SINGAPORE, 10 July 2025: Norwegian Cruise Line has appointed Kiran Smith as Chief Marketing Officer, succeeding Adam Malone, who will transition into the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Guest Experience.
Both will report to NCL President David J Herrera and serve as members of the Brand senior leadership team.
Kiran Smith
With decades of experience elevating public and private companies and bringing them to the next stage of their growth potential, Smith will lead the marketing team in building a unified approach to executing data-driven strategies designed to put the guest at the centre. Insight-driven storytelling will be at the core of strengthening the brand, increasing guest engagement, driving sustained performance and attracting new cruise audiences.
Norwegian Cruise Line has a strong pipeline of ships on order, with seven new builds being added to the fleet through 2036, resulting in an overall 50% increase in capacity growth.
Additionally, last April, the cruise line announced plans to expand the guest experience on its 5.6-acre private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, with a new multi-ship pier; an expansive area for guests to soak up the warm Bahamian sun, complete with an oversized heated pool.
MONTREAL, Canada, July 10, 2025: Airports Council International (ACI) World has released the 2025 Edition of its World Airport Traffic Dataset, confirming the world’s busiest airports in 2024 across three major categories: passenger traffic, air cargo volumes, and aircraft movements.
Built from over 2,800 airports across 185 countries and territories, the dataset provides a comprehensive snapshot of global air transport demand and activity over the past year.
Passenger Traffic Highlights
Global passenger traffic hit a new high in 2024, surpassing 9.4 billion travellers, up 8.4% from 2023 and 2.7% above pre-pandemic levels (2019). The top 20 airports alone processed 1.54 billion passengers, capturing 16% of global traffic.
Among notable shifts
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) climbed 11 positions to rank 10th globally. Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) sustained its comeback, holding 12th place after ranking 57th in 2022. The US contributed six airports to the top 20, dominated mainly by domestic traffic, except for JFK, where international passengers made up 56%.
Cargo traffic highlights
Air cargo rebounded with close to 127 million metric tonnes handled in 2024 — up 9.9% year-over-year and 4.1% over 2019. The top 20 cargo hubs moved 52.2 million tonnes, up 9% from 2023 and 10.8% above pre-pandemic levels.
Key growth drivers
Maritime route volatility, led shippers to seek more reliable and faster alternatives via air.
E-commerce acceleration is driven by consumer demand for faster fulfilment across borders.
Falling jet fuel costs lowered operating expenses and improved air freight competitiveness.
Biggest mover: Dubai International (DXB), jumping from 17th to 11th in the rankings.
Aircraft movement highlights
Aircraft movements topped 100.6 million globally in 2024— an increase of 3.9% year-over-year, reaching 96.8% of 2019 levels.
The top 20 airports saw 11.08 million movements, up 5.4% year-over-year.
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) again showed strong momentum, rising 10 places to become the 8th busiest airport by movements.
ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said: “These rankings reflect the scale of global aviation and the resilience of the industry that continues to grow, despite the complex global environment. In these times of constant change and uncertainty, reliable data like this is necessary to help airports navigate through the increasing headwinds. Our mission is to empower airports with data and intelligence like this report, as well as with the tools, support and advocacy they need to thrive in this dynamic environment.”
SINGAPORE, 10 July 2025: Luxury cruise line Cunard has been named the #2 Best Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure’s prestigious 2025 World’s Best Awards.* (Disney Cruise Line moved up from second place in 2024 to take the top spot this year).
The Cunard cruise brand celebrates 185 years, and this summer, the newly refreshed Queen Elizabeth continues a successful maiden season sailing to Alaska from Seattle. This October, the ship will mark another historic milestone for Cunard — Queen Elizabeth’s first Caribbean season and the brand’s first time homeporting in Miami.
Photo credit: Carnival Corporation. Queen Mary 2, the world’s only ocean liner, continues Cunard’s legacy of iconic ocean travel.
Each year, Travel + Leisure honours the top destinations, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more through its World’s Best Awards, determined by the publication’s readers. The annual survey celebrates the places and companies that consistently exceed travellers’ expectations across key areas such as service, cuisine, destinations, entertainment and onboard ambience.
More information about the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, including the full list of 2025 winners, can be found at: Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2025
HONG KONG, 10 July 2025: Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) has named Nick Downing as General Manager of The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok.
The appointment is the first of a series of key hires the group is making ahead of the riverside retreat’s opening in late 2026.
Nick Downing, General Manager, The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok.
Downing brings more than three decades of luxury hospitality experience from across Southeast Asia, Australia and the Indian Ocean. He most recently served as general manager of The Siam in Bangkok.
His previous leadership roles span both corporate and on-property positions, including posts at Minor Hotel Group, where he managed a cluster of 12 hotels; W Retreat Koh Samui, which he successfully repositioned; and Per Aquum Hotels & Resorts, where he steered key development projects and the seamless opening of the renowned Huvafen Fushi resort.
Downing will report to Sherona Shng, LHG’s Regional Vice President of Operations, Asia.
