Organised by the World Tourism Forum Institute under the theme “Investment and Security,” the event is expected to welcome more than 2,000 delegates from over 50 countries. Governments, financial institutions, investors, and tourism businesses will discuss the conditions that turn destination strategies into development.

Meet us in Brussels! Where confidence becomes cooperation, and cooperation shapes the future. Join global leaders, investors, and innovators as we come together to discuss the future of tourism, security, and international investment. November 9–10, 2026 Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels #GlobalTourismForum #Brussels2026 #InvestmentConfidence #TourismLeaders #AnnualMeeting #EUsummit #TravelIndustry #GlobalCooperation

— Global Tourism Forum | GTF (@gtourismforum) August 19, 2026

For the institute’s president, Bulut Bağcı, the stakes are high and bringing tourism stakeholders together is paramount. “When I look at tourism in 2026, I see an industry whose future is increasingly being decided beyond its own boundaries,” he told Travel Tomorrow. That echoes the International Monetary Fund’s October Outlook identifying conflict, trade tensions, and fiscal policies as risks to growth. Recent comments from the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO) also illustrate how that “extra-territoriality” can affect regional economies differently, with the association’s secretary general slamming proposed changes to Europe’s emissions trading system (ETS) that will mean Arab airlines could end up paying for their pollution twice. 

The first day of the Global Forum will focus on investment: where capital is moving, how projects become financeable, hospitality development, public-private partnerships, and blended finance. Connectivity and climate resilience also feature, while an Investment Deal Room is planned to bring proposals and potential partners together.

Bağcı wants those conversations to confront practical obstacles. “My starting point has always been that tourism is infrastructure,” he says. Lenders need credible demand forecasts and repayment plans; developers require clarity on land rights, licences and approvals, and infrastructure such as electricity, water, transport, not forgetting workforce development.

Linked to that, local benefits are another test for the sector. Bağcı calls for attention to procurement, training, smaller businesses, as well as an eye to local services and housing pressures. “A destination’s economic success becomes more durable when the people who live there can see a benefit from its growth,” he argues.

On the second day, attention turns to security and resilience, spanning cybersecurity, border processes, major events, crisis management, and transport, alongside climate and health risks. The agenda connects investment decisions with destinations’ ability to remain accessible and operational when travel is disrupted. Bağcı identifies priorities including responsible handling of personal information, dependable payment systems, and assistance when plans unravel, backed by well-prepared staff and fallback plans.

At the heart of the largest travel market in the world and the head of European decision-making and policy-making, Brussels offers an apt setting for this cross-sector discussion. It’s a setting that highlights how coordination between authorities is crucial for destination promotion, transport, finance, and border issues. But Europe’s relationships with Gulf investors, Asian travel markets, and emerging destinations across Africa and Eurasia are also central to tourism’s future and, therefore, the Global Forum’s programme.

That programme anticipates a Brussels Agenda for Tourism Investment and Security and follows hot on the heels of the first ever EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy, adopted on 4 November 2026. Whether the forum delivers on its ambitions, however, will depend on what comes next: better-prepared projects, clearer institutional responsibilities and partnerships that progress beyond discussion. As Bağcı puts it: “The value of the meeting will become clearer through the decisions that follow it.”

L’article Global Tourism Forum set to bring investment and security into focus in Brussels est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The new strategy brings together initiatives covering skills, digitalisation, investment, connectivity and crisis preparedness. Its central ambition is to maintain Europe’s position as the world’s leading tourism destination while giving greater weight to the value tourism creates for residents, workers and businesses.

The economic stakes are substantial. According to the Commission, tourism contributes around 10% of the EU’s gross value added, supports more than 20 million jobs and encompasses five million businesses, 99% of them small and medium-sized enterprises. Yet the sector faces overlapping pressures, from labour shortages and climate change to geopolitical instability and uneven visitor flows.

“Tourism is one of Europe’s greatest strategic economic assets,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. With the strategy, he said, the Commission is giving the sector the recognition it deserves on the EU policy agenda and bringing businesses, destinations and public authorities around a common vision.

From a shared ambition to a European framework

The much-awaited strategy arrives after its presentation was postponed several times throughout 2026. Initially expected in the spring, its adoption on 4 November marks the culmination of a lengthy period of consultation and political preparation.

At a European Parliament conference in December 2025, Tzitzikostas outlined the ambition for a common European tourism strategy, identifying Europe’s global competitiveness, benefits for local communities and investment in innovation as core priorities.

Those themes now form part of a broader framework organised around three main pillars: competitiveness, sustainability and resilience, and Europe’s international positioning. Investment, governance and transport connectivity support the approach across all three.

