the centre of growing geopolitical interest, fuelled by US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims to Greenland and mounting concerns about Russian and Chinese ambitions in the region.

It also comes on the heels of Trump’s announcement last Friday that Washington had reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland to expand US military access to the territory and prevent rival powers from establishing bases there. The text has not yet been published.  

The deal is expected to be signed during the UN General Assembly this week. 

Danish and Greenlandic leaders insist it respects Greenland’s sovereignty and right to self-determination. A Politiken correspondent wrote that Trump had secured a victory lap rather than territory, according to the BBC.

Elsewhere, the reaction was rather positive too, with NATO welcoming the deal, and French President Emmanuel Macron saying Danish sovereignty had been respected. 

Just days earlier, twelve European countries had called for a more strategic European presence in the Arctic at a meeting in Rovaniemi, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced a new security-focused Arctic strategy for October.

Transport and connectivity

During their visit, from 21 to 24 September, the six MEPs will visit Ilulissat, where they will meet representatives from the port, fisheries and tourism sectors, and visit the new international airport.

While in Nuuk, they are scheduled to meet with the Greenlandic authorities, the Inatsisartut parliament, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the Joint Arctic Command, as well as maritime, fisheries, and business representatives.

Gieseke described the visit as taking place at a “particularly critical moment”, given the geostrategic significance of both Greenland and the wider Arctic region.

He added that the delegation would discuss air connectivity and aviation, air passenger rights, alongside logistics, infrastructure, maritime transport and sustainable tourism, with an emphasis on how Greenland tackles its geographical challenges while still managing to strengthen connectivity between communities and the “wider world”.

21-24 September: strengthening ties with Greenland

Six @EP_Transport members, led by MEP Jens Gieseke, will visit Ilulissat and Nuuk next week, to exchange on transport connectivity & sustainable tourism development

More details: https://t.co/QCT6ob81tb

— TRAN Committee Press (@EP_Transport) September 18, 2026

EU steps up investment

This visit follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s trip to Nuuk on 7 September, during which she announced a €200 million Global Gateway Partnership Package for the period 2026–2027.

On that occasion, the EU, Denmark and Greenland also signed a joint declaration building on the one signed in 2015. This declaration reinforces their partnership and recognises the territory’s growing strategic importance.

“Greenland can count on the EU,” said von der Leyen, describing the territory as a “strategic ally and a trusted friend”.

The new partnership covers digital connectivity, renewable energy, critical raw materials, sustainable tourism, housing, and support for small businesses.

Greenland is already the largest per capita recipient of EU support among overseas countries and territories, with €225 million earmarked for the period 2021 to 2027, 90% of which is earmarked for education. A further €530 million has been proposed for the period 2028–2034.

Tourism in the spotlight

Improved air connectivity has made Greenland more accessible to visitors. According to Statistics Greenland, the number of guests staying in registered accommodation increased by 15.4% in 2025, driven by a 46% growth in international visitors.

The European Commission has recognised sustainable tourism as an opportunity for economic diversification, private-sector development, and job creation.

The challenge now is to develop the necessary infrastructure while protecting the fragile environment of the island and ensuring that local communities benefit.

L’article EU delegation heads to Greenland as geopolitical and tourism interest grows est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that the Australian Border Force would recruit an additional 100 compliance officers to detain or encourage the departure of the approximately 77,000 individuals currently residing in Australia without a valid visa.

Burke explained that “consequences” for overstaying would be reinstated in order to combat “disingenuous” asylum claims.

Speaking at the National Press Club last Thursday, he said that, until 2015, Australia had a routine process whereby people who had overstayed their visas were taken to detention centres. According to him, this prompted them to “organise their own flight and leave” within a few weeks.

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As part of the expansion, the government plans to add 250 detention beds and is considering repurposing a former quarantine facility in Melbourne.

Burke has, however, rejected comparisons with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “This is not the sort of operation that some people have seen on TV happening in other countries”, he said.

