• World Sustainable Travel Hospitality Awards 2025 unveiled in Dubai

    World Sustainable Travel Hospitality Awards 2025 unveiled in Dubai

    Travel Biz News —

    Dubai, UAE : The 2nd annual World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards unveiled the 30 winners of this year’s programme. Recipients of the coveted titles reflected the length and breadth of the sustainable tourism sector, ranging from community artisan initiatives to global hospitality giants.

    A special ceremony representing global leaders of sustainable tourism held in Dubai announced the winners including individuals and organisations .

    Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President, World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards said: “We are incredibly proud to celebrate and acknowledge the winners of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025, each with fascinating stories of how they are positively impacting change. The standard has proved exceptional, and serves as a healthy indicator of the momentum, drive and innovation towards creating a net positive travel industry.”

    The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards categories and entry criteria were agreed by an Advisory Board of thought leaders from the travel and tourism industry, academia and government.

    The programme is run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose partners and members represent over 66,000 hotels, 8 million rooms globally, 300 brands, and over 100 supply chain and strategic partners.

    Event Partners included Bioshpere, Tourism Economics, FHS World, TravelUni, Pinwheel, Institute Tourism, BE WTR, Bulla Co., Diageo, MMI, DrinkIQ, La Pochette, Zamna and Newby London.

    World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards is the sister event of World Travel Awards, currently celebrating its 32nd anniversary.

    Winners of World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025

    World’s Leading Sustainable Organisation: ITC Hotels

    World’s Leading Small Sustainable Organisation: ECOFRY

    World’s Leading Sustainable Partnership: Green Ramadan

    World’s Leading Sustainability Leader: Siew Kim Beh, The Ascott

    Wolfgang Neumann Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow Award: Mariana Domingues, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

    World’s Leading Sustainable Employer: ITC Hotels

    World’s Leading Sustainable Destination: City of Dubrovnik

    World’s Leading Small Sustainable Destination: El Albergue Ollantaytambo

    World’s Leading Sustainable Hotel or Resort Development: Peninsula Papagayo

    World’s Leading Indigenous Community Tourism Initiative: Four Seasons Resort & Residences Whistler

    World’s Leading Sustainable Guest Experience: Ecoventura

    World’s Leading Conservation Programme: Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps – Selenkay Conservancy

    World’s Leading Marine & Biodiversity Conservation Programme: Iberostar Group – Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Strategy

    World’s Leading Climate Action Initiative: Accor Supply Chain Decarbonization Program: “Achieving Net Zero Together”

    World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative: Mandarin Oriental

    World’s Leading Sustainable Water & Waste Innovation: Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor

    World’s Leading Sustainable Circular Economy Initiative: SM Hotels and Conventions: “Plate for the Planet”

    World’s Leading Sustainable Health & Well-being Initiative: NEOM Operations – Hospitality Services

    World’s Leading Sustainable Female Empowerment Initiative:  Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board

    World’s Leading Sustainable Community Empowerment Programme: Peninsula Papagayo

    World’s Leading Sustainable Accessibility & Inclusion Initiative: The Ascott

    World’s Leading Sustainable Education & Training Programme: Employability Program in the Hospitality Sector

    World’s Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project: Mandarin Oriental

    World’s Leading Sustainable Supply Chain Programme: Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

    World’s Leading Sustainable Technology Initiative: FortyGuard

    World’s Leading Sustainable Policy Initiative: Mandarin Oriental

    World’s Leading Sustainable Food & Nutrition Initiative: ITC Hotels

    World’s Leading Sustainable Marketing Campaign: ITC Hotels

    World’s Leading Sustainable City: Dubai

    World’s Leading Sustainable Venue: Terra, Expo City Dubai

    30 October 2025

    Photo : WSTHA

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      Bangkok named Asia’s best

      holiday destination for 2025

      Bangkok has been ranked as the best city to visit in Asia for 2025 by Smart Travel Asia, a leading digital travel magazine, based on the opinions of hundreds of thousands of travellers and readers worldwide.

      The city received the highest votes in the “Best Holiday Destination in Asia” category, retaining its top position for the second consecutive year.

      Smart Travel Asia highlighted Bangkok’s strengths as its 24-hour vibrancy and diverse experiences, including food, culture, shopping, and the friendliness of its people, describing it as a “city full of energy and colour, day and night.”

      The city’s dominance stems from several compelling factors. Bangkok has emerged as a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering everything from legendary street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants and panoramic 360-degree rooftop bars. Its cultural and heritage sites, including the iconic Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho temples, remain major attractions to international tourists.

      Additionally, from luxury malls in the city centre to the Chatuchak weekend market, Bangkok caters to every type of shopper. Affordability and friendliness also play a key role, as Bangkok remains an accessible living cost destination where welcoming smiles continue to charm travellers.

      In the Smart Travel Asia 2025 rankings, Bali (Indonesia) and Tokyo (Japan) shared second place behind Bangkok, while Seoul (the Republic of Korea) and Luang Prabang (Laos) tied for fourth. Thailand further strengthened its tourism appeal with Chiang Mai placing third and Phuket sharing fifth place with Hong Kong (China).

      Having the three cities, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, in the top 10 highlights the diversity and appeal of Thailand’s tourism offerings for travellers worldwide. — VNA/VNS ( Oct.12, 2025)

      India resumes tourist visa for

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      India announced  that it will open tourist visa applications to Chinese citizens from July 24, 2025. It was the first time in five years since the South Asian country suspended Chinese citizens’ tourist visa applications in February 2020.

      The Embassy of India in China announced via its Sina Weibo account  that, starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to three Indian visa application centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong Province.

      Responding to the related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said  that “we take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.”

      Chinese experts said the latest move taken by the India marks a phased milestone in the easing of relations between the two countries, and creates favorable conditions for further strengthening bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

      On February 2, 2020, India temporarily suspended its e-visa facility for Chinese travelers and foreigners residing in China amid coronavirus outbreak. – Global Times

      Gulf Cooperation Council Tourism 

      Dubai – As tourism destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to grow, involving local communities in destination development has become increasingly vital for long-term success.

      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

      At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.

      During the session on “Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation” on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.

      Arabian Travel Market 2025, held under the theme “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity”,  featured more than 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

      Messe Berlin India launched 

      to drive growth of ITB India 

      Messe Berlin announces the official launch of Messe Berlin India, a newly incorporated subsidiary that underscores the company’s long-term commitment to one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets. Headquartered in Delhi , the new entity will serve as a strategic base for expanding ITB India and launching future projects tailored to the Indian market. With this establishment, Messe Berlin is reinforcing its vision of India as a regional hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth within the exhibition and events industry.

      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

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      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
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      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
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      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
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