Travel's Reopening and Coronavirus Recovery

The latest news about coronavirus recovery around the world and the reopening of travel and tourism in destinations around the world.

Skift Research subscribers can view the latest data about country-by-country recovery at the Skift Recovery Index. Data about public companies can be viewed at the Skift Health Score.

Cruises

Carnival Says Inflation, Fuel Costs Could Hurt Recovery Momentum

Carnival survived the pandemic long enough to enter the booming travel surge. The cruise operator now has to sail through a new storm — historic inflation and surging costs.

Ananya Mariam Rajesh, Reuters | 10 hours ago

Overtourism

Barcelona Looks for Balance When Welcoming Post-Covid Tourism

Barcelona is trying to avoid limiting the growth of its tourism industry, yet again, balancing an economic reboot and residents’ needs. Failure might turn it into fresh territory for moving ahead with stricter policies as it looks to put its overtourism past behind it.

Paula Krizanovic, Skift | 17 hours ago

Startups

A Big Bet on ‘Mystery Vacations’: Travel Startup Funding This Week

A London startup is betting that travelers will take mystery vacations, learning their destinations at the airport. A Czech travel agency raises $100 million for expansion. And other venture capital and funding news this week.

Tim Mullaney | 22 hours ago

Airlines

U.S. Airlines Shouldn’t Enter the Blame Game Fray Over Travel’s Summer of Chaos

This is going to be a tough summer for U.S. airlines. They are scheduling more flights than the system can handle as passengers show a near insatiable appetite for tickets. The last thing they need to be doing is joining the pass-the-buck club between airports and governments.

Brian Sumers | 2 days ago

Airlines

London’s Heathrow Ups 2022 Passenger Forecast Amid Airport Chaos

The revised passenger forecast reflects that Heathrow has benefited from a resurgence in travel. Now, if only the airport could get its act together to avoid long queues and chaotic luggage piles.

Yadarisa Shabong, Reuters | 2 days ago

Tourism

U.S. Visitors Driving Southeast Asia’s Recovery So Far

Yes, travel is back but with China and Japan largely out of the Southeast Asian inbound equation, the recovery will be bumpy and lagging in many ways.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 2 days ago

Startups

The Problems in Mondee’s Plan to Go Public

The air travel aggregator is likely to get a $1 billion valuation in a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. But its disclosures are thin, and paint something less than a picture of certain success.

Tim Mullaney | 2 days ago

Tourism

Faroe Islands Emerges From Pandemic Still Immune to Obscurity

Faroe Islands' creative marketing campaigns continue to pay dividends, but greater publicity around animal cruelty may eat at away at them.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 days ago

Online Travel

Trip.com CEO Hopes Asia Aviation Hubs Recover Quickly After Middle East Carriers Grab Share

In spite of all the optimism and the latent travel demand, it’s still too early to project when China will be coming out of this Covid slump or if Hong Kong will ever get back to being a global aviation hub. The wait is only getting longer.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 3 days ago

Tourism

Daily Podcast: Post-Pandemic Puerto Rican Promise

Good morning from Skift. It's Tuesday, June 21 in New York City. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Tom Lowry | 4 days ago