Today marks an important milestone for European tourism. For the first time, Europe is putting forward a unified EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, recognising tourism as a strategic pillar of our economy and placing it firmly at the heart of the EU policy agenda. It is a step towards giving the sector the recognition, support and strategic direction it deserves. Tourism drives growth, creates millions of jobs and supports businesses and communities across Europe, with SMEs at the heart of its strength and competitiveness. With this strategy, we are setting a shared vision for a more competitive, sustainable and resilient European tourism sector, one that creates opportunities, empowers local communities and ensures that the benefits of tourism are shared by citizens across Europe. #EUTourism https://t.co/V59oITMRmo

— Apostolos Tzitzikostas (@tzitzikostas) November 4, 2026

The strategy builds on existing work, including the Transition Pathway for Tourism and the European Agenda for Tourism 2030. Its adoption establishes a shared direction, while the academies, networks and management tools it proposes will require further implementation.

Tourism remains primarily the responsibility of national, regional and local authorities. The Commission’s questions and answers clarify that the strategy does not harmonise national laws or frameworks. Instead, it seeks to improve coordination where cooperation across borders can deliver practical benefits. 

Measuring value beyond visitor numbers

One of the strategy’s most consequential elements is its emphasis on balanced tourism. Presenting the initiative, Tzitzikostas said that just 13% of European regions account for half of all nights spent in Europe, illustrating how unevenly demand is distributed.

For destinations experiencing intense seasonal pressure, growth can bring difficult trade-offs involving infrastructure, natural resources, housing and residents’ quality of life. Elsewhere, communities with tourism potential struggle to attract visitors or sustain businesses outside a short peak season.

Tourism’s economic impact goes beyond what visitors spend. Our new estimates captures its wider contribution: in 2025, tourism accounted for 10.1% of GVA on average across the EU countries covered – nearly 2.5 times its direct contribution. More https://t.co/yko5YqBunx https://t.co/T7vgDtmeKV

— EU Joint Research Centre (@EU_JRC) November 4, 2026

The Commission plans an EU Model for Tourism Management, a proposed Council recommendation and a Toolbox for Balanced Tourism. These are intended to help destinations manage visitor flows, encourage travel throughout the year and spread activity towards places receiving fewer visitors.

“Our objective is not simply to attract more tourists to the same destinations,” Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto said during the presentation. “It is to create more value and spread the benefits of tourism more widely.”

That approach connects tourism policy to territorial development. Fitto argued that stronger local businesses, better services and employment opportunities can help people build their futures in their own communities, including rural, island, coastal and mountain regions.

Skills, data and simpler rules for businesses

For tourism businesses, the strategy promises support with some of their most persistent operational challenges. An EU Tourism Academy will help develop training, attract talent and strengthen the skills needed for the sector’s clean and digital transitions.

The planned EU Tourism Observatory and Common European Tourism Data Space are intended to improve access to information for businesses, destinations and policymakers. Better use of data and artificial intelligence could support decisions on visitor demand, services and destination management.

An EU Simplification Initiative for Tourism will examine unnecessary administrative burdens, with Member States and the industry involved in the work. The Commission also envisages guidance, technical assistance and support for investment.

HOTREC, representing Europe’s hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés, welcomed the strategy’s emphasis on simplification, skills and fair digital markets. However, it stressed that implementation must reflect an industry dominated by small businesses and micro-enterprises.

“Europe’s hospitality businesses need practical support, not additional complexity,” said Marie Audren, HOTREC’s Director General. She called on Member States to prioritise tourism investment and make funding easier to access through simpler procedures, clear information and tailored assistance.

HOTREC also welcomed recognition of the need for fair commercial practices by online booking platforms and effective enforcement of the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act. It cautioned against duplicating established national systems and sector initiatives, particularly in accommodation classification.

Connectivity becomes part of destination management

The strategy treats transport as essential to both competitiveness and a more balanced distribution of visitors. Better links can help destinations outside established hotspots attract demand, while fragmented journeys can limit the appeal of European routes.

Tzitzikostas highlighted work on multimodal travel, cross-border car rentals and the possible interoperability of local transport ticketing systems. He also announced a renewed aviation strategy for 2027, with particular attention to the connectivity needs of islands and remote and coastal regions.

ECTAA, representing European travel agents and tour operators, welcomed the framework’s focus on balanced visitor flows, connectivity, data, modernised VAT rules and skills. Its response also highlighted the role of travel intermediaries in guiding demand towards lesser-known destinations and travel outside peak periods. 

Airports, meanwhile, raised an immediate concern about the gap between the ambition for seamless journeys and travellers’ experience at external borders. ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec welcomed recognition of the relationship between aviation and tourism, but called for urgent action on the Schengen Entry/Exit System.

“There can be no truly effective strategy for seamless travel and a competitive, welcoming tourism sector without tackling the very real disruption and hardship that the EES is currently causing to travellers,” he said.

ACI EUROPE reiterated its call for structural solutions, referring to the six-point plan presented jointly with Airlines for Europe and the International Air Transport Association.

