Three quarters (73%) of the island’s hotels have closed and seven international chains, (who between them operate around half of Cuba’s hotels), have now left, Marrero said, pointing to the scale of the risk.

Although Cuban tourism had suffered setbacks from US travel restrictions and COVID-19 since its heyday in 2017 (when it welcomed 4.2 million international visitors), the sector employed 300,000 people and was the island’s second largest source of foreign currency earnings until 2025— a year when instability and infrastructure problems, such as rolling power cuts and electricity blackouts, began to eat away at core source markets. Cuba only welcomed 1.8 million international visitors across 2025, which was described as “the worst figure since 2002.”

With the avowed goal of regime change, the United States has been exerting pressure on the Cuban economy through sanctions and since January 2026, that includes the imposition of new tariffs on fuel suppliers to Cuba and penalties for those who do business with the military-run “GEASA” sectors of the island’s economy, such as tourism.

Cuban aviation fuel supplies began running out as early as February, and with global fuel supplies affected by the Middle East blockade, airlines began rationalising flights. Canadian, European, and Russian carriers all suspended routes to Cuba.

The effect on international arrivals was immediate, according to official data showing tourist numbers dropped 58% in the first six months of 2026, compared with the same period the year before.

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That drop in connectivity and demand, and the disincentive of renewed US sanctions in July, has prompted further international hotel group closures, and the crisis only seems to be deepening.

With occupation rates as low as 34.1%, Spanish hospitality chain Melia slashed the Portuguese-run Ilha Bela Gestao E Turismo operations at 15 of its 34 hotels in June, only to announce a complete withdrawal from the island a month later, blaming economic, legal, and operational struggles. Other chains such as Iberostar and Barceló join them, as well as Canada’s Blue Diamond Resorts, and key players in other industries, such as Canadian mining firm Sherritt.

Having welcomed just 360,000 international visitors between January and June 2026, Cuban tourism—described by Fidel Castro in 1994 as the only thing that could save the nation— now faces around 25,000 job losses, Marrero said.

L’article Nearly three quarters of hotels in Cuba now closed as tourism crisis deepens est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Covering 13,000 hectares, the forest will have three different areas, comprising “natural forests”, where natural processes are left to occur; “near-natural forests” where forestry practices will be minimised; and the largest 8,000-hectare space, dedicated to “social forests”, designed to promote exercise, leisure, and wellbeing opportunities, including cycling and hiking trails.

Describing the forest’s creation as an “historic moment and the beginning of a new approach to forest protection” climate and environment minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska said the scheme had been conceived “with residents in mind first and foremost.”

Cities represent just two percent of the Earth’s surface but are responsible for 70% of carbon emissions. With the United Nations predicting two-thirds of humans will reside in cities by 2050, experts say “rewilding” will enhance the air that we breathe, boost our mental health, as well as biodiversity, and limit the impacts of climate change. 

Hennig-Kloska also highlighted the many benefits of woodland areas, adding: “Community forests are places where residents can relax, play sports and simply spend time close to nature,” she added. “At the same time, they are crucial to our security and quality of life: they retain water, regulate the climate, purify the air and protect the soil.”

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The ten other sites where community forests are undergoing planning permissions are near the cities of: Bielsko-Biała, also known as Podbeskidzie and Little Vienna for its architectural gems; the northern Tricity area, comprising Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot, on the shore of Gdańsk Bay; the former southern industrial powerhouse, Katowice; as well as Kielce, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, Toruń-Bydgoszcz and Warsaw. Kielce and Bielsko-Biała are reported by the Polish Press Agency to be the first in the pipeline after Wroclaw.

The environmental work is part of moves by Poland’s current government to unpick many of the previous Law & Justice regime’s moves, seen as authoritarian and right-wing, and criticised by the European Union as against the rule of law. The country had fallen foul of EU habitat protection laws by permitting commercial logging, including in the ancient UNESCO World Heritage site of Białowieża Forest, where the former government had allowed logging activity to triple—an issue that led to national and international controversy.

