On a three-day hike in Romania, a writer sidesteps the usual Bram Stoker draws and instead discovers medieval villages, ancient forests and rich living history.

Crossing the border is never about passing a checkpoint; it marks the true beginning of discovering Thailand. Recognizing this potential, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) introduced the ‘Gateway to Thailand’ travel guide, inviting overland travelers to journey far beyond the entry gates along ten curated road trips connecting vibrant cities, iconic attractions, and local communities across the nation.

LGBT+ tourism is becoming increasingly important to the global economy, but challenges related to safety and welcoming environments continue to directly influence travel decisions among this audience. Valued at US 311 billionin 2024, the marketis projected to reach US5 21 billion by 2031, according to data from Grand View Research compiled in the special PANROTAS LGBTravel 2026 edition. In Brazil, a survey presented in September during the 10th International Diversity Conference, organized by the Brazilian LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, helps shed light on these travel behaviors.

Located in Yanchi County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China, the Haba Lake Ecotourism Area lies on the southern edge of the Mu Us Desert, where sandy landscapes meet forests, lakes and grasslands.

Tis the season to be jolly, and throughout the USA, cities large and small are hauling out the holly and decking their halls as they prepare to celebrate the holiday season. From the 100th anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to countless twinkling holiday light shows to New Year’s Eve drops unlike any you’ve seen before, you’ll find a variety of ways to ring in Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s.

Autumn is one of the most beautiful times to explore Nikko, where colourful foliage transforms the mountains, lakes and historic sites north of Tokyo. With autumn colours gradually spreading from the higher elevations of Oku-Nikko to the city centre, visitors can enjoy seasonal scenery over several weeks. Combining spectacular natural landscapes with UNESCO World Heritage sites and convenient rail connections from Tokyo, Nikko is an appealing addition to an autumn itinerary in Japan.

Booming over-65 spending is fuelling this and the trend mirrors wider consumer spending patterns. Economic analysis from Barclays Insights in 2026 reveals that travel spending by the over-65 demographic grew by 6.8%, outperforming all other age groups. This generation is heavily financing large-scale family holidays and are Britain’s fastest-growing travel spenders.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the most influential private-sector organisation within the Travel & Tourism industry, today revealed that 50 new members have joined the organisation so far in 2026. The new members span the full breadth of the sector and beyond, including mobility, hospitality, travel retail, investment and insurance. Among them are Corinthia Group, Club Med, Investindustrial, Allianz Partners and Pernod Ricard, alongside eight returning members, including Uber, Barceló Hotel Group, Meliá Hotels International and Avolta.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) highlighted Spain’s continued tourism leadership during the VI Turespaña Convention, where WTTC President & CEO, Gloria Guevara, addressed tourism leaders from across the country on the opportunities and priorities shaping the future of Travel & Tourism. According to WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research, Spain’s Travel & Tourism sector is expected to contribute more than €269BN to the national economy in 2026, representing growth of 4.1%. The forecast has been revised upwards from WTTC’s previous projection of 3.7% and exceeds projected growth for Spain’s overall economy (2.7%), as well as Travel & Tourism growth across Europe (3.1%) and globally (2.5%).

Hotel points programmes can be just as rewarding as airline frequent flyer programmes. The post The Brief: A Beginner’s Guide to Hotel Loyalty Programmes appeared first on Business Traveller.