To close any remaining loopholes, the government said it would also tackle so-called “visa hoppers”, foreigners who move from one type of temporary visa to another to prolong their stay in Australia.

Under the proposed changes, a “No Further Stay” provision would prevent visitors arriving on a tourist visa from applying for another type of visa while in the country.

International students seeking a new study visa would also have to demonstrate that they are progressing towards higher qualifications, rather than moving between lower-level courses simply to extend their stay.

@theageaustralia

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has unveiled the government’s revamp of Australia’s migration settings, announcing changes to student visas, working holidaymakers and the practice of “visa hopping”. Addressing the National Press Club, Burke said the changes would restore confidence in the Australian migration system, breaking his proposal down into the categories “who arrives”, “who stays” and “who leaves”. Read more at the link in bio.

♬ original sound – The Age

Other reforms include preventing family members from accompanying international students and introducing a ballot system for working holiday visas.

The detention measures have drawn immediate criticism from human rights groups, which have raised concerns about their legality and the safety of those held in detention centres.

Rebecca Eckard, director of policy at the Refugee Council of Australia, told AFP that the move might not even be legal as “it is being framed as punitive to change behaviours”, adding that “the use of punitive detention is not permitted under Australia’s immigration act”.

The groups have also accused the country’s far-right One Nation party of being responsible for the hardening of conditions, a claim that the ruling Labor government has denied.

While Australia remains a very popular tourism destination, attracting millions of visitors each year, the number of visa overstayers has grown from 64,000 in 2016 to about 77,000 in 2026.

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Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite clearly summarised the measure and its intended deterrent effect in comments to broadcaster News24:

“Once the word gets around, ‘hey, I overstayed on my tourist visa for a couple of weeks, I got picked up and I spent a couple of weeks in immigration detention, it’s not a nice place, I’m going home’. Once that gets around, then we think that obviously that deterrence will ensure that people abide by the conditions,” he said.

The measures have also raised concerns within the tourism industry.

Erin McLeod, chief executive of the Australian Tourism Industry Council, which represents thousands of small tourism businesses, warned that the government’s approach could have damaging consequences.

“I don’t think it does our reputation as a welcoming destination any good and can become quite damaging – tourism is an important part of the Australian economy,” she told AFP.

L’article Australia announces tougher visa rules and detention for overstaying tourists est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism, an estimated 690 million tourists travelled internationally between January and June 2026, around three million more than during the same period last year.

The figures represent a significant slowdown after international tourist arrivals increased by 4% in 2025, when 1.52 billion people travelled internationally, 60 million more than in 2024.

At the beginning of 2026, UN Tourism had expected international arrivals to grow by between 3% and 4% this year. High costs and geopolitical instability were already identified among the main risks to that outlook.

Growth reverses in second quarter

The latest figures show how quickly the international tourism environment changed during the first half of the year.

International arrivals increased by 2% during the first quarter of 2026 before declining by 1% in the second quarter. Arrivals fell by 3% in April, partly due to the timing of Easter, which started in March this year, as well as disruption linked to the Middle East conflict. Another 3% year-on-year decline was recorded globally in June.

Western Europe registered a particularly pronounced 6% fall during the month, partly attributed to heatwaves affecting some destinations. South-East Asia saw arrivals decline by 5%, reflecting weaker demand from Asian source markets, geopolitical tensions, disruption to air travel through the Middle East and higher travel costs.

Some destinations in Oceania were also affected by Typhoon Sinlaku during the second quarter.

“The latest data shows a sector absorbing real pressure and finding a way forward. Tourism has not stopped growing, but that growth is fragile,” said UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais.

She added that the Middle East situation had affected destinations far beyond the region itself, demonstrating the interconnected nature of international tourism and the need for destinations to strengthen their resilience.

