Japan’s Art Tourism and 13 Other Tourism Trends This Week

>>Ever since Naoshima, Japan, became home to a number of contemporary art museums, sculptures, and installations, the island’s identity as an “art island” has become intertwined with its history and culture. Naoshima now represents a way for other destinations to think about how tourism, and art tourism specifically, can be used to revitalize communities while preserving tradition and demonstrating respect to heritage: Japan’s Naoshima Island: A Portrait of Possibility for Art Tourism

>>After some confusion on visitor counts over a data glitch at airport kiosks across the country, international arrivals in the United States are on track to break a record in 2018. We’ll see if long-term growth ends up being as robust as the federal government is touting: International Visitors to U.S. This Year Expected to Break Record After Data Glitch Fix

>>Rail travel is a complex beast and something the tourism industry has yet to fully embrace, but things are starting to change: What European Rail Companies Need to Do to Boost Growth From Tourism

>>Tour operators only launch tours that they see demand for, and in Intrepid Travel’s case, there’s no question that vegan travelers appreciate the attention and effort to design food tours that are just as delicious as any other: Vegans Find New Options as Part of Next Wave of Food Tourism

>>Justyna Smith built up a modest Instagram following, and she’s used that, plus word of mouth, to run a four-woman luxury travel agency that’s making money. Many businesses decide to market wherever the customers are; in Smith’s case, the customers came to her and the business followed: Instagrammer Turned Her Following Into a Luxury Travel Advisor Business

>>As they ramp up their outreach to travel advisors, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Virgin Voyages are both presenting themselves as new and different options for luxury clients. They say this means agents will be able to sell cruises to those who don’t normally cruise, but who are intrigued by the brands: Ritz and Virgin Cruise CEOs Think Agents Will Benefit From Brand Clout

>>Will Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Virgin Voyages, two high-end and newbie cruise lines, be able to attract passengers who have never chosen a cruise vacation? The two brands are counting on it: Travel Advisor Innovation Report: Virgin and Ritz Cruise Lines Have Brand Loyalty Hopes

>>Just as a gold digger goes after an older mate with deep pockets, so the luxury market has traditionally kept a focus on the mature top 5 percent. But as the world of wealth evolves, companies need to broaden their horizons to consider the new and younger groups that are becoming eligible for elite status: Why Luxury Companies Need to Pay Attention to the Newly Wealthy

>>High-end travel companies need to find a way of targeting the newly wealthy, or they risk being left behind: Target the New Rich or Be Left Behind

>>Grab’s partnership with Indonesia’s tourism ministry, the first of its kind between a national tourism body and a ridehailing platform, reveals one of the initial ways it is trying to become Southeast Asia’s super app for a plethora of travel services: Grab’s Tie-Up With Indonesia Tourism Gives a Glimpse of Ambitions Beyond Ridehailing

>>Traditional conference cities are still the default choice for events organizers, but rising costs and strained capacity are making secondary cities more appealing. And some are working hard to show their unique benefits: Event Planners Look Outside Major Cities for Savings and Variety

>>Attendees are tired of conferences in the same old locations, and it just so happens that secondary cities are more affordable for planners. Expect to see increased diversity in event location in the years ahead: Why Event Planners Have Warmed to Secondary Cities

>>Simply put, these are best deals we’ve ever offered. Act quickly and you’ll save the big bucks: Limited Time Only: The Best Deals Ever on Skift Forums and Research

>>Brace yourselves, Black Friday is coming. This year we’re giving you a head start on the frenzy by opening a few of our deals early: Sneak Peek: Weekend Deals on Forums and Research