Travel in China

The trade group representing the U.S. airline industry is asking the federal government to pause the expansion of passenger flights to China due to the “existing harmful anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government.”

DerbySoft, a hotel distribution tech company, is expanding into the airline industry through the acquisition of Pkfare. 

The U.S. airline industry is asking the federal government to pause the expansion of passenger flights to China, citing “anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government.”

From crystalline karst lakes in Croatia to soaring sandstone columns in Greece, UNESCO has announced the addition of 18 new sites to its Global Geoparks network. The list of geographical areas with international geological significance now numbers 213 locations across 48 countries.

Brazil has postponed its travel visa requirements for American visitors until 2025 just as it was set to go into effect. 

The U.S., Britain, and other Western destinations are still waiting for Chinese group tours to return to their pre-pandemic levels. Canada, however, has been adapting to the continued absence of Chinese groups. The country has sought other sources of tourism growth, such as through its new fund to attract business events and its plans to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Thailand is looking to boost tourism across Southeast Asia with a new visa scheme.

MGM Resorts CEO and president William Hornbuckle made around $38 million in pay in 2023, more than the CEOs of rival casino resort operators Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands, as detailed in recent SEC filings.

A notable demographic shift, particularly among young upwardly mobile women, is driving the recent travel rebound in China. These travelers are researching and booking trips online, often spontaneously.

Late last year, SAS said it would leave the Star Alliance group of airlines – but it didn’t say exactly when or how. 

William Grant & Sons is a behemoth in the world of scotch. Founded by its namesake patriarch in 1887, the company actually remains in the hands of his descendants to this day. For whisky connoisseurs, the portfolio’s liquids are most commonly associated with high end single malt. Indeed, The Balvenie and especially Glenfiddich helped popularize the style on a global scale.

Spain, one of the Europe’s most popular and successful granters of residency by investment, better known as Golden Visa, has decided to eliminate the program.

It used to be that Bangkok’s weather was defined by three clearly demarcated seasons: the “cool,” the hot, and the wet, but these days locals like to joke that there is only hot, hotter and hottest. While it may be true that the Thai capital runs on a sultry high-flame sizzle most days, there are definitely seasonal differences, as well as compelling reasons to visit year round.

Michelin on Monday awarded 24 French hotels with “Three Keys” – its highest rating in a new hotel rating system that will be rolling out globally this year.   

Indian online travel agency MakeMyTrip made a push Monday to go global: It has extended its services to over 150 countries, including the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, and France.

With more than 300 sunny days per year, daytime temps that rarely dip below 65, and an armada of resorts, Phoenix, Arizona is a great getaway for any group gathering that prioritizes pool time, day drinking, and a few rounds of golf. But the city's appeal goes deeper: The area's natural beauty inspired designers and artists like Frank Lloyd Wright, Maxfield Parrish, and Paolo Soleri. And despite its enormous growth (the metro area topped 5 million last year), the increasingly diverse city still retains a frontier spirit: Newcomers are reinventing everything from its food scene to its art circuit, making Phoenix one of America's best under-the-radar destinations.

The travel industry continued to strengthen in February: The Skift Travel Health Index stood at 107, 7% growth over February 2023.

THIS ARTICLE IS ADAPTED FROM THE MARCH 30, 2024, EDITION OF GASTRO OBSCURA’S FAVORITE THINGS NEWSLETTER. YOU CAN SIGN UP HERE.

Spain boasts Europe’s longest high-speed rail network, second only to China globally, and its trains are exceptional and far-reaching. In one day, you could gawp at Gaudí’s architectural genius in Barcelona, be whisked by rail to Madrid’s museums, and still arrive in Seville for a sunset flamenco show.

Seattle is getting yet another new transpacific route.