Europe and Africa continue to grow

Despite the global slowdown, regional results remained highly uneven. Africa recorded the strongest growth during the first six months of the year, with international arrivals up 4%, followed by Europe at 3% and the Americas at 2%.

Europe’s performance reinforces a trend already highlighted by Travel Tomorrow. In July, European tourist arrivals were reported to be up 5% despite geopolitical tensions, according to European Travel Commission data. Travellers were becoming increasingly selective, with affordability, safety, proximity and value for money playing a greater role in destination choice.

The resilience has also been visible in aviation. European airport passenger traffic grew by 2.6% in the first half of 2026, despite the Middle East conflict, higher fuel prices and disruption linked to the EU’s Entry/Exit System.

Europe had already consolidated its position as the world’s largest tourism region in 2025, welcoming 793 million international visitors. More recent data has also shown demand shifting towards some less traditional destinations. As Travel Tomorrow reported in August, Czechia became Europe’s fastest-growing booked destination, with bookings increasing by 18% year-on-year.

Asia and the Pacific, meanwhile, recorded growth of just 1% between January and June and remained 11% below 2019 international arrival levels. North-East Asia performed comparatively strongly, growing by 3%, while South Asia declined by 5% and South-East Asia by 1%.

Middle East arrivals fall 22%

The largest decline was recorded in the Middle East, where international arrivals fell by 22% during the first half of 2026 as the region bore the direct impact of the conflict.

The deterioration marks a dramatic reversal for a region that had been one of the strongest drivers of the global tourism recovery. In 2025, the Middle East welcomed almost 100 million international visitors, 39% more than in 2019.

The scale of the potential disruption had already become apparent earlier in the year. In May, Travel Tomorrow reported that the Middle East could lose 23 million international visitors and almost $34 billion in tourism spending under an early-resolution scenario, according to Tourism Economics estimates. A prolonged conflict could result in losses of 38 million visitors and $56 billion in spending.

The consequences have extended beyond tourism destinations themselves, particularly into aviation. US airline fuel costs surged to $6.5 billion in April, a 78% increase compared with 2025, as the conflict drove up jet fuel prices.

The International Air Transport Association subsequently cut its forecast for combined airline net profits in 2026 to $23 billion, compared with an earlier projection of $41 billion and the $45 billion recorded in 2025.

Travellers increasingly looking for value

High travel costs are becoming another important factor shaping international demand. UN Tourism expects consumers increasingly to seek value for money, choose destinations closer to home or opt for domestic travel as elevated prices and uncertainty influence travel decisions.

Evidence of that shift is already emerging across Europe. Despite strong overall demand, travellers have increasingly looked towards destinations perceived as more affordable or offering alternatives to traditional Mediterranean summer hotspots.

In August, Travel Tomorrow reported that Czechia, Iceland and Denmark were among Europe’s fastest-growing destinations, while searches were also rising strongly for Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium and Norway.

The changing environment reflects wider structural challenges identified earlier this year. In July, the OECD warned that record tourist arrivals were being accompanied by new risks for destinations, including geopolitical instability, climate-related disruption and changing traveller behaviour.

UN Tourism cuts 2026 growth forecast

Against this backdrop, UN Tourism has lowered its expectations for the full year. International tourist arrivals are now forecast to grow by between 1% and 2% in 2026, down from the 3% to 4% growth predicted at the beginning of the year.

The final result will depend significantly on geopolitical developments and their impact on oil prices, inflation, consumer confidence and travel costs.

The revision represents a notable change from the optimism at the beginning of the year. Following 4% growth in international tourism in 2025, 58% of experts surveyed by UN Tourism had expected tourism performance to improve further in 2026.

Six months into the year, international tourism is still growing, but at a considerably slower pace. The rapid expansion that characterised the post-pandemic recovery has given way to a more fragile environment in which geopolitical events, transport costs, climate conditions and affordability are increasingly determining where and how people travel.

