News & Stories
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.
The Alpine tourism industry is generally satisfied with the winter season. Among the Alpine countries, Switzerland was able to (re)gain ground, while Austria had to cope with a larger decline.
No more dolce vita - in the Italian fashion metropolis, smoking outdoors is now only permitted at a distance of ten metres from others. Other cities want to follow suit. The Milanese have so far interpreted the ban with Italian composure.
Sufficient snow and tourists from abroad brought Switzerland a slight increase in overnight stays in winter 2024/2025, with a strikingly high number of guests coming from the USA.
In many places around the world, there are mammoth green projects that are almost turning visions into nightmares. The Saudi city of Neom is apparently running out of money, the Green Wall in the Sahara has withered away and South Korea's Smart City Songdo is stagnating, as is a model socialist city in China.
It's official. Effective April 2, 2025, passport holders from over 30 European countries will have to apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. This change is the latest stage in the Kingdom's shift towards a digital border control system.
2024 was a record year for many airlines. However, air travel is increasingly being criticised for its poor environmental footprint. The CO2 offsetting business has become a large and very opaque market. Every country can now decide for itself what it does. The original idea has been watered down.
The third season of the satirical series "The White Lotus" started in February. Thailand is expecting a tourist boom thanks to "Set-Jetter". But what does that do to small islands like Koh Samui?