Urban Innovation Key to Travel's Future and 13 Other Top Tourism Stories This Week

Travel Megatrends 2020: The Future of Travel Will Be Driven by Urban Living Innovations: Cities have always been incubators for innovation, but with two-thirds of the world’s population expected to live in urban areas by 2050, developments being rolled out today to accommodate that new density will serve the travel industry in positive ways.

Medical Tourism Emerges as a Bright Spot for Flagging Dubai: Dubai has faced a slump in recent years as it struggled amid a global economic slowdown, an oversupplied real estate sector, and slow tourism activity due to regional unrest. But its ability to build a reputation for itself as a medical tourism hub in the Middle East has provided some much-needed support for its travel sector.

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Trump Travel Ban Expands to New Countries: Report: While it’s not official yet, it makes sense that President Trump would expand his travel ban in the lead-up to the 2020 elections. It’s time for the U.S. travel sector to unite in opposition to any new restrictions.

What the Coronavirus Means So Far for the Travel Industry: The travel industry is starting to feel the impact from this latest global health crisis. How it responds to help contain the spread of the virus will set a new precedent while weathering an extensive disruption to its business.

Australia Pours $52 Million Into Tackling Tourism’s ‘Biggest Challenge in Living Memory’: A look at where the money will be spent shows Australia is putting it in all the right places with just one thing in mind: getting tourists back. This is what’s needed as figures are showing massive losses.

Provocative ‘Go Back to Africa’ Travel Campaign Sees Early Success in Ghana: Much of the black travel movement is concerned with destinations that see few black visitors. Now one of the movement’s key companies is focusing on a decidedly black space: the African continent.

The 2020 Innovators in Travel and Hospitality: Winter Edition: Twice a year, this column looks at who is doing it right. Here are some of the most inspiring innovations in design, service, and guest experience in hospitality and travel. Let the debates begin.

‘Skip-Gen’ Vacations Are a New Family Travel Offshoot for Travel Advisors: "Skip-gen” travel involving grandparents and grandchildren is an important market for travel advisors to pay attention to. Not only are grandparents more active these days, many see travel as a rare bonding opportunity with grandchildren.

How Travel Is Saving Japan’s Disappearing Hamlets: Japan’s marginal villages could be living on borrowed time as populations dwindle, but tourism is bringing respite. Here’s how.

Slowdown in Tourism Growth in 2019 Most Pronounced in Europe: Report: Tourism is still growing globally, but the forward outlook is a little more cautious than in previous years of unbounded optimism. Geopolitical and economic challenges aren’t hard to find — and they’re going to affect tourism

‘Skip-Gen’ Travel Takes Off as Grandparents Seek to Bond With Grandkids: More grandparents are viewing traveling with grandkids as a way to get some much-needed bonding time. This skip-gen trend is creating an important market for travel advisors, but there are things to know in order to handle it right.

Tourism’s Healing Ways in Japan Show the Flip Side to the Travel Backlash: Tourism is key to the revival of Japan’s marginal villages, in the process unlocking not only precious living cultures and traditions but people’s sanities.

A Look Ahead at Skift Forum Europe in Madrid: Skift Forum Europe will be our biggest event yet in the region. This year, we are thrilled to bring the event to Madrid, where a diverse set of speakers will share perspectives on why this next decade ahead is imperative for travel to safeguard its financial future, act more responsibly, and respond to shifts in the industry in a more nimble way.

Skift Announces New Asia Editor: Skift is making some changes, building upon our outstanding coverage of Asia. Xinyi Liang-Pholsena will become our new Asia Editor. Please keep an eye out for that byline. You won’t be disappointed.