L’article Global tourism growth slows to 0.4% as Middle East conflict weighs on travel est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The “participatory process” brings together the views of business, government, industry experts, and civil society, on the evolution of Spain’s tourism offer, from a decades-old “sun and beach” model, to a framework fit for dealing with new challenges and “profound social changes,” a government release explains.

Tourism in Spain has been booming, hitting a record 58.1 million international tourists during the first seven months of 2026, an uptick of 4.6% compared with the same period in 2025, itself a record year, according to the Frontur figures published by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE). International visitors spent €82.05 billion during the seven-month period, an increase of 7.8% year-on-year and another first.

España ofrece su experiencia al comisario @tzitzikostas para la futura Estrategia de Turismo Sostenible de la UE .

El ministro @jordihereub y la SE de @TurismoEspGob presentan al comisario la Estrategia España Turismo 2030 como ejemplo a seguir.

https://t.co/6a9rbpKh6i pic.twitter.com/yjC571CZyH

— Ministerio de Industria y Turismo (@minturgob) February 26, 2026

Deloitte and Google are forecasting that Spain will overtake France as the world’s most touristed nation by 2040, handling around 110 million international tourists a year by that date, compared with 105 million in France.

The economic benefits are welcome but is that volume of visitors sustainable? Spain’s success has been tempered by anti-tourism protests, with locals in popular tourist destinations complaining about anti-social behaviour by visitors, a housing crisis driven by the prevalence of short-term holiday lets, water and resource shortages, and a cost-of-living so high that Spaniards cannot afford to take vacations in their own resorts.

Acknowledging these existential issues at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Carlos Ruiz González, director of the Spanish Tourist Office for the Gulf region at Turespaña said: “We have some destinations that are dying of success, I would say.” He went on to explain that “the government of Spain decided this has to be a full government policy, a country policy, and not just tourism. All the ministries, all the sectors in Spain are aligned.”

The result is a three-phase programme, to be implemented in sequential two-year action plans, bringing public views to bear when dealing with a range of economic, environmental, and social challenges, including climate change, jobs, affordability, the rural exodus, and overtourism.

Part of the answer lies in encouraging visitors to spread their footfall and spending further and wider than the traditional holiday hotspots, drawing some holidaymakers away from the coasts and into the mountains, or highlighting the attractions of smaller towns such as Castilla. The country’s high-speed train network is seen as a key asset in making that happen.

But it remains to be seen whether Spain can maintain its strong position, whether the new model will support competition and profits while protecting natural and cultural resources—all while equitably distributing, in the words of the government, “the benefits and burdens of tourism.” And that includes sharing the responsibility for finding solutions.

L’article Spain brings residents and business together to shape 2030 Sustainable Tourism Strategy est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Uzbekistan Tourism Committee has released figures showing international arrivals rose by 21.1% to reach 9.1 million foreign visitors between January and August 2026, compared with the same period the previous year. At the same time, service exports increased by 53.5%, reaching $4.6 billion (€3.98 billion).

The Uzbek approach to growing its travel and tourism sector has included an ambition to double the number of four- and five-star hotels and create a total stock of 95,000 rooms. Between January and July, 705 accommodation providers began operating, taking the current total to over 7,440 registered accommodation facilities with capacity for 202,000 guests.

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Under an array of master plans worth approximately 950 billion soums this year, infrastructure developments to support the growth include upgrades to roads and internal transport links, such as the May launch of the new Jaloliddin Manguberdi high-speed service between Tashkent and Khiva, which cut the 14-hour journey time in half. Improved air connectivity and streamlined visa procedures are also key.

Meanwhile, a corporate and events proposition that includes medical, sports and other MICE expansions is being supported by a tax scheme allowing organisers of qualifying conferences, forums and exhibitions to recover 50% of thevalue-added tax (VAT) paid on eligible expenses. At the same time, the country, located at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road, is diversifying its offer through architecture, ecotourism, ethnographic exploration, gastronomy and pilgrimages.