L’article Poland to create vast community forests around 11 major cities est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The existence of the greenhouse effect, although not yet known by that name, was first proposed as early as 1824 by Joseph Fourier. In 1856, Eunice Newton Foote demonstrated that the warming effect of the sun is greater in air containing water vapour than in dry air, and even greater in air with higher concentrations of carbon dioxide. We have therefore understood the basic science behind the greenhouse effect for around 170 years.

The oil and gas industries have worked hard to deny the human contribution to global warming. Published in 2010, Merchants of Doubt, by historians of science Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, documented how lobbyists deliberately generated doubt about the scientific evidence behind acid rain, the ozone hole, the dangers of tobacco, climate change denial, and the attacks on Rachel Carson. Those same tactics continue today, with lobbyists undermining science on behalf of those who benefit from business as usual.

As you read this, you may be thinking, “Tell me something new.”

That is precisely the point. Climate change, drought, wildfires, storm-driven flooding and sea-level rise have become the new normal. It is so much easier to “…put off till tomorrow what may be done the day after tomorrow just as well”, to blame others and deny responsibility.

The global tourism industry both contributes to and suffers from climate change through its greenhouse gas emissions.

According to research published in Nature Communications:

“Global tourism emissions grew by 3.5% per year between 2009 and 2019, double the growth rate of the worldwide economy, reaching 5.2 Gt CO₂-e, or 8.8% of total global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. The primary drivers of emissions growth are slow technology efficiency gains (0.3% per year), combined with sustained high growth in tourism demand (3.8% per year in constant 2009 prices).”

Fear of wildfires, destroyed or empty accommodation, damaged destination brands, severe economic losses, and scarred landscapes are all consequences of this growing crisis. Yet there has been surprisingly little research into the economic impact of wildfires on the tourism industry.

Luís Catela Nunes, Professor of Applied Econometrics at Nova School of Business and Economics, analysed data from 278 Portuguese municipalities covering the period from 2000 to 2016. He concluded:

“The estimated annual costs to the Portuguese economy due to the impact of burned areas in 2030 range between €17.03 million and €24.18 million for domestic tourist arrivals, and between €18.26 million and €38.08 million for inbound tourism. By 2050, those costs will increase at least fourfold.”

Back in 2023, the US Congress Joint Economic Committee reported that:

“…wildfires in the United States cause between $394 billion and $893 billion in damages annually, equivalent to between 2% and 4% of US GDP.”

Wildfires impose substantial costs on both the supply and demand sides of tourism. More research is needed, but above all, the tourism industry must play a far greater role in addressing the human-induced climate change to which it contributes.

L’article Never put off till tomorrow: tourism can no longer delay climate action  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The one-hour webinar, taking place from 12:00 to 13:00 UK time, will also mark the launch of the new Responsible Tourism Award categories for 2027.

The Responsible Tourism Awards Worldwide recognise organisations and initiatives that are helping make tourism more sustainable. Winners will be announced across categories including nature-positive and regenerative tourism, cultural tourism, creating economic impact, adapting to climate change, and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Entries are currently being assessed from candidates across North America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia. The worldwide ceremony is the fifth regional Responsible Tourism Awards event to take place this year, following award announcements in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia.

The awards will be presented by Harold Goodwin, founder of ICRT Global and chair of the judging panel. He will be joined by fellow judges Jane Ashton, ICRT Global board director; Eleanor Cox, sustainability executive at DERTOUR; Ruth Crichton, ICRT Southern Africa chair and representative of The Long Run; Yashin Dujon, executive director at the Belize Audubon Society; Karen Edwards, author and writer; Tiomóid Foley, net zero tourism manager, business development and intermediary marketing at VisitScotland; Carol Hay, ICRT Global special advisor; and Jane McFadzean, senior director of global sustainability at Trip.com.

