Global Scans · Travel · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: How we travel, where we travel and whether we travel at all will mean tremendous change in the decades ahead.

• [New] Hong Kong will adopt the +Tourism concept in 2026 to deepen integration of culture, sports and tourism and reinforce its status as a global events capital. Marketing-Interactive
• [New] Global business travel spending is forecast to reach a record $1.71 trillion USD in 2026, with the number of business trips worldwide expected to surpass 1.84 billion. Global Business Travel Association - GBTA
• [New] The fleet owners segment is projected to register the fastest growth at a CAGR of 8.21% during 2026-2034, supported by increasing demand from rental companies, tourism operators, recreational vehicle fleets, and businesses offering flexible travel and accommodation services. Straits Research
• [New] The next American to set foot on the Moon will travel in a NASA spacecraft, launched from Earth atop a NASA rocket. DebateUS
• [New] The Moon: NASA is expected to launch the first flight of its Space Launch System mega-rocket on a trip around the Moon, and the space agency plans to load it with scientific experiments. DebateUS
• [New] The latest US State Department Travel Advisory warns citizens not to travel to the African country for any reason, citing risks of unrest, crime, kidnapping, health, and terrorism. Al Jazeera
• [New] Central Thailand will retain the largest commercial concentration, while Northern and other regional gateways offer faster whitespace growth as international routes, secondary-destination tourism and cross-border passenger flows deepen. KEN research
• [New] Tourism from China to the U.K. will expand rapidly, by 20% annually through 2030. The Diplomat
• [New] Trade war tensions between the United States and Canada are on the rise, a risk to the U.S.' inbound travel recovery. Skift
• [New] Lufthansa Group has launched free high-speed Starlink WiFi, with an ambitious rollout planned across around 850 aircraft by 2029 to deliver a consistent, high-quality connectivity experience across its airlines and travel classes. Future Travel Experience
• [New] AHLA projects hotel guest spending will reach $805 billion in 2026, but also reports that rising operating expenses have kept gross operating profit per available room, or GOPPAR, at roughly 90% of 2019 levels. Hotel Supplies Wholesale | Bedding, Towels, Amenities |
• [New] For Colombians traveling to Israel, the return of visa-free access is expected to bring back eligibility for the ETA-IL electronic travel authorization. VisasNews
• [New] As newer trains are put into service and tracks are fixed, Amtrak has the opportunity to reach new heights and provide more travel options for more people across America. Frontier Group
• [New] The 2026 Sports ETA State of the Industry Report puts that opportunity in perspective, with 339 million sports tourism travelers, 124.3 million room nights, and $111.2 billion in direct spending. Sports ETA
• On the other front, the demand for Car Rental services is expected to be astronomically growing in the coming years owing to the flourishing tourism sector in the UAE. MarkNtel Advisors
• Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy 2030 targets 39.3 million visitors and 50,000 hotel rooms, while Ras Al Khaimah aims to exceed 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030, strengthening the addressable base outside Dubai. KEN research
• U.S. government employees working in Israel must obtain special authorization for official travel to the West Bank due to safety risks. U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
• The Qatari Tourist Bureau ensured that persons with disabilities could access hotels and tourist centers. The United Nations Office at Geneva
• The foodservice segment is projected to grow at a 9.36% CAGR, powered by Dubai's hotel pipeline and the rapid scaling of international fast-food franchises. Mordor Intelligence
• The partnership of Etihad Rail and Etihad Airways will enhance long-distance travel and reduce dependency on cars and domestic flights. Keltandcorealty
• Recent improvements in Amtrak service create the potential for further ridership increases in the years to come - if the federal government matches Americans' increasing desire for train travel with consistent investment. Frontier Group
• The Gulf Cooperation Council states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are investing heavily in passenger terminal expansions tied to Vision 2030 and EXPO-linked tourism targets, embedding advanced detection technologies as standard security layers in new infrastructure. Persistence Market Research

Last updated: 12 September 2026