Cycling organisations welcome recognition but seek concrete action

The European Cyclists’ Federation welcomed the inclusion of cycling tourism and EuroVelo, alongside recognition of active mobility’s contribution to sustainable tourism. It nevertheless argued that the framework needs more concrete commitments.

In its assessment of the strategy, ECF said proposals for a European economic impact study on cycling tourism and an improved digital ecosystem for promoting Europe as a cycling destination had not been included.

The federation sees cycling and active tourism as opportunities to extend the season, support regional development and distribute spending more widely. Its response underlines a broader question for implementation: how recognition in a policy framework will translate into funded projects and usable services.

Regions gain a stronger place in tourism policy

The European Regions Research and Innovation Network, ERRIN, highlighted the strategy’s recognition of regions as central actors in destination management, resilience planning and tourism governance.

For regional authorities, the proposed management model, balanced tourism toolbox and EU Tourism Alliance offer opportunities to shape implementation around local circumstances. ERRIN also identified potential support for investments in innovation, digitalisation, skills and climate resilience.

The Commission will establish the EU Tourism Alliance to bring together public authorities, industry and other stakeholders. Tzitzikostas said it would help coordinate implementation and improve coherence between existing cooperation structures.

Funding will remain a central test. According to the Commissioner’s presentation, tourism is expected to benefit from an estimated €18 billion in EU support across the 2021–2027 programming period. This represents support through existing programmes rather than a newly announced standalone tourism fund.

Future investment will depend partly on the next EU budget and the design of national and regional priorities. For businesses and destinations, the practical challenge will be turning a range of available instruments into accessible support.

Promoting Europe while preparing for future shocks

International outreach remains another major component. Through Destination Europe, the Commission wants a more coherent presentation of Europe’s tourism offering that complements national and regional identities and gives greater visibility to lesser-known places.

Tzitzikostas announced plans to deepen tourism dialogues with partners including Japan, India and Gulf countries. He also said a new cooperation framework with UN Tourism would be signed by the end of 2026 to advance competitiveness, sustainability and resilience.

The new EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy brings measures for coastal communities and islands. A #EUOceanPact deliverable, it aims to: Improve connectivity Launch a dialogue on cruise tourism Support balanced tourism More: https://t.co/pEzZhj0KLW #DestinationEurope https://t.co/EkxLBSEZCe

— EU Maritime & Fish (@EU_MARE) November 4, 2026

New European Capitals of Tourism Awards will recognise destinations developing sustainable, balanced and innovative approaches. Alongside promotion, an EU Tourism Crisis Coordination Network is intended to strengthen preparedness for disruptions affecting destinations and businesses.

The industry’s early responses show broad support for a common European direction, accompanied by clear expectations about delivery. Hospitality businesses want simpler access to investment, airports want functioning borders, cycling organisations want concrete measures and regions want tools they can adapt locally.

The strategy gives these demands a shared policy framework. Its impact will depend on whether that framework produces better conditions for workers and businesses, more manageable visitor flows and lasting benefits for the communities that welcome travellers.

L’article EU puts tourism at the heart of its policy agenda with first common strategy est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to Angola’s Ministry of Tourism, the distinction recognises Daniel’s leadership in reforming the sector and his efforts to attract tourism investment. Winners are selected through a combination of independent judging and public voting, with criteria including innovation, sustainability, leadership and contributions to tourism development across Africa.

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The recognition comes as Angola seeks to position tourism as a driver of economic diversification. Under Daniel’s leadership, the ministry says the country has introduced reforms to simplify administrative procedures, digitise tourism licensing, improve land-use planning and expand concessions for tourism assets. These measures are intended to improve the business environment and encourage private investment.

Angola has also become the first African founding member of UNT-PASS, according to the ministry. The UN Tourism initiative aims to connect tourism projects with institutional and private investors and facilitate access to international financing. Angola’s participation forms part of its broader investment strategy, which includes cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

The country’s international profile received a further boost through its role as the official host country of ITB Berlin 2026. Angola became the third African nation to hold the distinction, using the trade fair to showcase its natural and cultural attractions and present tourism investment opportunities to international partners.

The ministry described the award as international recognition of Angola’s efforts to establish tourism as a strategic sector of the economy. Its stated objectives include creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, attracting investors and generating employment for young people and local communities.

L’article Angola’s Márcio Daniel named Tourism Personality of the Year at Africa Tourism Awards 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Forget The Odyssey and a trip that involves a mere ten years away from home. British man Karl Bushby set out from Chile in November 1998, when he was 29 years old, and—having experienced some issues that forced pauses along the way—did not reach his home in northeast England until 2 November 2026.

The 50,000-km adventure was prompted by a marriage break-up and musings in a birthday card sent by his army veteran father about whether it was feasible to walk from London to New York over the continental crossing between Russia and Alaska—known as the Bering land bridge and believed to be a vital migration passage for Ice Age creatures such as woolly mammoths and muskoxen, as well as ancestral human hunter-gatherers.