Alongside the awards, the event will reveal the ten recipients of the 2026 ICRT Global Scholarships, delivered in partnership with ITB Berlin. Ryan Fuller, head of CSR and host country coordinator at ITB Berlin, together with ICRT special advisors Carol Hay and Sarah Habsburg, will outline how the programme supports the next generation of responsible tourism professionals.

The scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to complete one of ICRT Global’s online professional certificate courses in Responsible Tourism, Rebalancing Tourism or Creating Economic Value. The courses provide participants with expert teaching, global case studies, peer discussions and practical tools that can be applied within their own organisations and destinations.

The scholarship programme is backed by partners including easyJet holidays, The Institute of Tourism, Lemongrass Marketing, Mathur & Co and Responsible Travel. Recipients will also have opportunities to engage with representatives from the sponsoring organisations during the programme.

The Responsible Tourism Awards Worldwide is a part of a broader international awards network that also includes regional programmes in Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Gold winners from the regional competitions go on to compete for the Global Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board.

Debbie Hindle, chair of ICRT Global, highlighted: “We want this event to celebrate those already making a difference, but also to inspire others to take responsibility for the impacts of tourism. By bringing together award-winning initiatives, scholarship recipients, industry leaders and responsible tourism practitioners, we will be demonstrating the breadth of work taking place around the world to make tourism a positive force change, creating better places to live in and visit.” 

The free webinar is open to participants worldwide, with sessions scheduled for 7:00 a.m. EDT on the US East Coast, 12:00 p.m. in London, 3:00 p.m. in Dubai, 8:00 p.m. in Japan and 9:00 p.m. in Sydney. Registration is available through the ICRT Responsible Tourism Awards Worldwide and Scholarships event page.

L’article ICRT to announce Responsible Tourism Awards Worldwide and 2026 Scholarships in free global webinar est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

On 23 July 2026, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation organised the 20^th edition of its Spirited Awards. Since its start in 2007, the competition has been recognising beverage professionals, products, establishments, journalists, and media across every facet of the spirits and cocktail industry on a global scale. The categories include Bartender of the Year, Best Bar Team, and Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient.

This year, the winner of the ‘Best New International Cocktail Bar’ category was De Vie. Located in the Montorgueil neighbourhood in Paris, the bar opened its doors in 2025 and has been gaining international attention ever since. For example, it came out 34^th in Europe’s 50 Best Bars list in June 2026 and was named Cocktail Bar of the Year by Time Out in 2025.

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De Vie is the brainchild of Alex Francis and Barney O’Kane, who have been active on the Parisian culinary scene for a while. In 2025, they opened their new three-story concept in Montorgueil, featuring a fine dining restaurant called Comptoir De Vie, a wine cellar called Cave De Vie, and an underground cocktail bar named Bar De Vie with room for just 11 people at a time.

“Bar & Comptoir De Vie is a multiple concept space, home to a hyper-seasonal tasting & seasonal à la carte menu utilising the best of French produce. The experience centres on our seasonal drinks menu that is available with & without alcohol, featuring a selection of cocktails and sustainably made specialty drinks such as fruit wines, digestifs, and aperitifs upcycling waste ingredients from the kitchen and bar,” De Vie explains on its website.

The cocktail bar stands out from the crowd thanks to its unusual approach to cocktails, which is reminiscent of local produce-oriented fine dining. The menu changes almost daily, drinks often centre around one particular fruit or vegetable, and local ingredients stand centre-stage.

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De Vie’s principal feature is a 5-step seasonal drinks tasting menu over a 1h30 seating, which includes snacks. Additional a la carte dishes are available against a supplement. Each drink is served in a tasting portion to ensure consumption is both enjoyable and responsible. At the end of the tasting session, customers will have had the equivalent of 3 standard cocktails to drink, while an entirely non alcoholic option is also available.

