News & Stories
Good news for Swiss hoteliers: after the Council of States, the National Council has now also approved the reduced value added tax (VAT) rate of 3.8 percent for accommodation services.
There is unprecedented uncertainty about future economic growth and consumer spending, due essentially to the ongoing trade war. Nevertheless, travel remains a top priority for consumers. For European hotels occupancy is set to become the critical factor in 2025.
In Turkey, the tourism sector is one of the most dynamic pillars of the economy - travel revenue reached a new high in 2024. At 61.1 billion US dollars, they increased by 8.3% compared to the previous year.
Anyone travelling to the UK now needs a digital entry permit. Online traps are now lurking: Third-party providers are cashing in - often for little to no real service.
The travel and hospitality sector is entering a turbulent season, not because people have stopped wanting to travel, but because of the cost of doing so, for both consumers and service providers. Trump is pushing the global economy into a cautious, uncertain mood. European hoteliers are entering a decisive year.
Airbnb has signed a landmark agreement with the Canary Islands government to remove illegal short-term rentals, setting a possible precedent not just for Spain but for the entire European Union.
On the campaign trail, Trump vowed revenge against people and policies in conflict with the MAGA (Make America Great Again) agenda, which has been detailed in Project 2025, a 922-page tome. Trump allegedly hasn't heard anything about it yet and just carries on.
Tourist taxes are no longer the exception; they're quickly becoming the global rule. The United Kingdom is also joining the conversation about the tourist tax. What does that mean for hoteliers – are they becoming "piggy banks" for municipalities?
The global travel and tourism sector is expected to grow strongly by 2025, making a record contribution to the world economy. However, not all countries benefit equally from tourists' desire to travel and spend money.
It is not only in Austria that tourists are to pay a flat rate for all infrastructure costs that are used for leisure activities, thus saving public budgets. More and more countries are demanding or increasing tourist taxes. The tug-of-war over guest cards and other services for tourists is intensifying. And locals grumble.