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A former paratrooper himself, Karl apparently could not resist trying the feat. Equipped with a tent, a camera, and a few hundred in US currency, he went from South to North America, headed east ⁠from Alaska to Russia, and traversed Mongolia and China. He managed to bag some sponsorship in the form of boots from Zamberlan, which he told OutThereOutdoors in 2008 had helped prevent blisters. 

Brain blips, too, were a risk, he explained to Reuters in 2025, because: “Sometimes the monotony is incredible. You’re in deserts, and the landscape doesn’t change for days to weeks. That can get a little mind-bending. The same with the Arctic.” Thankfully, somewhere along the way he gained a Panasonic Toughbook Laptop to help keep him connected to the world, as well as an Iridium satellite phone in case of emergencies, and batteries. He also relied on “a good map, a good compass, and a Garmin GPS” and a “decent survival knife.”

Having vowed not to benefit from motorised transport, he has used a trolley, a sledge, and a backpack to lug his gear, as well as skis in places. He braved hurricanes and jungles, a Panamanian prison, an armed hold-up in Mexico, and a rescue from the icy Bering Strait waters, after which he was jailed again by Russian authorities for entering the country illegally. BBC reporting mentions, somewhat churlishly perhaps, that “only” about 15 of the 28 years were spent walking due to such problems. The COVID pandemic was another trip hazard. He even swam across the Caspian Sea and the English Channel.

28 years ago, Karl Bushby left the UK in an attempt to become the first person to circumnavigate the world on foot. Today, he arrived back in Hull for the final stretch of his journey to his mother’s house. He left at 28. He’s now home at 57. https://t.co/peL7K9XNlG

— george (@StokeyyG2) November 2, 2026

Bushby was greeted by crowds of well-wishers as he arrived back in Hull, a port city in East Yorkshire, England, and now faces the new challenge he confessed to the AFP last year: a potential identity crisis as he re-adjusts to “normal” life while also becoming the subject of a Werner Herzog documentary.

Luckily, it sounds like his mum will help keep his feet on the ground. Just like the mother of any wayward teenager on his return, she asked the now 57-year-old: “Where have you been?”

L’article Former British soldier survives 28 years of hiking around the world est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Rhodes’ municipal civil protection office advised residents to remain at home and avoid unnecessary journeys.

Residents and visitors received a message through Greece’s 112 emergency warning system at around 3:30 am on Monday. It urged people to restrict their movements because of heavy rainfall and rising water levels in the Archangelos area, which suffered some of the island’s worst conditions.

An overflowing river flooded roads in Archangelos, with vehicles, shops and other properties damaged. Flooding also affected Afantou and parts of southern Rhodes. Schools in the municipal districts of Archangelos and Afantou closed on Monday as a precaution, while emergency crews pumped out water, cleared drainage channels and removed debris.

Rhodos: Mindestens 60 Fahrzeuge wurden in Archangelos weggespült, Häuser und Geschäfte überflutet, Schulen in mehreren Bezirken geschlossen und 112-Warnungen an Bewohner gesendet. https://t.co/4kqs37qm23

— Martina Maier (@digitweed) November 2, 2026

While flooding disrupted roads across parts of Rhodes, the island’s airport had not announced any warnings about flight delays or cancellations as of 2 November.

Firefighters on Rhodes carried out three water-pumping operations, removed a fallen tree and moved two people to safety. Across the Dodecanese, emergency services received 18 calls for assistance. On nearby Kalymnos, crews also dealt with floodwater and a fallen tree.

The disruption extended beyond the island group. On Samos, the Fire Service received 28 calls and completed 10 pumping operations. In the Volos area, crews responded to 12 calls, pumping water at seven locations and removing two trees after heavy rainfall flooded streets and homes.

With further storms forecast, Greece’s General Secretariat for Civil Protection placed seven areas under Red Code mobilisation status for 2 and 3 November. These covered the Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Macedonia, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the North Aegean, and the Dodecanese regional units. The designation activates emergency personnel and resources to respond to the heightened flood risk.

SOS ΕΚΠΕΜΠΟΥΝ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΕΡΙΟΧΗ ΑΡΧΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ ΡΟΔΟΥ Εκτός ελέγχου η κατάσταση αρχάγγελοι στη Ρόδο. Πολλά οχήματα έχουν παρασυρθεί από τους ορμητικούς χειμάρρους και έχουν καταλήξει στη θάλασσα #rodos #weatheralert #sos https://t.co/HF2tL9Y261

— Forecast Weather Greece (@ForecastGreece) November 2, 2026

The Hellenic National Meteorological Service’s updated bulletin forecast further heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Dodecanese from Tuesday morning until the afternoon, under an orange weather warning. Red weather warnings covered parts of northern Greece and the northeastern Aegean, with Corfu, Paxos and coastal Epirus also facing severe conditions into Tuesday morning. Localised hail and frequent lightning were possible as the system moved east from southern Italy.