For the so-called Omakase Tasting Menu, customers will have to pay €50 per person. Although the available drinks change on an (almost) daily basis, some of the featured options on De Vie’s sample menu include Beetroot (beetroot molasses eau de vie, wild raspberry eau de vie, and dry vermouth) and Fennel (fennel leaf cordial, clarified apple juice, and fermented fennel stem brine).

Bookings are open two months in advance, and a deposit of €30 per person is required to secure the seats. The amount will be subtracted from the final bill and is refundable, provided reservations are cancelled with no less than 48 hours’ notice.

L’article Parisian De Vie named best new cocktail bar in the world est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to the latest air traffic report from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, passenger numbers across the European airport network increased by 2.6% compared with the first half of 2025. While growth slowed during the second quarter as the conflict in the Middle East affected aviation markets, Europeans continued to prioritise travel, and North Americans visited the continent in record numbers this summer.

Geopolitics reshape growth

Passenger traffic growth eased from 4.3% in the first quarter to 1.3% between April and June, reflecting reduced traffic to the Middle East and capacity cuts by some airlines as higher jet fuel prices increased operating costs. As a result, domestic traffic (+3%) outperformed international traffic (+2.5%) for the first time since the aviation industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is no escaping the fact that geopolitics have increasingly been shaping traffic performance this year,” said Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe. While acknowledging that growth has lost momentum, he argued this reflects supply-side pressures rather than weaker demand.

“Europeans continue to prioritise air travel while North Americans continue to visit our continent in record numbers this summer,” he said, adding that the evolution of the conflict in the Middle East will largely determine how European aviation performs during the remainder of the year.

EES remains a major concern

Alongside geopolitical uncertainty, ACI Europe warned that the EU’s Entry/Exit System is becoming an increasing obstacle to smooth travel.

“Looking ahead, fixing the Schengen Entry/Exit System must be Europe’s immediate priority,” Jankovec said, warning that “long, unpredictable and unacceptable waiting times” at border controls are beginning to deter travellers.

The comments add to growing pressure on the European Commission. As Travel Tomorrow recently reported, nine European countries have asked Brussels to extend emergency flexibility measures allowing biometric checks to be temporarily suspended during periods of exceptional demand. The Commission has acknowledged that there is “still a lot to do” to improve the system, while continuing to defend the EES as a key element of the EU’s border management strategy.

Italy and Spain outperform Europe’s biggest markets

Passenger traffic varied widely across Europe. Within the EU+, Slovakia (+101.3%), Malta (+15.6%) and Slovenia (+14.7%) recorded the strongest growth, while Iceland (-7.1%), Cyprus (-4.4%) and Austria (-2.6%) saw the sharpest declines.

Among the continent’s largest aviation markets, Italy (+4.2%) and Spain (+3.7%) led growth. France (+0.6%) and the United Kingdom (+0.4%) posted only modest gains, while Germany (-1.2%) remained the weakest major market.

Outside the EU+, North Macedonia (+27.9%), Moldova (+21%), Albania (+17.2%), Uzbekistan (+15.7%), Armenia (+11%) and Montenegro (+10.4%) all recorded strong growth. In contrast, Israel (-19.2%), Azerbaijan (-3%), Georgia (-2.5%) and Kosovo (-1.5%) experienced declines, highlighting the uneven impact of regional geopolitical developments.

Heathrow keeps the lead

London Heathrow remained Europe’s busiest airport during the first half of the year, welcoming a record 40 million passengers (+0.2%), narrowly ahead of Istanbul Airport with 39.84 million (+1.6%).

Among Europe’s largest hubs, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (+6.4%), Barcelona (+4.4%) and Madrid (+4.2%) posted the strongest growth. London Gatwick (-5.2%), Munich (-4.2%) and Frankfurt (-0.8%) all recorded declines, while Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Rome Fiumicino remained broadly unchanged.

Overall, airports handling more than 40 million passengers grew by just 0.8%, making them the slowest-growing airport category during the first half of the year.