The result, according to Oybek Hakimov, adviser to the chairman of Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee, who spoke to Euronews, is an increase in trip length and spending per tourist, from $197 (€171) in 2017 to $503 (€436) this year. Travellers are also going “beyond the classic route of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva,” Hakimov said.

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The Fergana Valley, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Muynak and Nukus are all destinations enjoying new interest, including from long-haul source markets such as China and Malaysia, from where arrivals more than doubled, and Japan, which sent 50% more visitors than during the same period last year. Arrivals from Germany increased by 25%, while those from France and the United Kingdom rose by 21%, according to the Tourism Committee.

Showcasing Uzbekistan’s ambitions at a Brussels press event earlier this year, Ambassador Gayrat Fazilov said: “Uzbekistan has for centuries served as a bridge between civilizations, cultures and trade routes. Today, this historical legacy is being transformed into a modern and highly attractive tourism destination.”

L’article Uzbekistan tourism grows 21% as 9.1 million foreign tourists visit in first eight months of 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

International leisure travel to Saudi Arabia is forecast to increase by 93% between 2025 and 2030, but growth from Europe is expected to exceed this figure, with visitor numbers predicted to surge by 130%.

The figures come from new research by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, presented last week at WTM Spotlight Riyadh, a Saudi tourism industry event. Europe was already Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing long-haul leisure market between 2019 and 2025, with visits increasing by 61%.

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Under its Vision 2030 reform plan, Saudi Arabia is banking on tourism as a key pillar of its efforts to diversify its oil-dependent economy, with the aim of attracting 150 million domestic and international visitors annually by 2030.

While the Middle East remains the largest source market by far, accounting for 82% of leisure trips in 2025, Europe is the largest long-haul market, accounting for 10%. Overall, long-haul markets are forecast to account for 54% of international leisure travel by 2030, up from 47% in 2025. Arrivals from Asia and North America are also expected to more than double between 2025 and 2030.

Germany and Italy are among Europe’s standout leisure markets, with visitor numbers from both countries expected to more than triple by 2030.

“Saudi Arabia has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic visitor economies,” said Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA, at Tourism Economics.

He added that the country was benefiting from sustained investment and destination development, which translated into international visitors now accounting for almost half of all nights spent in the Kingdom.

The share of total visitor spending accounted for by international leisure tourists has also increased, rising from 9% in 2019 to 28% in 2025 and is expected to reach 31% by 2030.

However, growth may increasingly come from Asia. While Tourism Economics expects only “modest increases” in leisure nights from the UK, France and Spain, it forecasts a 46% rise in nights from Thailand, and at least a 50% rise in nights from Indonesia, Australia and Singapore.

@emmarobertts_ A quick trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia #riyadh #saudiarabia #diriyah #riyadhseason #saudiaarabia ♬ original sound – Gio

Saudi Arabia’s rise as a desirable tourist destination has been astonishing. In barely half a decade, the Kingdom has moved from “the edge of the global tourism map towards its centre”, as highlighted in the Tourism Economics report.

China is also on Saudi Arabia’s radar, with more than half of surveyed Chinese travel agents already offering trips to the Kingdom and nearly a third naming it as one of their top future destinations.

Overall visitor nights in the Kingdom have more than doubled since 2019, reaching 1.1 billion, and the outlook is even brighter thanks to mega-projects such as the Red Sea development and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which Saudi Arabia will host.

To widen its pool of visitors, Saudi Arabia has relaxed its visa rules and signed agreements with an expanding number of countries in Europe and Asia. Citizens of all 27 EU countries can now apply online for a one-year multiple-entry visa allowing stays of up to 90 days.

While Makkah and Madinah remain the Kingdom’s most popular destinations, Jeddah and Riyadh are growing in popularity as urban destinations, and AlUla is emerging as a major attraction in the desert.