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas called for emergency services to remain ready and coordinate with local authorities. Residents were urged to avoid travelling during thunderstorms and obey restrictions on crossing dangerous locations.

L’article Storm Agneta floods Rhodes as severe weather alerts spread across Greece est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Across 2025, four million fewer visitors went to the States than in 2024 (68 million compared to 72 million), and tourist spending fell by $8 billion. According to recent figures from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), overseas visits (excluding Mexico and Canada) are now down 5.7% year-on-year to September 2026. Western European visitors, the most important overseas source market for US tourism stakeholders, have dropped 8.7%. 

Commentators have dubbed the decline the “Trump Slump,” since it has coincided almost exactly with President Donald Trump’s second mandate. Trump’s perceived negativity towards outsiders, controversial foreign tariffs, and strict border policies have been blamed. If Trump’s Republicans receive a strong vote of disapproval from Americans in the midterms, it’s possible that international visitors will relent, travel intentions will warm up, and the dire job warnings made by the US Travel Association will recede.

There is also the fate of the bipartisan-sponsored VISIT USA Act. It proposes the transfer of $160 million to Brand USA to provide destination managers with much-needed resources to promote the US to visitors (since 2025’s One Big Beautiful Bill slashed its funds by 80% and staffing by 15%). The bill has struggled to pass, partly because the responsible Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is chaired by the Republican Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who, Travel Weekly and Skift note, has a tendency to oppose government-backed tourism programs. Post-midterm changes to committee make-up could go either way, helping or hindering that injection of funds.

Appealing to foreign markets is not the only concern. A July survey commissioned by shopping platform Smarty and reported by Money Lion found that half of Americans are putting off spending due to household financial headwinds, with a large part of the pain caused by the Middle East oil crisis. Over a quarter (26%) of Americans who responded to the poll are delaying travel spending.

The midterms could provide some relief. Late September YouGov polling found 57.2% of Americans are unhappy with Republican Party positions, and a CNBC survey found 52% want a Democrat-controlled Congress. If that happens, at least for those who voted for it, optimism, consumer, and investor confidence could all benefit from an uptick. Pollsters and analysts reported by Skift put the Democrats’ chances of winning the House between 78% and 91%, and the Senate at 57% to 69%.

However, whether any ensuing surge in “optimism” will translate into higher spending and more trips booked still probably depends on how the election affects a whole wishlist of goods, including oil prices. Some argue that, if Democrats win back control of, say, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, any general boost to confidence could be offset by efforts to re-impose blocks on Russian diesel supplies, which might send fuel and energy prices back up. But a quick fact-check reveals that, as of 2 November, Trump enabling the flow of Russian diesel had made no difference to rising prices. The LA Times reports that: “The week before his announcement, the average diesel price in the U.S. was $6.20 per gallon. At the beginning of last week, the average was $6.35.”

For holiday travellers contemplating fuel bills that are up by over a third year-on-year, that points to the end of the war in Iran and the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz as bigger keys to easing prices than the Russian supply chain. Any pressure voters are seen to put on Trump’s Middle East policies could, then, unlock their spending.

But there’s another caveat, and it’s to do with the timing of the elections. The midterms take place just ahead of immovable family feasts such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Nobody wants to disappoint grandma at the last minute, or turn up unexpectedly only to be greeted by a meal prepared for one. That could mean, for many households, any celebrations (or lack thereof) are already locked in and accounted for, limiting any immediate post-vote changes in travel consumer behaviour.

While pump prices and airfares could in theory come down quite quickly, they are also affected by factors such as capacity, competition, demand, and how far ahead bookings are made. In conclusion, the mid-term effect on travel is likely to be seen more in the long term than the short term.

L’article What could US mid-term elections mean for the travel sector? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Trump made the remark on Sunday 25 October at a campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, as he rallied support ahead of the US midterm elections on Tuesday 3 November.

Speaking about immigration, the president said he would welcome newcomers from some countries but not from Norway, “because I didn’t get the Nobel Prize … So I don’t want anybody from Norway.” Later in the same speech, he added: “Norway has become a sh*t house country, actually.”

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This year’s Nobel Peace Prize went to international jurist Navi Pillay. The award is decided by an independent Norwegian committee, not by the government in Oslo.

Instead of a diplomatic response, Visit Norway updated an old page on its website, now titled “Are these the world’s best shithouses?”, and shared it on social media with captions such as “Norway makes shithouses great again!”

The toilets in question line the Norwegian Scenic Routes, a network of 18 tourist roads where architecture is designed to work with the landscape. All but one of the rest stops were designed by established or up-and-coming Norwegian architecture firms. Many look out over fjords and waterfalls, or sit beneath the northern lights.