Smaller airports continue to outperform

The strongest growth came from smaller airports, with those handling fewer than one million passengers recording an 8.6% increase, driven by low-cost carrier expansion and resilient leisure travel. They nevertheless remain the only airport category yet to recover to pre-pandemic passenger levels.

Among larger regional airports, Tirana, Tashkent, Malta, Kraków and Milan Linate all achieved double-digit growth, while Bratislava led medium-sized airports with a remarkable 122.7% increase in passenger traffic.

Freight traffic remained broadly stable, increasing by 0.7% compared with the first half of 2025 and remaining 11.2% above pre-pandemic levels. Aircraft movements also rose by 1%, although they are still slightly below 2019 volumes.

L’article European airport passenger traffic grows 2.6% despite Middle East tensions and EES disruption est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The swing creates an experience that combines adventure and mountain views. Visitors sit on saddle-style seats attached to a metal structure inspired by an Alpine ibex, before being secured with safety equipment. A system of cables and pulleys then pulls the riders backwards until they are suspended at a 90-degree angle above the platform. When the mechanism is released, the swing moves forward over the valley, creating the sensation of flying above the Swiss Alps.

The attraction has already attracted visitors looking for a new type of mountain experience. Alexandra Henchoz, 37, tested the swing with her husband and 10-year-old daughter and admitted she was nervous before starting the ride. “I had a bit of a pit in my stomach” before being strapped in, she said. However, after the swing started moving, she described the experience as “incredible” and added: “You feel like a bird flying.” Other visitors also highlighted the combination of fear and excitement, with 70-year-old Marc Truffer saying the experience was frightening but that the view afterwards was magnificent.

While the swing offers an adrenaline-filled activity for travellers, its purpose goes beyond entertainment. The attraction is part of a wider strategy by Alpine resorts to reduce their dependence on winter tourism. Martin Deburaux, head of the Villars-Gryon-Diablerets ski area, explained that the resort is working to create more activities that are not linked to snow conditions. “We are really trying to diversify our offering,” he said.

The need for diversification is becoming increasingly important for mountain destinations. Ski resorts across Europe are facing challenges linked to rising temperatures and changing snowfall patterns. Although Villars has experienced strong winter seasons in recent years, the resort is preparing for a future where traditional skiing may become less predictable. The new swing provides an attraction that can continue operating during warmer months and allows the resort to make better use of its mountain infrastructure.

Currently, Villars welcomes more than 700,000 visitors during the winter season, while summer attracts around 100,000 people. The resort aims to significantly increase its summer visitor numbers in the coming years by offering a wider range of activities. Hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor experiences are already attracting visitors, and the Balanc’Air swing adds another reason for travellers to visit outside the ski season.

@tcheucestbeau INFOS Envie d'une activité qui mélange fun, adrénaline et panorama à couper le souffle ? La Balanc'AIR est une balançoire géante perchée à 2 110 mètres d'altitude, avec une inclinaison pouvant atteindre 90° face au vide… C'est complètement dingue ! Enregistre cette publication pour ta « to do list ». Partage-la avec ton binôme d'aventure Lieu : La Balanc'AIR – Grand Chamossaire (Villars-sur-Ollon) Accès : Remontées mécaniques de Villars Gryon Les Diablerets (TVGD). Prix : Gratuit avec n'importe quel titre de transport @TVGD.ch (y compris Magicpass ). Tu peux également réserver ta place pour 8 CHF afin d'être certain de pouvoir en profiter. 50 % des places sont réservables à l'avance et les 50 % restantes sont accessibles sans réservation. Et puisque tu es dans le coin, profite-en pour redescendre jusqu'au Col de Bretaye afin de découvrir les fresques géantes et éphémères de Saype, visibles pendant environ un mois seulement. Plus d'informations sur le site officiel de TVGD ou sur Instagram : @tvgd.ch. Abonne-toi à @tcheucestbeau pour découvrir les plus belles randonnées, activités, hébergements et bons plans en Suisse Tu es un professionnel du tourisme, de la montagne ou des loisirs et tu aimerais des vidéos comme celles-ci pour mettre ton établissement en valeur ? Contacte-moi en message privé. Merci à TVGD pour cette magnifique collaboration #TcheuCestBeau #BalancAIR #GrandChamossaire #Saype #Villars ♬ Where The Adventure Begins – Tim Halperin

