Jul 24, 2024 • 9 min read
26.07.2024 - 13:49 / skift.com / Rashaad Jorden / Peden Doma Bhutia
Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, July 26, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
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The Henley Passport Index has just released its rankings for the most powerful passports of 2024, and Singapore took the top spot, writes Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia.
A Singaporean passport provides visa-free access to 195 countries. Japan and South Korea occupy the second and third spots in the index while the U.S. is in eighth place. The Henley Passport Index measures the strength of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a visa.
Japan had occupied the top position in last year’s Henley Passport Index.
Next, Southwest Airlines saw its profits drop significantly during the second quarter as it announced it’s making major changes to boost its bottom line, writes Meghna Maharishi.
Although Southwest posted record revenue, its net income dropped roughly 46%. As a part of its strategy to increase profits, Southwest announced on Thursday it would roll out premium seating and do away with its open boarding process.
Maharishi notes those are significant changes considering Southwest has long been known for all-economy cabins and open seating. Elliott Investment Management, a hedge fund that has built a big stake in Southwest, called for the carrier to change its business model.
Finally, Barcelona is changing its tourism slogan as part of its strategy to attract tourists interested in the city’s culture and history, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.
Barcelona’s tourism board is replacing its 15-year-old ‘Visit Barcelona’ with ‘This is Barcelona.’ Mateu Hernández, general director of Turisme de Barcelona, said the change represented a shift from the city’s efforts to promote mass tourism. The new campaign launches on August 22, the first day of the America’s Cup sailing in the city.
Barcelona’s new strategy comes in the wake of recent large-scale protests against mass tourism. Roughly 3,000 people took to the streets earlier this month to call for a ban on short-term rentals and an end to tourism promotion, among other demands.
Jul 24, 2024 • 9 min read
In a shift in global mobility rankings, Singapore has claimed the top spot in the 2024 Henley Passport Index released on Wednesday, granting its citizens visa-free access to 195 countries.
A TikToker has racked up nearly a million views in a recent video that explained how Europe is becoming a hotbed for American tourists.
Sandals Resorts International invites travelers to feel the vibrant rhythms and stunning ombre blues of the Caribbean Sea with incredible savings across eleven (11) Sandals Resorts and three (3) Beaches Resorts with the “Rhythm and Blues” sale. The limited-time offer rewards guests who want to bask in paradise just a little longer with up to $1,000 in air credit to be enjoyed this summer and through mid 2025 at select resorts. As an added benefit, for a limited time, booking online at sandals.com or beaches.com earns guests an additional $100 off their stay.
Japan is bracing for a tourism boom like never before. With a record 35 million foreign visitors expected this year and tourism spending projected to hit an unprecedented JPY 8 trillion ($51 billion), the country is seeing a surge driven by a weak yen.
Since I moved to Washington, I've been trying to explore my area more. Recently, I took two ferries to Bainbridge Island, a popular spot for daytrippers.
When settling on a place to live, cost of living is certainly a factor. But so is the recreation opportunities.
Elfly Group partners with Gotland government to launch zero-emission electric seaplane flights by 2027, enhancing eco travel and regional connectivity.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is aiming to increase tourism revenue in the country by 7.5% next year.
SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor Marine Life Theme Park, is offering thrill seekers an electrifying experience this summer. The first-ever Electric Ocean Festival is taking place daily from 6:00pm to 8:00pm until August 25.
We’re getting ever closer to 6 October - the day when the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to come into force for travellers.
South Korea has announced the K-pop girl group NewJeans as its tourism ambassador.