The most famous is at the Stegastein viewpoint, high above the Aurlandsfjord, which DesignCurial ranks among the ten best public toilets in the world. On the island of Senja, a golden loo has become a popular stop. At Ureddplassen, on the Helgeland coast, the toilets stand next to a memorial to the crew of the submarine Uredd, which sank nearby during the Second World War. Others are more discreet: the one at Utsikten runs on solar power, while the one at Ostasteidn is designed so that moss will grow on its outer walls.

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“The world needs a little laugh,” Evgenia Egorova, a senior consultant at Visit Norway, told public broadcaster NRK. She explained that the team had chosen to answer with kindness and a touch of humour. Jens Kjeldsen, a professor of rhetoric at the University of Bergen, said the tone was well judged. “It’s like the bully in kindergarten,” he told NRK. “If you get too serious, the bully wins.”

The joke has paid off. According to Skift, the toilet page drew more than 80,000 views from over 170 countries in just five days, around 540 times its traffic the previous week. Roughly one in four visitors was American, and Visit Norway spent less than $10,000 promoting the campaign.

Norway is not the first country Trump has described this way: he has used the same language about Haiti, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. This comment is a U-turn from his first presidency, when he called Haiti and African nations “shithole countries” and said he would prefer immigrants from Norway.

And there is more to come. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration, which develops the scenic routes and their facilities, already has its next project underway: a forest-inspired restroom built from the wood of 60 to 70 trees, shaped like an upside-down trunk whose roots hold up the roof.

L’article Visit Norway makes shithouses ‘great again’ after Trump insult est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The gathering built on the inaugural event, held at the same venue in July 2025 under the title “The Enchanting Trio”. With Nepal joining Bhutan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, this year’s edition broadened the geographical scope while maintaining a shared focus on tourism that supports communities and protects the places travellers come to experience.

EU highlights tourism’s role in sustainable development

Guest of honour Dominic Porter, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service, connected the destinations’ presentations with the European Union’s work on sustainable development. He described tourism as a source of employment, cultural exchange and conservation, while outlining EU support for businesses, heritage protection and greener tourism practices across the region.

“Tourism still holds much untapped potential to promote connections between people,” Porter said. He highlighted assistance for local guesthouses and safari vessels in the Maldives, cultural heritage and sustainable tourism projects in Nepal, and support for Sri Lankan tourism businesses recovering from economic crises.

Bhutan: kindness, mindfulness and a lighter footprint

For Bhutan’s Ambassador Tshoki Choden, the visitor experience begins with something less tangible than scenery: the freedom to feel welcome and at ease. “One of the greatest luxuries of travel is being able to let your guard down,” she said, presenting kindness and hospitality as defining features of a journey through the Himalayan kingdom.

Choden linked that welcome to Bhutan’s approach to development, describing mindfulness as a principle that shapes both everyday life and tourism policy. She highlighted the country’s constitutional commitment to maintaining at least 60% forest cover and its high-value, low-impact tourism model, which seeks to protect cultural heritage and the environment while benefiting local communities.

“We believe that not everything has to be conquered to prosper,” she said, referring to Bhutan’s unconquered mountains. Her invitation also extended to the country’s food, including its famously fiery combination of chillies and cheese, and to a broader exploration of what happiness means beyond material possessions.

Nepal: adventure and spiritual discovery

Nepal’s Ambassador Sewa Lamsal presented a destination where adventure, cultural diversity and spiritual heritage sit alongside one another. Moving from the Himalayas to the country’s southern plains, she described opportunities for trekking, rafting, paragliding and mountain biking, as well as quieter experiences centred on meditation and reflection.

“Welcoming visitors with respect and generosity is perhaps the greatest gift people carry home,” Lamsal said. She highlighted Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, alongside Nepal’s temples, monasteries and pilgrimage traditions, inviting travellers to explore a country whose appeal extends well beyond its best-known mountain routes.

Well-being was another theme of her address, with Lamsal encouraging visitors to discover Nepal through cultural immersion, mindfulness and time in nature. She also invited investors and business leaders to explore opportunities in the tourism sector, placing local hospitality at the heart of its future development.

Sri Lanka: an island of discovery and serendipity

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador Chandana Weerasena drew on his country’s long history of welcoming travellers, describing an island shaped by maritime connections and encounters between cultures. “We continue building bridges and sharing the very best of what our countries have to offer,” he said, introducing a destination he associated with discovery and serendipity.

His presentation reflected the breadth of Sri Lanka’s appeal, from its Indian Ocean setting to its cultural heritage. Travel Tomorrow’s reporting has explored that variety through experiences such as Isiwara Ayurvedic Village in Matale, where spice gardens, cooking and traditional practices offer visitors an introduction to local knowledge and daily life.

The country has also taken steps to encourage international arrivals. As Travel Tomorrow reported in May, Sri Lanka introduced a free Electronic Travel Authorization scheme for tourists from 40 countries, including Belgium, while retaining the requirement to obtain authorisation before travelling.

