Skift Take

This week's tourism news highlighted Asia. More Chinese travelers are ditching group tours, prices on China cruises are going down, and Disney is making money off its asset-light Tokyo park.

Throughout the week we post dozens of original stories, connecting the dots across the travel industry, and every weekend we sum it all up. This weekend roundup examines tourism.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>A plan to invest in U.S. infrastructure was supposed to be a slam dunk for the Trump administration. Yet even with an experienced political operator such as the Secretary of Transportation, it’s now unclear whether any robust plan will ever come to fruition: Trump Plan to Improve U.S. Infrastructure Is Going Nowhere for Now

>>An international dispute that forced itinerary changes for China-based cruises threw operators for a loop, but demand seems fundamentally intact. If tensions ease and South Korea reopens, will pricing return to high levels or have lower fares become the new normal? China Cruises Are Packed at Lower Prices Amid Tensions With South Korea

>>Even with the drop in value of the pound making it much more attractive to travel to the UK, business travel seems to be suffering. This could be because of the perceived fragility of the country both economically and politically: UK Business Travel Is in a Post-Brexit Slump

>>Should luxury companies introduce lower-priced offerings, or do they risk diluting their brand and/or cannibalizing business from the main brand? We look at how several high-end travel companies are approaching the challenge: Luxury Companies Create Gateway Products for Tighter Budgets

>>Whether we’re selling hotel rooms or stilettos, the luxury marketplace is riddled with similar challenges and opportunities suggesting greater collaboration could be useful to brands in both industries in their pursuit of becoming lifestyle brands for affluent consumers: What Travel Can Learn From Michael Kors’ Acquisition Strategy

>>The rapidly evolving conference and events sector is facing increasing competition. While competition brings better technology solutions, organizers need to maintain value in their conferences to remain viable in the long-term: New Skift Research Report: The State of Conferences and Events 2017

>>A new Virtuoso survey focusing on coveted luxury destinations for fall and the holidays doesn’t cover new territory, but some trends are revealed by reading between the lines: Why Virtuoso’s New Must-Go Destinations Feel Similar

>>We’ll provide the venue, you bring the fun. Today, we are pleased to announce our Skift Global Forum Pre-Evening Opening Event venue: Skift Global Forum Opening Event Venue Revealed

>>It’s not that the travel industry doesn’t understand that overtourism is a problem. It’s an issue that at times might conflict with their bottom lines, and there is a lack of thoughtful and effective plans on how to deal with it: Interview: WTTC’s New CEO Knows Overtourism Will Top Her Agenda

>>If you want to engage Generation Z, ditch the paper, be authentic, and keep those presentations moving: Gen Z Won’t Tolerate Boring Meetings That Aren’t Interactive

>>While this week’s Meetings Innovation Report takes a closer look at how to craft meetings for younger participants, from Generation Z to millennials, the truth is that all of these strategies make for more engaging, entertaining, and meaningful events: Appealing to Gen Z and Everyone Else — Meetings Innovation Report

>>Cruises have always been complicated to book, so we’re curious if customers will appreciate Costa’s new approach: Costa Cruises Takes a Cue From Airlines With New Branded Fares

>>Is the decline in business travel to and from the UK so far this year just a blip or a post-Brexit trend? The uncertainty that still remains around Britain’s departure from the EU isn’t giving companies confidence, and that’s bad for business travel: Brexit Takes a Bite out of Business Travel — Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report

>>We’re still many years away from seeing a tipping point when more Chinese travel independently than with tour groups. But this data should be a wake-up call to destinations and travel brands that a shift is already happening in some places and for some segments of the market: 5 Charts Showing the Rise of Independent Chinese Travelers

>>Keep an eye on our Gateway series for more news and insight from our correspondents in Africa, Asia, and Latin America: Top News Stories Localizing the Global Travel Industry From the Skift Gateway Series

>>While much is written about the U.S. and Shanghai parks, Disney’s partnership in Japan contributes high margin licensing fees and promotes the Disney brand: Disney Doesn’t Own Its Tokyo Parks But Still Finds Them Lucrative

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Tags: tourism, Travel Trends, trends roundups

Photo credit: More Chinese tourists are trading group tours for independent travel. A group of Chinese tourists takes a selfie next to the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok, Thailand October 3, 2016. Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters

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