The development reflects a broader change in Alpine tourism, where destinations are moving from a seasonal model focused mainly on skiing towards year-round experiences. Mountain resorts are increasingly investing in activities that appeal to visitors who want adventure, nature and unique landscapes without necessarily needing snow. The swing also shows how existing ski infrastructure can be adapted to support tourism throughout the entire year.

At the same time, Villars is trying to balance tourism growth with the protection of its natural surroundings. The swing was intentionally placed in an area that was already popular with visitors, while other parts of the resort remain focused on preserving a quieter mountain environment. For Alpine destinations facing changing climate conditions, finding new ways to welcome visitors while respecting the landscape is becoming an increasingly important challenge.

L’article Swiss Alps open giant swing as ski resorts look beyond the winter season est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said funding would come from the airport’s operator, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, municipal bonds, airlines such as United, which operates 70% of traffic there, as well as MWAA and others.

Expected works include improved parking for at least 32,000 more cars, as well as check-in facilities, a tunnel system to eliminate the airport’s notorious “people mover” mobile shuttles, and the modernisation of “temporary” concourses built 40 years ago. Trump also wants large windows and gilding throughout.

$22.5 BILLION, ZERO of which are taxpayer dollars, are going to a new Dulles International Airport (IAD) thanks to the expertise and leadership of the GREAT AMERICAN BUILDER, @POTUS

The “Gateway to America” will soon be the most BEAUTIFUL airport in the world! pic.twitter.com/cMMG8aM66s

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) July 30, 2026

Trump revealed the plans by commenting that Dulles is “considered one of the worst airports anywhere in the world” but went on to claim, “we’re going to make it maybe the best with some hard work.” The President said the time had come “for a ​major and long overdue renovation and reconstruction of Washington’s really horribly-thought of Dulles.”

The investment comes amid data showing Dulles was the fastest-growing large U.S. airport ​last year by passenger traffic, handling 29 million total passengers, an increase of 6.4%, in 2025.

The airport renovation also forms part of Trump’s wider ambitions to leave his mark on the wider capital region, and has been described by Duffy as the “cherry on top” of Trump’s plan to “make DC safe and beautiful.” The President is reported by the Washington Post as having spent months looking at pitches and said himself he had considered more than 30 proposals.

That wider Washington plan has entailed multiple Oval Office construction and renovation proposals, such as those for the Oval Office itself, which has been gilded; a new life for the White House Rose Garden, new sidewalks for Lafayette Square, a new visitors’ complex, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a triumphal arch, and the National Garden of American Heroes.

But Trump’s apparently Washington-centric policy is not popular among the electorate, with 58% expressing dissatisfaction or anger about the building projects, a recent CNN poll found. A record 73% of US adults accuse Trump of neglecting the country’s most important problems.

Meanwhile, with the airport works funded through private finance, flyers and aviation stakeholders have also questioned what the cost of the Dulles renovations, which are slated to take place over the coming eight years, will do to the cost of air tickets, which remain elevated after the Middle East security crisis and its effect on fuel prices.

L’article Trump reveals $22 billion overhaul of Washington Dulles Airport est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Passengers can currently get from London St Pancras to the historic Belgian port city’s Central Station with Eurostar, but it’s via a three-and-a-half-hour journey and a change at Brussels. The new direct London–Antwerp journey will slash 20% off that trip time, taking just two hours 41 minutes, and timetables appear to promise, will not add any additional delay before reaching other existing stops along the route in Lille (France), Brussels (Belgium), or Rotterdam (Netherlands).

