Japan, Syria, ‘Pilgra-merch’… What’s New in Travel This Week? [ABO]


La revue de presse internationale de la semaine - Depositphotos.com Auteur serezniy

PONANT


In the weekly press roundup for the week of October 12, 2026:

SAF: corporate purchases could reach 1.9 million tonnes by 2030

Saudi Arabia: the conflict undermines tourism ambitions

EasyJet trims its winter schedule by 1.4 million seats in response to fuel costs

Hospitality: OTAs strengthen their grip on distribution

“Pilgra-merch” — when memories become a travel motif

Tourism: historic and legendary journeys in vogue in 2027

Syria: hotel groups study projects despite obstacles

Lufthansa Group increases its capacity to Japan for summer 2027

Oddity! In Las Vegas, people get married at Five Guys… with their travel agent!



SAF: corporate purchases could reach 1.9 million tonnes by 2030


Les achats de carburant d’aviation durable (SAF) pourraient atteindre entre 1 et 1,9 million de tonnes par an d’ici 2030, contre 323 000 tonnes en 2024. @depositphotos/tbtb

According to a study by IATA, Airbus and Accenture, corporate purchases of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could reach between 1 and 1.9 million tonnes per year by 2030, up from 323,000 tonnes in 2024.

But the market is held back by prices two to three times higher than traditional kerosene, unclear accounting rules, and complex procurement procedures.

Only 15% of surveyed companies currently purchase SAF certificates. The study calls for clarifying emissions accounting rules, increasing transparency, and simplifying procurement to stimulate demand and accelerate production.

An article to read on traveldailynews.com


Saudi Arabia: the conflict undermines tourism ambitions


Après plusieurs bombardement de l'aéroport de Riyad par des missiles tirés depuis le Yémen, des compagnies aériennes freinent le déploiement de lignes vers le Royaume. @depositphotos/nmessana

Regional tensions weigh on Saudi Arabia’s tourism development. Delta Air Lines postpones to March 2027 the launch of its direct Atlanta–Riyadh route, following several attacks on King Khalid International Airport, including one on October 10 that left at least 12 dead and more than 300 injured according to Saudi authorities.

Virgin Atlantic has already canceled its London–Riyadh service in April, citing the conflict, security risks, and challenges in ensuring a reliable flight schedule.

These events cast doubt on the kingdom’s tourism ambitions.

One piece of information to be found on skift.com


EasyJet trims its winter seat capacity by 1.4 million due to fuel costs


EasyJet supprime entre 600 000 et 700 000 sièges supplémentaires de son programme hivernal. @depositphotos/Boarding2Now

EasyJet cuts between 600,000 and 700,000 additional seats from its winter programme, following a similar reduction earlier in the year.

In total, the airline is trimming capacity by about 1.4 million seats to limit its exposure to rising fuel prices, which have nearly doubled since the start of the conflict with Iran in February.

Ryanair and Wizz Air are also reducing their winter offerings. The airlines warn about the growing burden of regulatory and environmental costs, notably related to the European Union Emissions Trading System and sustainable fuels (SAF).

Read on travelweekly.co.uk


« Pilgra-merch »: when memories become a travel motif


Tourism: historic and legendary trips in vogue in 2027


Selon Skyscanner, en 2027, les voyageurs devraient être davantage attirés par les sites antiques, les itinéraires historiques et les lieux popularisés par le cinéma. @depositphotos/Dudlajzov

According to Skyscanner’s travel trends report for 2027, travellers are expected to be more drawn to ancient sites, historical routes, and places popularized by cinema.

Dubbed “Grand Odysseys,” this trend responds to a quest for meaning and a connection with the past.

Films and series influence destination choices: 30% of Gen Z travelers surveyed have already journeyed in the footsteps of ancient narratives. Hiking routes that link natural landscapes with historical heritage should also benefit from this enthusiasm.

More to discover on euronews.com


Syria: hotel groups study projects despite obstacles


Alors que la Syrie souhaite relancer le tourisme après des années de guerre, plusieurs groupes hôteliers internationaux s’intéressent au pays. @depositphotos/vyskoczilova

Syria is looking to revive its tourism sector after years of conflict. Several international hotel groups, including Eagle Hills, Emaar, Accor and Wyndham, are showing interest in possible projects in the country, notably in Damascus and Latakia.

In the first half of 2026, Syria welcomed 3.52 million visitors, including more than two million Syrian expatriates.

While these figures signal a rebound, they do not confirm a broad return of international tourism. Degraded infrastructure and payment difficulties remain significant impediments to a recovery.

A Reuters article


Lufthansa Group increases its capacity to Japan for the summer of 2027


Lufthansa Group prévoit jusqu’à 50 vols hebdomadaires vers quatre aéroports japonais durant l’été 2027. @depositphotos/mrsiraphol

In response to rising demand, the Lufthansa Group plans up to 50 weekly flights to four Japanese airports during the summer of 2027.

The group will resume its seasonal Frankfurt–Nagoya service on March 29, offering three flights per week, and will add a daily flight between Frankfurt and Tokyo-Narita starting March 28.

SWISS will also strengthen its Zurich–Tokyo-Narita service, with up to seven weekly flights. This expansion comes after a record year for international tourism to Japan in 2025, with 42.7 million foreign visitors.

Source: euronews.com


Quirky! In Las Vegas, you can get married at Five Guys… with your travel agent!


Travelmation s’associe à Five Guys Vegas pour organiser des mariages dans deux restaurants de l’enseigne.@depositphotos/j.hendrickson3

Burger, fries and a bridal bouquet: the travel agency Travelmation teams up with the Five Guys Vegas chain to organize weddings in two of the brand’s restaurants.

From $255, couples will get a ceremony, a meal and two “Just Married” t-shirts.

Travel agents handle the organization and earn a commission. Sometimes all it takes is a good menu to put travel… on the plate!

To be found on travelweekly.com

Amara Nambinga

Amara Nambinga

I write about tourism, culture, and emerging destinations with a Namibian perspective. Through my articles, I try to highlight the places, people, and travel stories that show how Africa and the wider world are changing.