Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, the Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, has highlighted the importance of collaboration, cultural preservation, and sustainable development in shaping the future of the island’s tourism sector as he officially opened Connect Barbados 2026.
Connect Barbados 2026 recorded its highest buyer participation to date, concluding a week of tourism networking and industry engagement with an awards ceremony recognising 20 contributors across the tourism, media, and travel sectors.
Bahrain's Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairafi and Bahrain Development Bank CEO Dalal Al Qais discussed expanding cooperation to boost tourism investment and SMEs, while reviewing joint initiatives supporting the Tourism Strategy 2022–2026 and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia’s licensed tourism hospitality facilities increased 22.7% year-on-year to 6,122 in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting continued growth in the Kingdom’s tourism sector, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
ADNEC Group, the primary driver of Modon’s events, catering and tourism pillar, has delivered its most successful year to date in 2025, setting new milestones across all six of its business clusters, including venues, events, services, catering, tourism and media.
Emirates is adding a third daily Dubai–Phuket flight operated by its Airbus A350, increasing flexibility and Premium Economy capacity. The airline will now operate 21 weekly flights to Phuket using Boeing 777 and A350 aircraft.
Germany is positioning itself as a safe, value-for-money and culturally diverse destination as global travel trends shift towards shorter booking windows and demand for secure, easily accessible destinations, according to Petra Hedorfer, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB).
Oman Travel Hub, a new tourism digital platform founded by Oman-based couple Bader Al Lawati and Anna Chesalina, has been launched to promote the country’s landscapes, cultural heritage, and hidden experiences while connecting small and medium tourism operators with a global audience.
Etihad Rail’s passenger service between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah is expected to boost tourism, improve inter-emirate connectivity and drive economic growth. The 105-minute journey will support Fujairah’s tourism sector, with the network projected to serve 10 million passengers annually.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries tourist arrivals hit a record 847 million in 2025, up 3.4%. However, geopolitical tensions, climate events and cost pressures are creating uncertainty and shifting travellers toward cheaper, shorter, safer trips.