There is one drawback, however: the direct Antwerp stop will happen on the existing London to Amsterdam route, but not on the way back from Amsterdam to London. Eurostar explained in a statement that it’s not possible to board in Antwerp for direct travel to London because Antwerp Central Station is not equipped to carry out the necessary international border and security checks. That means those checks will continue to be conducted at Brussels.

Known for its world-famous diamond quarter and design credentials, Antwerp was a medieval powerhouse port that once handled 70% of international trade. It boasts an “intriguing medieval heart with plenty of café-filled cobbled lanes, a riverside fortress and a truly impressive cathedral.” Those delights go hand-in-hand, Lonely Planet says, with a “vibrant fashion and entertainment scene, along with its startling architectural and cultural contrasts.”

Eurostar says, “the new timetable enhances rail connectivity between London and Belgium’s second-largest city, offering a faster and more convenient option for both business and leisure travellers.”

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On the Eurostar website, passengers can purchase a combined ticket, covering both the outward Eurostar and the return domestic rail trip from Antwerp to London, including the necessary change and border checks at Brussels-South. Travel Tomorrow found return tickets ranging from around €110 to €383 for a week-long trip starting on the service launch date in mid-December.

That launch comes in time for Antwerp’s Christmas season. The city’s Christmas Market is spread across some of the city’s most iconic locations including the 16^th-17^th century Grote Markt, Handschoenmarkt, the Groenplaats, and the charming Hendrik Conscienceplein. The 2025 market and Winter in Antwerp festivities attracted over 1.5 million visitors, an uptick of 200,000 year-on-year.

Looking further ahead, an exhibition on the so-called Antwerp Six fashion school will be coming to Antwerp’s MoMu in spring 2027.

L’article Eurostar to launch new direct London to Antwerp service from December 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The new service is aimed at enhancing Bark Air’s luxury travel offering for dogs, which allows pets to remain in the cabin rather than travelling in cargo or being restricted to carriers under aircraft seats. The company welcomes dogs of all breeds and sizes, addressing a challenge particularly faced by owners of larger dogs who often struggle to find suitable commercial air travel options. 

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Developed with Pride+Groom, the new grooming experience uses a selection of products including The Swipe antiseptic coat wipe, The Bath Brush to stimulate natural oils, The Balm for noses and paws, and Proud Signature Scent pet cologne. The service focuses on light grooming rather than full treatments, with brushing, cleaning and paw care available during the journey. 

Bark Air launched in May 2024 as an airline-style experience created specifically around dogs and their human companions. The company was founded by Bark Inc., the company behind BarkBox, after co-founder and CEO Matt Meeker’s difficulties travelling with his Great Dane helped inspire the concept. The service was designed to offer an alternative to traditional pet travel, where many animals face restrictions or must fly separately from their owners. 

The airline’s flights operate through licensed charter partners, while Bark Air focuses on delivering a dog-centred hospitality experience. Passengers receive concierge support before travel, including information gathering about each dog’s dietary, social and environmental needs. On board, dogs have access to services such as calming aids, treats, wellness amenities and dedicated attention from trained staff. 

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Since launching, Bark Air has expanded its network across the United States and Europe. The company flies to destinations including Dublin, Lisbon, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Stockholm. Flights typically carry around 10 dogs and their companions, with pets remaining in the cabin and free to move around during the journey.

Fares start at around $9,900 for a dog and one accompanying passenger on transatlantic routes. The price includes travel on a shared private jet, private terminal access and concierge services, positioning Bark Air as a luxury alternative to commercial pet travel. “Each ticket includes one dog and one human companion. To bring two humans, you’ll need to purchase two tickets,” Bark Air notes.

Bark Air’s private charter flights are positioned as a luxury option for travellers willing to pay a premium for a more comfortable experience with their pets. With the introduction of in-flight grooming, Bark Air is adding another element to its growing range of dog-focused travel services, blending private aviation with luxury pet care.

L’article Bark Air adds in-flight grooming to luxury private-jet travel for dogs est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.