Tourism Australia May Bring Back Crocodile Dundee and 8 Other Tourism Trends This Week

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.

>>Many cruise passengers sail because it’s a more economical way to visit a destination. Caribbean countries like the Bahamas have known this for years and are getting more ambitious about trying to attract more flights — a perennial problem — and hoteliers that can help do a better job at growing their economies in the long term: The Bahamas Has Too Many Cruise Ships and Not Enough Hotel High Rollers

>>For luxury travelers, an experience in itself is no longer enough. The personal fulfillment and self improvement one gains from an experience are taking precedence, and luxury brands can help travelers reach this goal: Travel Megatrends 2018: Personal Fulfillment Is the New Ultimate Luxury

>>Royal Caribbean Cruises has new ships coming into the crowded Caribbean market this year, so it’s no surprise the company has a positive outlook for the year. But we still wonder how eager cruise passengers will be to sail in the region this hurricane season given the disruption caused by storms in 2017: Royal Caribbean Execs Feel ‘Pretty Good’ About Key Caribbean Market

>>Crocodile Dundee is a nostalgic figure in the U.S., and it appears as though Tourism Australia could be hoping to score with an ad on Super Bowl Sunday. A campaign could get younger and older generations interested in Australia. But would a pricy spot during the Super Bowl be worth it? Tourism Australia May Bring Back Crocodile Dundee, This Time With a Super Bowl Ad

>>Much of the European tourism industry has emerged from the doldrums of 2015 and 2016 stronger than ever, but not without fault lines to keep track of, such as hotels and alternative accommodations. The latter is proving it’s a sector that’s holding its weight against hotels across much of the continent: Sharing Economy Growth Was a Big Part of European Tourism’s Excellent 2017

>>Business travel demand is high, and so too are travel costs. Growing global instability in the political and economic realms, however, could disrupt these trends and drive costs down: Business Class Fares to Europe Will Get Even More Expensive in 2018

>>We’ve released our annual Megatrends that will define travel in the year to come, and Skift experts hit some of the highlights in this podcast episode: Skift Podcast: Megatrends Defining Travel in 2018

>>After a relatively flat 2017, hotels and flights will become more expensive this year. Bargains will be hard to find, particularly when it comes to international travel: Business Travelers Can Expect to See Rising Fares in 2018

>>Things can change very quickly in travel. Geopolitics plays a big part in deciding a destination’s popularity. With Spain undergoing its own problems, and fewer terrorist incidents taking place in North Africa and the Middle East, the tourist spread is starting to rebalance itself: Travel Megatrends 2018: European Travelers Return to Once-Disrupted Destinations