Maldives prepares for ITB Berlin 2027 spotlight

Represented by Ambassador Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed, the Maldives participated as it prepares for a prominent place on the international tourism calendar. The island nation will be the Official Host Country of ITB Berlin 2027, taking place from 16 to 18 March, providing a platform to showcase its hospitality, cultural diversity and tourism experiences to the global travel industry.

The preparations form part of a wider promotional push that includes Visit Maldives Year 2027. Alongside its established luxury offering, developments such as a proposed electric hydrofoil boat network illustrate efforts to improve connections between islands while reducing the environmental impact of transport.

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A shared commitment to responsible travel

Across the four presentations, hospitality emerged as the common thread linking very different landscapes and travel experiences. Porter’s closing message returned to the importance of ensuring that tourism benefits the people and ecosystems on which it depends: “You can count on us to accompany you on this journey every step of the way.”

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Based on data commissioned from Tourism Economics, The Changing Face of Europe’s Tourism Map to 2036 predicts an additional 1.6 billion overnight stays annually by the end of the period. International accommodation nights are projected to increase by 42%, outpacing domestic growth of 24%.

Spain is forecast to account for 14% of all international tourist nights in Europe by 2036, followed by the UK and Italy at 12% each, according to Accor’s report. Türkiye is projected to hold a 7% share, ahead of France and Greece at 6% each, Austria at 5%, Croatia at 4%, and Germany and Ireland at 3% each.

The expansion is expected to bring changes in both where visitors travel and where they come from. While established destinations will retain their appeal, some of the fastest growth is forecast beyond Europe’s traditional tourism centres.

International accommodation nights in Azerbaijan are projected to increase by 116% over the decade, followed by Latvia at 83% and Romania at 82%. Germany, meanwhile, is forecast to account for 14% of international arrivals across Europe by 2036, ahead of the UK at 8%.

Travel within Europe will remain the foundation of the industry, accounting for 77% of international arrivals in 2036. However, arrivals from emerging European source markets are expected to grow by 52%, compared with 34% from Western Europe. Improving connectivity and rising incomes are among the factors supporting this shift.

Long-haul markets are also set to become increasingly important. Arrivals from the Middle East are forecast to rise by 93%, while those from Asia-Pacific are projected to increase by 88%. China and South Korea are expected to record particularly strong growth, at 138% and 121% respectively.

Accor identifies opportunities for economy hotels as international travel becomes accessible to a wider range of consumers, including visitors from emerging European economies and expanding Asian markets.

“Europe remains the world’s most desirable destination because of its extraordinary diversity,” said Accor spokesperson Aiden McAuley.

The financial impact is also expected to increase substantially. Inbound visitor spending is forecast to climb from €825 billion in 2026 to more than €1.3 trillion in 2036, a rise of 64%. Business arrivals are projected to grow by 50%, compared with 39% for leisure arrivals.

The outlook follows separate World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts that Europe’s travel and tourism sector will grow by 3.1% in 2026, exceeding the projected global rate of 2.5%. International visitor spending in Europe is expected to rise by 5.8% this year.

Europe already accounts for a substantial share of worldwide demand. WTTC figures show the region attracted $2 trillion in leisure travel spending in 2025, approximately one-third of the global total, underscoring its continued importance to the international tourism economy.

L’article Europe to remain global tourism powerhouse through 2036, Accor report predicts est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The announcements form part of a wider modernisation drive, with approximately 6.5 trillion tenge to be allocated from the National Fund by the end of 2029. While the programme addresses public services, housing and economic development, its transport priorities also have implications for a country seeking to expand tourism and strengthen connections between Europe and Asia.

New airports and stronger regional access

Aviation featured prominently in the address, with Tokayev arguing that Kazakhstan needs better infrastructure on the ground to benefit from its position beneath major air corridors connecting Europe and Asia.

“Key air corridors connecting Europe and Asia pass through our territory. This represents an enormous competitive advantage, yet one that, so far, exists largely on the pages of glossy presentations,” Tokayev said. He called for better ground-based service infrastructure to translate that geographical position into economic benefits.

He said construction of a modern airport in Astana would begin in 2027 in partnership with a leading international company. The address did not identify the partner or provide details of the airport’s planned capacity, cost or opening date.

Alongside the capital project, Tokayev said the restoration of Arkalyk Airport had been completed and that airports in Zaysan, Katon-Karagay and Kenderli would become operational in the near future.

For the travel industry, the regional projects could help broaden access beyond Kazakhstan’s main urban gateways. Their eventual contribution to tourism will depend on the services airlines introduce, onward transport and the accommodation and visitor facilities available locally.

In his State of the Nation Address to the People of Kazakhstan President @TokayevKZ has set out a vision for the country’s next stage of development. The agenda: a competitive economy, modern infrastructure, accelerated digital transformation and higher living standards – building a Just, Strong, Clean and Progressive #Kazakhstan.