L’article European travel to Saudi Arabia forecast to surge 130% by 2030 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Under the new security scheme, which was supposed to be fully phased in by April 2026, non-EU visitors at the external borders of the Schengen Area must register biometric information on their first arrival—information which is then stored digitally for three years or until the relevant passport expires.

Widespread disruption at travel hubs ensued, as travellers attempted to register at kiosks that were not fully functional and staffing levels at some airports were insufficient to process the summer’s visitor numbers. To ease the chaos, the EU introduced flexibility in applying the new rules with an official grace period that ended on 6 September 2026.

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Since then, however, at least nine countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, are still not consistently enforcing the new EES and have been given unofficial permission to continue bending the rules to promote operational efficiency into the autumn season, The Times reports.

The list of countries where EES is still not being properly enforced with the apparent blessing of EU officials consists of Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland.

Travel industry stakeholders, from tour operators to airlines, have repeatedly urged the European Commission to reconsider the way the new EES border checks are being implemented, pointing to a poor travel experience for visitors and reputational harm to the region.

Europe’s largest airline, Ryanair, has slammed the way the system has been delivered, saying: “The EU’s handling of EES has been a shambles from start to finish. Airlines, airports, and border authorities repeatedly warned Brussels that the rollout was not ready, that it would increase processing times and that it would create excessive queues for passengers.”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also warned of the continued risk of that congestion and disruption at European borders, with Thomas Reynaert, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at IATA, declaring on 3 September that an ongoing suspension of the measures “is absolutely necessary until the end of the winter season.”

Going further, Matthew Pack, CEO of Holiday Extras, said the border system had “failed” and argued “The honest response is to … roll it back, and rebuild it properly.”

Whether the appetite and funds are there to do so, is another matter, especially when the system has entailed a financial outlay from the bloc’s neighbours. The UK government has provided £10.5 million for infrastructure changes at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar, as well as £20 million to boost capacity, amounting to over €35 million in total. A UK spokesperson has, however, said the government is committed “to work closely with our EU, operational and local partners to minimise delays for holidaymakers, hauliers and local communities.”

L’article Nine EU countries delay EES border checks for UK travellers est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Belgian statistical office reported that Belgians took 31.2 million trips involving at least one overnight stay last year.

The vast majority of these trips were taken for personal reasons, such as leisure and holidays, or to visit family and friends.

A surprisingly small 6% only were for business purposes. Compared with pre-Covid figures, it seems that business travel has recovered far more slowly than leisure travel, suggesting that Zoom and remote working may have permanently changed the way some international business is conducted.

Of the 1.9 million business trips made by Belgians in 2025, 18% were within the country’s borders. France was the leading destination for business trips abroad, with 366,000 trips to the neighbouring country. This was followed by Germany with 229,000 trips and the Netherlands with 207,000.

Between 44,000 and 79,000 business trips were made to Italy and Spain, as well as to destinations beyond Europe, including Africa, Asia and North America.

Overall, almost a third of all trips, or 9.4 million, were made within Belgium. The Ardennes and the Belgian coast were the most popular destinations, accounting for 2.9 million trips each.

Art cities attracted 1.1 million visits.

When Belgians did venture abroad, France was the undisputed favourite, with 6.86 million trips, compared with 2.63 million to the Netherlands and 2.22 million to Spain.

Beyond the top three destinations, numbers dropped considerably. Italy and Germany recorded 1.45 and 1.44 million trips, respectively, followed by Morocco (around 700,000), the UK (660,000) and Portugal (558,000).

The report found that city breaks (35%) were as popular with Belgians as seaside holidays (32%) or trips to the countryside (31%). Mountains were less popular, accounting for only 12% of trips, a figure that some might say is hardly surprising for travellers from the Plat Pays.

With a large share of trips either domestic or to neighbouring countries, it is perhaps to be expected that almost two-thirds (19.1 million) were made by car, motorbike or camper. Air travel came second, accounting for 7.8 million trips.

