Turkey's Strategy for Tourism: A Big Bet on China's Travelers

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, June 28, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. 

In December 2019, India and China were connected through 539 direct passenger flights. Now there are none.

It's that time of year again, when elite status junkies' thoughts begin turning to re-qualifying for status in their preferred airlines. With Delta Air Lines, it's an even more fraught decision this year, since Delta announced a slew of changes ... not only to the Delta SkyMiles Medallion loyalty program, but also to its cobranded credit card portfolio.

Earlier this year a surge of Chinese visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday signalled a thaw after the pandemic’s chill.  And this influx is now expected to gain momentum throughout the auspicious Year of the Dragon, fuelled by a predicted near-doubling of outbound Chinese trips in 2024.  Oxford Economics forecasts a return to nearly 80% of pre-pandemic levels, heralding a vibrant revival of China-Europe tourism.

According to official reports, last year shared airport transfers exceeded 2 million in top destinations such as Cancun, Riviera Maya, Paris, Orlando, the Balearic Islands, Greek Islands, Miami, and Phuket. Servantrip, the world’s leading B2B tours, activities and transfer platform, announces that this summer the trend will continue to rise, underscoring the growing popularity and demand for shared transfer services among travellers.

In August 2024, on the stunning Göcek coastline, Ahãma will open its doors for the first time. Nestled on the white sand beaches of a secluded bay, cocooned by an 11-hectare protected forest, Ahãma reflects its natural surroundings and the rich Lycian heritage that characterises this area of Türkiye.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, June 20, 2024. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

The UEFA Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Germany has sparked a surge in sports tourism, particularly among Asian travelers, according to data from Trip.com Group.

Saudi Tourism Authority made its debut at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, with an address by CEO Fahd Hamidaddin on the crucial role creativity plays in shaping the conversation around tourism, and the country more broadly. Driven by ambitious goals, Saudi is placing creativity and innovation at the centre of its push to diversify its economy and leverage opportunities on its path of transformation. Tourism is a visible showcase, using creativity to help spark conversation around the dramatic changes on the ground and shatter prejudice. In a 30-minute address attended by leading creatives from around the world, Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of Saudi Tourism Authority stated: “Storytelling is something that Arabia has always cherished, and creativity is the beacon of our future, it’s the beauty of imagination meeting innovation.” Speaking of Saudi’s journey towards 2030, with its focus on creativity – the new energy source, he outlined Saudi’s aim: ”We are experiencing a transformation which takes Saudi from being oil dependent to becoming a fully diversified hyper-growth economy that sits at the centre of the world - economically, socially and creatively as well.” The keynote paid tribute to the Saudi creative forces re-shaping the narrative on a world stage. Pointing to art showcases, the burgeoning entertainment scene - with Saudi entries to both the Oscars and the Festival du Cinema at Cannes - a growing cadre of home-grown and international creatives working together to demonstrate the importance of creativity in furthering the country’s ambitions. Taking the audience on a journey through some key developments in Saudi’s arts and entertainment space, he expressed pride in Saudi’s innovation and creativity: “If you think you know Saudi, think again. Even Saudis don’t recognize it amid the changes and transformations happening every day.”

China’s flag airline Air China and The New Terminal One at JFK have launched a partnership to collaborate on New York’s new global gateway to elevate the travel experience for Chinese customers visiting the United States. The New Terminal One, a dedicated international terminal that is being constructed in partnership with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $19 billion redevelopment of JFK Airport, will partner with Air China with the objective of providing a world-class experience for Chinese customers at the premier global gateway scheduled to open in 2026.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

After being delayed for years, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is expected to come into force this autumn.