tourism news

Australia's Islamic economy approaches a record $9 billion, with halal tourism spending projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2028 under an 8.7% annual growth rate.

Ecuador enacts a new tourism finance law, dropping holiday VAT to 8% and removing aviation fuel surcharges to lower travel costs to Quito and the Galápagos.

China operated 1,797 tourist trains in the first half of 2026, almost doubling routes and integrating Song Dynasty themes and live theatre into rail travel.

Mexico reports 42.87 million non-resident international visitors between January and May 2026, an 8.8% increase driven by the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Copenhagen Airport records 3.453 million passengers in July 2026, up 3.6% year-on-year, as Spain, Italy, and coolcation travel drive summer traffic.

Paraguay records a record $1.42 billion in tourism foreign exchange earnings, driven by Asunción, Encarnación, and Ciudad del Este border gateways.

Türkiye records 6,837,257 foreign visitor arrivals in Q1 2026, representing a 2.21% year-on-year increase driven by Istanbul and emerging regional hubs.

Curaçao's tourism sector grew five times faster than the Caribbean average in 2025, recording 788,427 stay-over visitors and a 13% expansion rate.

Bolivia reports $502 million in tourist spending by August 2025, but local hospitality operators struggle to maintain margins under a 20.40% inflation rate.

Austrian Airlines drives H1 2026 growth with €1.22 billion in revenue, passenger volume increases, and terminal lounge upgrades at Vienna Airport.

Riyadh Air debuts its first Southeast Asian route with direct flights between Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur, operating Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners three times weekly.

Garuda Indonesia reinstates its direct Bandung-Bali flight route on August 14, 2026, bypassing Jakarta and reactivating Husein Sastranegara Airport.