Skift Take

This week in tourism, we did a feature on Myanmar, specifically how travel companies are divided on how to cope and respond to the military's genocidal policies. Compared to cruise line earnings, it's a pretty dark story, but one that demands our attention.

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.

>>Discrimination has long caused travel anxiety for demographics underserved by the travel industry. Historically, travelers looked to their respective tribes for intel, but the burgeoning friend economy may be reshaping that concept: How the Disenfranchised Navigate the World in a Time of Permanxiety

>>Money talks no matter where you’re from. More of Visit Florida’s partners will need to dish out deeper deals if the state wants to get serious about presenting itself as affordable to Canadians when, in reality, popular attractions like Disney World only get more expensive: Visit Florida Faces Uphill Fight to Woo Back Canadians

>>Travel is the world’s largest industry and should be taking a leadership position about Myanmar to publicly condemn ethnic cleansing, and show the country’s military government that tourism dollars aren’t unconditional if it supports crimes against humanity: Myanmar Genocide Has the Travel Industry Searching for Strategies

>>Many travel brands were sweetening their deals for U.S. travelers last year to encourage them to take advantage of their dollars going further. The deals have remained pretty sweet this year, too, as countries like Canada and the UK are already reporting record U.S. visits: U.S. Travel Abroad Set New Record in 2016 Because of Stronger Dollar

>>Luxury spas need to understand that because many millennials are already incorporating wellness into their everyday routine, they need something from high-end destinations. It might seem trite to highlight avocados but today’s under-35s value food above almost everything else: Pass the Avocado Toast — Updating the Luxury Spa Experience for a New Generation

>>How are today’s best meeting and event planners creating unique experiences and innovative programs? Take our survey and let us know! Meeting and Event Planners: Skift Needs Your Help

>>We are not going to go as far as the part-of-the-problem or part-of-the-solution juxtaposition. But travel companies can decide whether to play it safe or get involved when it comes to atrocities and misguided policies breaking out all around. That’s the debate and the dilemma: Video: Skift CEO Argues the Travel Industry Can’t Disengage From the Turbulence Around It

>>SeaWorld has not been able to turn its attendance slide around, and back-to-back hurricanes didn’t help. But executives hope to address deeper perception issues — the buzz phrase that’s been around for years now — with a new ad campaign: SeaWorld Has a New Ad Campaign to Make People Like It Again

>>After the costliest hurricane season in its history, Royal Caribbean Cruises still saw profits increase and exceeded its own expectations for the quarter. The business appeared to recover quickly, but we are curious to find out if travelers will be willing to book Caribbean cruises during the peak time for storms next year: Royal Caribbean Bookings Bounced Back After Costliest Hurricane Season

>>Could cruise lines actually benefit from stricter regulations on American travel to Cuba? Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio thinks so — and with even more cruises scheduled to the island next year, he’ll find out if he’s right: NCL Boss Predicts New Cuba Rules Are Good for Cruise Lines

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Tags: tourism, Travel Trends, trends roundups

Photo credit: The genocide in Myanmar is a crisis of tremendous proportions. Asian Development Bank / Flickr

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