Category Tourism, Organisations & Operators

iQIYI, China’s leading online entertainment platform, announced plans to develop iQIYI LAND in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei province. Set within the Hanyangzao Cultural and Creative Industry Park, the park is the company’s first project integrated into an urban renewal initiative, which positions iQIYI LAND as a new cultural and tourism landmark for the city, combining homegrown IP with technology-driven immersive experiences.

The global multi-day tour sector is entering a new era defined by a widening gap between growth-focused operators investing in technology and a large cohort of small, manual, or lifestyle businesses, according to The State of Multi-Day Tours, 2nd Edition, a new research report from Arival, conducted in partnership with TourRadar, kimkim and Lemax.

The study, based on a survey of 569 operators and nearly 50 executive interviews, shows that while 70% of operators have growth ambitions, roughly one in three are either in maintenance mode or operate with a lifestyle mindset, prioritizing stability and experience quality over scale.  This divide is shaping everything from tech adoption to distribution strategy and profitability.

The release of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) 2025 Annual Report marks a defining moment in the emirate’s strategic evolution as a global destination. The figures tell a compelling story—not just of growth, but of maturation across both tourism and cultural sectors, reflecting a deliberate shift toward sustainable, high-value development.

The Global Resilience Network (GRN) has announced the launch of its flagship Future-Proofing Series executive mission to China, securing unprecedented direct access to Alibaba’s headquarters and core digital ecosystem, with an invitation-only executive AI immersion programme for senior travel leaders.
The programme marks the first time Alibaba has opened its headquarters and senior leadership to an international travel delegation in this format, offering direct insight into its integrated platforms across AI, payments, commerce and logistics; technologies increasingly shaping global digital, financial and consumer systems.

Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the region’s leading waterpark, has officially unveiled its newest expansion today, introducing an unmissable collection of 11 new slides and attractions that take aquatic adventure to new heights.
Building on the park’s immersive ‘Lost City’ theming – an extension of The Legend of The Lost Pearl – the new additions invite guests to dive into a world of discovery, where high-energy thrills and family-friendly experiences come together in a dynamic offering. The expansion introduces eight new slides, two jumping platforms and a lounging pool.
Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi is a highly decorated attraction, most recently winning Middle East’s Leading Water Park 2025 at the World Travel Awards, its eighth consecutive year holding this regional title (2018–2025).

Hong Kong SAR, China can re-establish itself as a go-to destination for international travellers by investing in key source markets, new World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) research reveals.

The WTTC report ‘Travel & Tourism in Hong Kong SAR, China: Recovery, Gaps, and the Road Ahead’ recommends that the city expand its reach into higher-yield segments and new geographies, specifically targeting mainland cities beyond Guangdong, as well as fast-growing markets in ASEAN, the Middle East, and India.
Hong Kong dominated several categories at the World Travel Awards 2025, securing major global and regional titles. The city’s aviation and hospitality sectors were particularly successful, with Hong Kong International Airport winning the prestigious World’s Leading Airport for Customer Experience.

Travel commerce platform BYRDLI launched its first international destination partnership outside of the United States, Hong Kong: A City of Moments.

With the launch, BYRDLI brought one of Asia’s most dynamic cities to life through the lens of Australian creator, and platform superuser Lola Hubner.

The campaign marks BYRDLI’s first destination partnership in Asia – a milestone moment for the globally operating Australian founded platform as it continues expanding its network of creator-led Travel Clubs and tourism partnerships worldwide.

There was a time when luxury hospitality competed on amenities. Today, the most meaningful measure of a destination is what lies beyond the hotel itself: the places it opens, the stories it reveals, and the experiences it makes possible. On Mykonos Island, the Myconian Collection has quietly built its reputation on precisely this idea.
Across its family-owned portfolio of hotels overlooking the Aegean, the group has developed a collection of experiences designed to connect guests with the island in ways that feel immersive and personal. Rooted in local knowledge and long-standing relationships, the concierge teams shape each itinerary around what different travellers actually seek, whether that is life by the sea, cultural depth, local flavour, or a more adventurous pace, revealing Mykonos as it is lived, not just visited.

In a time when travellers are seeking more purposeful ways to explore the world, andBeyond offers a compelling proposition: that luxury travel, when designed with intention, can move beyond preservation, becoming a force for regeneration.

New “Kaiserblüte” star-shaped hiking tour · Wilder Kaiser

A standout addition for summer 2026, the Kaiserblüte star-shaped hiking tour offers six stages covering 76km and 5,050m of ascent through the spectacular Wilder Kaiser region. Designed for hikers with some mountain experience and a good level of fitness, follow easy-to-moderately challenging paths through the mountains and valleys. With comfortable hotel stays in the valley and no need to carry luggage, the free mobility services, of hiking buses and the Kaiserjet buses make this hike accessible. www.wilderkaiser.info/en/kaiserbluete-the-star-hike-on-the-wilder-kaiser.html