Cape Town’s Water Crisis and 11 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.

>>In less than 100 days, Cape Town may run out of water. While the impact on the city’s crucial tourism industry has been limited thus far, that could soon change: Looming Water Shutoff Threatens Cape Town Tourism

>>The luxury travel market is often a starting point for themes that may, on first glance, seem a little bit out there. But given that some crazes withstand the test of time, it’s worth assessing which ones might have staying power: Wellness Activities Will Have Strong Ties With Luxury Travel in 2018

>>Luxury is in the midst of a metamorphosis. While luxury once meant the most expensive or most well-known product or experience, today it’s become a way of being or moving throughout the world: The Definition of Luxury Is Being Reshaped by Changing Consumer Behavior

>>The wellness concept has enticed the luxury travel industry. Many of today’s high-end travelers want something more than just first-class flights and a fancy hotel — and there are plenty of companies out there happy to service that need: Wellness Programs Help Luxury Travel Connect Mind, Body and Vacations

>>City leaders in government, tourism, and economic development are collaborating more strategically to grow their leisure and business travel sectors in alignment with the interests of their local communities and industries: Travel Megatrends 2018: Cities Navigate the Clash of Visitor and Local Economies

>>It might be true that London isn’t in the same boat as Venice or Prague, but there are plenty of areas finding it difficult to balance the demands of tourists and locals: UK Government Doesn’t Think It Has an Overtourism Problem

>>Extreme weather is the new normal. It’s changing destinations for the worse, and it’s not going to get better any time soon: Travel Megatrends 2018: Extreme Weather Is Creating Travel Upheaval

>>Silvercar remains an interesting outlier in the car rental space. As part of Audi, it will be interesting to see how it grows its operation in the U.S. as self-driving vehicles hit the mainstream: Interview: Silvercar CEO on Evolving With Shifts in Customer Behavior

>>Travel Leaders Group is clearly playing a scale game, and although Barrhead Travel might be an old-fashioned travel business, at least it still makes money: Travel Leaders Group Buys Scottish Retail Chain in Ongoing Merger Spree

>>From what we’ve seen so far, travel brands with Super Bowl teasers are staying away from the culture wars and focusing on sending neutral messages with universal appeal. And while it’s important to draw attention to certain issues, it’s refreshing to watch light-hearted advertisements, too: Universal and Turkish Airlines Are Betting Big on Super Bowl Ads

>>Car rentals, carsharing, and ridesharing will converge going forward as more robust platforms offer a variety of options for business travelers. Carmakers and startups are gearing up for a future that looks distinctly different from the status quo, and corporate travel should start paying attention: Getting Smarter About the Future of Car Rentals

>>If the UK’s economy tanks and people can’t get into the country smoothly, then regardless what tinkering the government or the industry does, tourism is likely to suffer: Brexit Could Potentially Benefit UK Tourism but the Chances Are Slim