Within Belgium, the car is by far the favourite mode of transport, accounting for 83% of trips. Belgians appear less enthralled by their public transport system when travelling within their own country: 12% took the train, and only 3% took the bus.

Interestingly, however, the train was the main means of transport for 39% of trips to Belgium’s “art cities”.

By contrast, it was used for just 5% of trips to the Ardennes and 12% of trips to the coast.

L’article France remains Belgians’ favourite foreign destination with 31.2 million trips in 2025 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Richmond is approximately 20 minutes from central London by train, making it an easy excursion for visitors staying in the capital. Before Ted Lasso, the area was better known for its Thames waterfront, royal history and large park populated by deer. Its historic streets and green spaces now provide the background for the fictional football club AFC Richmond. The trend is an example of screen tourism, also known as set-jetting, which means planning trips around places seen in films or television programmes.

The comedy follows Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, after the American moves to England to coach a struggling football team. He initially knows little about the sport, but uses his optimism and coaching skills to build stronger relationships within the club. The stories also explore friendship, mental health, environmental responsibility and the position of women in sport. “The first time you watch it, you think the series is about football. But the culture, the messaging — it’s about so much more,” Natalia, a Brazilian fan visiting Richmond, told CNN.

Many fans begin on Paved Court, a narrow pedestrian lane near Richmond Green. The exterior used as Ted’s home is located among the passage’s independent shops and traditional buildings. A dedicated Ted Lasso shop nearby sells red and blue AFC Richmond shirts, keychains and shortbread inspired by the “biscuits for the boss” featured in the series. These additions have made the small street one of the main stops for visiting fans. The short distance between the apartment, shop and pub means most of the central locations can be visited on foot.

@aladyinlondon Let me show you these Ted Lasso filming locations in London. They’re fun spots to see. You can find them and more on my free self-guided walk in Richmond. Head to the link in my bio, @aladyinlondon, and use the search box to find the full route and map.    #richmondlondon #tedlasso #tedlassolondon #tedlassofilminglocations #london ♬ Moment of Peace – vozes da natureza & Sons da Natureza & Nature in the world & sublime vocal

The Prince’s Head stands at the end of Paved Court and represents the Crown & Anchor pub in the programme. Several characters meet there, while fictional AFC Richmond supporters gather inside during matches. Visitors concentrate outside, where Ted’s familiar bench has become a popular place for photographs. Although the exterior belongs to a functioning Richmond pub, its indoor scenes are recorded on a studio set.

Other locations encourage fans to explore more of the neighbourhood. They can cross Richmond Green, have a picnic or continue towards the Thames and Richmond Bridge, where Roy Kent and Keeley Jones had their first date. The riverside also offers walking routes, local pubs and performances by street musicians. Richmond Theatre, which opened in 1899, was used for Rebecca Welton’s charity gala during the first season. However, AFC Richmond’s Nelson Road stadium is actually Selhurst Park, the south London home of Premier League club Crystal Palace.

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A tourism industry has developed around the programme since its premiere. Richmond resident Emmy Mac established Ted Lasso Tours in 2022, offering private and group visits to 27 locations associated with the series. Most customers are American, although she has also guided fans from India, Mexico and Singapore. Mac said the programme arrived “at a time when the world needed uplifting” and described Ted as “the ideal human that we all aspire to be”.

The visitors bring customers to hotels, shops, restaurants and pubs, but have also changed daily life for residents. Steve Lloyd, who has lived in Richmond since 1992, regularly finds himself in tourists’ photographs. “I’ll admit I don’t know television. But I do know beer. I much prefer the pub next door,” he told CNN. Meanwhile, the fourth season’s new women’s team has been welcomed by football player Jasmine, who said: “I’m happy there’s a women’s team this season. I like seeing them on the screen.”

L’article Ted Lasso brings international tourism boom to London’s Richmond est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.