Bahrain Wins Best Wedding Destination Title at 31st World Travel Awards 2024

Colombia is the leading destination for birdwatching in the world. That’s a fact. With a total of 1,558 species recorded and 12,007 checklists submitted during the Global Big Day, the Country of Beauty outperformed countries such as Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, and India, positioning itself at the top of the global count. Since the inception of Global Big Day in 2015, Colombia has ranked first in the standings since 2017, except for the year 2021. This event is organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which invites people from around the world to observe and record birds for a day. Its goal is to gather important data on the distribution and abundance of birds on its eBird platform, which is crucial for conservation and scientific research.

The Outer Islands of the Seychelles are sandy coral cays with miles of pristine white beaches which form some of the most important nesting sites for Green and Hawksbill Turtles in the Indian Ocean. The Alphonse Group is no exception; Blue Safari Seychelles’ Islands Conservation Society (ICS) has been monitoring the nesting success of both species since the conservation centre opened in 2007 – one of the longest-running databases in the Seychelles. This crucial resource provides an incredible overview of how well these two Critically Endangered species are doing around the islands. When females are encountered in the process of nesting, the conservation team attaches a flipper tag which has a serial number so if that female is seen in the future the nesting frequency and site fidelity can be recorded.

World Spa Awards – the global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in the spa and wellness sector – has opened voting for its landmark 10th annual programme. A wealth of new entries feature this year, reflecting the momentum of the global spa and wellness sector. Voting runs for 12 weeks and closes 13 August. Industry professionals, the media and spa consumers are eligible to vote for the brands they consider the very best in spa and wellness.

The 2024 “Travel Trends” report by the Mastercard Economics Institute reveals significant consumer spending and increases in travel activity, with extended stays and higher passenger traffic noted globally.

The first-ever WALA conference in the Gulf and Middle East regions will bring together 100 delegates from over 25 countries.

Aruba Tourism Authority introduces myAruba Assistant, an AI tool enhancing travel planning, alongside significant sustainability initiatives and developments to improve the visitor experience on the island.

Family vacations are the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones and strengthen family bonds. One study found 40 percent of parents planned to spend more on international travel with their families this year. There is also a growing trend of multiple generations traveling together.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) aims to reimagine the region’s tourism landscape at the third annual Caribbean Travel Forum, taking place Monday, May 20 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Kicking off this year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the annual event brings together leading regional and international thought leaders to discuss tourism business opportunities and strategies for success in the Caribbean, the heart of the global travel industry.

If you're like me and think there's nothing that screams "vacation" more than a stay at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World, then I have some great news.

The Ritz-Carlton, Amman has been announced as the Middle East’s Leading Luxury Hotel 2024 by World Travel Awards – the leading authority that recognizes and rewards excellence in travel and tourism. The announcement coincides with the start of the Arabian Travel Market, the region’s leading industry event.

Under the inspiring theme “Empowering Innovation – Transforming Travel through Entrepreneurship,” Oman is poised to demonstrate its dynamic tourism sector at the Arabian Travel Market Exhibition 2024. Spearheaded by His Excellency Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, the Omani delegation is ready to reveal the latest advancements in travel technology and sustainable tourism practices. This strategic participation marks a pivotal effort by Oman to forge new international partnerships, exchange invaluable knowledge, and prominently feature its burgeoning tourism capabilities on the global platform. With more than 36 companies participating, Oman is set to showcase the unique cultural and natural attractions it offers, especially highlighting the much-anticipated Khareef Dhofar season and various summer promotional activities aimed at attracting global tourists.

The Philippines returns to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 on 6 – 9 May 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Center. As the Middle East’s leading global travel event, ATM is a crucial platform for nations to spotlight their tourism offerings and foster invaluable partnerships within the global travel industry.