— Press Office of the President of Kazakhstan (@aqorda_press) October 28, 2026

Roads and services matter for destination development

Tokayev also called for higher standards across the road network, placing responsibility for both national and local roads with the government through the Ministry of Transport. He criticised delays, fragmented responsibilities and inadequate roadside infrastructure, while demanding the completion of reconstruction work at road border crossings in 2027.

These priorities are relevant to tourism across a geographically extensive country, where reaching natural attractions and regional destinations often requires substantial journeys by road. Better surfaces, reliable services and more efficient crossings could improve conditions for domestic travellers, international visitors and tour operators.

The broader “People’s Construction” initiative will include transport and utilities alongside healthcare, education, sporting and cultural facilities. Tokayev described it as the largest infrastructure project in Kazakhstan’s history and proposed declaring 2027 the Year of Nationwide Large-Scale Construction.

Its primary purpose is to improve living conditions for residents. For destinations seeking to welcome more visitors, dependable water supplies, functioning utilities and well-maintained public spaces also provide essential foundations.

In his State of the Nation Address, President @TokayevKZ outlined key economic priorities and announced “People’s Construction” – a nationwide initiative to modernise infrastructure, create jobs and improve living standards. #Kazakhstan https://t.co/lGLLsyRwxQ

— Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to United Nations (@KazakhstanUN) October 29, 2026

Tourism growth raises the importance of delivery

The infrastructure announcements come as Kazakhstan expands its visitor economy. As Travel Tomorrow previously reported, the country recorded 15.7 million foreign visits in 2025, while tourism investment exceeded 1.3 trillion tenge, approximately €2.4 billion.

Accommodation capacity also increased, reaching 4,482 establishments offering more than 232,000 beds. Those figures provide context for the transport programme: additional accommodation and destination investment need accessible airports, reliable roads and effective local services to support demand.

Kazakhstan’s tourism development plans already encompass ecotourism, gastronomy, equestrian routes, self-drive holidays and business events. Improvements to regional infrastructure could support these segments, although the address did not set out a separate tourism funding allocation within the nationwide construction programme.

Connecting Kazakhstan with European transport networks

Rail freight and international logistics were another major focus. Tokayev said the Bakhty–Ayagoz railway would become operational in 2027, adding 20 million tonnes of freight capacity on routes towards China.

“Kazakhstan must seize this historic opportunity to become a leading logistics centre in Eurasia in practice, not merely in name,” Tokayev said. He also called for stronger domestic logistics operators and freight consolidation and distribution centres.

He highlighted the Aral–Caspian transport corridor, where construction began in August, and called for the digitalisation of international transport routes. The emphasis was on making Kazakhstan a more effective organiser of freight flows, supported by logistics centres, trading hubs and better connections across its territory.

These plans connect with discussions during the Belgian royal state visit to Kazakhstan from 12 to 14 October. Transport cooperation featured alongside tourism, cultural exchanges and university partnerships during the visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.

Kazakhstan and Belgium share a strong friendship founded on trust and mutual respect. It was a big honor and privilege to welcome King Philippe and Queen Mathilde @MonarchieBe to Astana. Our productive talks reaffirmed shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and opened new avenues for cooperation. As Their Majesties continue their visit in Almaty, I hope they will enjoy the city’s vibrant spirit and discover its rich cultural heritage. May the partnership between Kazakhstan and Belgium continue to thrive!

— Qasym-Jomart Toqayev (@TokayevKZ) October 14, 2026

The talks highlighted the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, commonly known as the Middle Corridor, and opportunities to connect it more closely with European ports, railways and logistics hubs. Cooperation between Antwerp-Bruges and Kazakhstan’s Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk was among the areas discussed.

These are principally freight initiatives. Their relevance to the wider travel economy lies in the commercial relationships, infrastructure investment and professional exchanges they can help sustain.

Investment conditions and energy supply

Beyond transport, Tokayev called for more coordinated support for investors, stronger legal safeguards and improved access to long-term business finance. He outlined plans for an Investment Court in Alatau based on the English common law model and proposed discussing a three-year moratorium on inspections of micro and small businesses from January 2027.

Such measures could be relevant to hospitality investors and smaller tourism businesses, although their practical effects will depend on the legislation and implementation that follow. Tokayev also acknowledged persistent inflation and urged targeted changes to tax legislation to address difficulties experienced by businesses.

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Energy reliability formed another part of the programme, with a goal of achieving a sustained electricity surplus by 2029 through additional generation and upgraded infrastructure. For accommodation providers and other visitor services, dependable electricity is a basic operating requirement as well as a consideration when planning new investment.

The address places infrastructure at the centre of Kazakhstan’s next phase of development. For its growing tourism sector, the practical test will be whether the announced projects translate into easier journeys, reliable services and better access to destinations across the country.

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