Bermuda’s Same-Sex Marriage Reversal and 10 Other Tourism Trends This Week

>>By banning same-sex marriage, Bermuda is being the wrong kind of trailblazer, many travelers, companies, and human rights organizations would argue. We’ve seen how much similar discriminatory legislation has stung other destinations and left a bad impression: Bermuda Fears Tourism Hit as Same-Sex Marriage Reversal Draws Lawsuit

>>It seems like the Trump administration is trying to support civil rights sites during a very important milestone year. But the funding for the site grants comes from controversial oil drilling revenues the administration is seeking to grow, and possibly expand to other national park sites: Civil Rights Park Sites Get Funding Boost for Milestone Year

>>We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Our Forums are NOT a freakin’ trade conference. Our second Skift Forum Europe in Berlin promises to be the most targeted and intentional event you’ll attend all year: Skift Forum Europe Year Two: Still Not a Freakin’ Trade Conference

>>China has been full of ups and downs as the cruise industry has grown its presence in the market. Identifying the cause of the downs — and taking steps to manage the factors that can be controlled — should help operators find stability: 3 Big Challenges Cruise Lines Still Have to Overcome in China

>>It took years for overtourism to happen in some destinations and the problem won’t be solved overnight or this year. But to start, destinations could begin paying tourism workers more fairly and give locals more access to programs and services that tourism revenue supposedly helps to fund: Cities Take Baby Steps to Address Overtourism This Summer

>>This transaction makes one of the largest private players in leisure travel, Apple Leisure Group, even bigger and sweetens the potential reward for the almost inevitable private equity sale of its assets: Apple Leisure Group to Merge With Mark Travel in Consolidation of Legacy Players

>>There’s no way around it – Australia is one of the longest flights someone from the United States or Europe can take. But it’s not necessarily the grueling journey many travelers fear, and Tourism Australia is telling them why the flight is worth it: Tourism Australia Deploys Influencers to Overcome Long Flight Stereotype

>>The meetings and events industry is still working to figure out a better approach to security. For the time being, safety should be the priority for planners as they look to stage new events, even if a destination doesn’t seem particularly risky: Event Security Takes on Fresh Importance for Meeting Planners

>>This development might be the worst-kept secret in theme park history. We’re not sure what took Six Flags so long to seal the deal, but we do know the arrangement fits squarely into the operator’s strategic goals — as long as everything goes according to plan: Six Flags Chases Global Growth With Saudi Arabia Theme Park Deal

>>Safety should be a priority for events, whether taking place at a local hotel or a convention center in a gateway city. Unfortunately, event planners don’t always have the resources they need to prepare for complicated security situations: Safety and Security Should Remain in Spotlight for Events

>>Collaboration between IMEX Group and C2 International shows the value, and power, of creativity in the meetings and events space. The more lessons planners from around the world can learn from these educational sessions, the better: IMEX Partnership With C2 Shows Impact of Experiential Networking