Located in Bangkok’s Bang Rak District, The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok is being developed by Rabbit Holdings, a subsidiary of BTS Group. The 78-key hotel will occupy a striking site along the Chao Phraya River and incorporate the city’s historic Custom House building, an architectural treasure that is being restored as part of the project.
Signature features at the property will include an outpost of The Langham, Hong Kong’s three-Michelin-star Cantonese restaurant, T’ang Court.
SINGAPORE, 10 July 2025: ACI World has expressed serious concerns regarding the decision by France, Kenya, Barbados, Spain, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Antigua & Barbuda to launch a coalition ahead of COP30, focused on introducing a new tax on air transport.
The proposed tax would focus on premium flyers as a means to fund development, climate mitigation, and public health initiatives.
ACI World cautions that, while well-intentioned, such a tax risks undermining the air transport sector’s critical role in driving economic development, global connectivity, and progress toward sustainability.
“We fully support the global pursuit of sustainable development and climate resilience,” said ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci.
“However, targeting aviation with additional taxes is likely to undermine the very connectivity and economic growth that support these goals. The aviation sector must be empowered — not penalised—if we want to achieve long-term global progress.”
Aviation taxation threatens air connectivity
Taxation on aviation has proven to hinder air connectivity and negatively impact regional economic growth. The economic benefits lost due to these taxes can be twice as large as the revenue governments collect from them. ACI research on the Taxation of International Air Transport and Airports estimates that the removal of the USD90 billion in taxes paid by aviation users would create 5.2 million jobs and USD180 billion in global GDP.
New taxes, such as the one proposed, also risk impacting regions that are particularly dependent on air connectivity for trade, tourism, and broader development.
Moreover, the eight States announced plans to invest “all or parts of the proceeds into resilient investments and fair transitions.” However, there is a significant risk that these funds will be diverted to other uses rather than serving their intended purpose.
New taxes risk undermining net-zero trajectory
The coalition of eight States announced it would work towards a “better contribution of the aviation sector to fair transitions and resilience.” However, the global aviation sector already is following an ambitious, coordinated plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, through the leadership of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), including the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)—the international market-based system specifically designed to address aviation emissions.
Call for fairer global solutions
ACI World joins ICAO, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), and others in cautioning against measures that extract value from aviation without reinvestment in its sustainable future. A globally fragmented approach—such as a tax imposed by a “coalition of the willing” — could distort competition, undermine environmental integrity, and disproportionately impact developing economies that rely on air transport for growth.
SINGAPORE, 10 July 2025: The international travel landscape for Indian passport holders is transforming, driven by the easing of visa policies across Southeast Asia.
This shift is not only breaking down logistical barriers but also encouraging an increase in international travel, particularly to destinations that have recently simplified entry requirements.
Langkawi, an island destination in northern Malaysia, is popular with Indian visitors. Photo credit: Naturally Langkawi.
Data from the digital platform Agoda reveals that Indian travellers are responding enthusiastically to these changes. Comparing accommodation searches made on Agoda between July and December 2024 for check-ins between January and May 2025, against the same timeframe a year earlier, Malaysia, Palau, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka — countries that eased visa requirements — have seen an apparent rise in interest.
Malaysia, which introduced visa-free entry for Indian citizens in 2023, recorded a 47% year-on-year (YoY) increase in accommodation searches. Destinations like Langkawi (+118%), Kuala Lumpur (+28%) and hill station highlands (27%) have seen an increase, indicating renewed enthusiasm for Malaysia’s diverse travel offerings.
Similarly, the Pacific Island nation of Palau, despite being a lesser-known gem, witnessed a 49% increase in interest, alongside its recent announcement of a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian passport holders.
The Philippines, a long-time favourite, has also joined the club of visa-friendly destinations for Indians as of April 2025. Agoda has observed an upward trend in accommodation searches among Indian travellers for the Philippines, contributing to a YoY increase of 26%. The cities of Manila (+43%), Palawan (+30%), and Cebu (+25%) are among the top gainers.
Finally, Sri Lanka has also seen a 9% overall YoY increase following the country’s decision to grant visa-free access to Indian passport holders. Destinations like Mirissa (+31%) and Nuwara Eliya (+16%) suggest Indian tourists are eager to explore beyond familiar favourites such as Colombo and Kandy.
Commenting on the trend, Agoda Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, Gaurav Malik said: “This new era of accessibility is helping travellers discover not just tourist favourites like Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka but also hidden gems like Palau. Agoda remains committed to making travel seamless and affordable, and we’re excited to see where this heightened accessibility takes Indian tourists next.”
DUBAI, UAE, July 2025: Emirates Aviation University (EAU) celebrated its 35th graduation ceremony by honouring 154 bright, savvy and accomplished scholars who are poised to shape the future of global aviation.
Since 1991, EAU has graduated over 26,000 students, the size of a small city or large town, shaping the workforce and the future of not just Emirates, but also the local and global aviation industry.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, and Chancellor of the EAU awarded the graduates with their well-earned certificates. Also in attendance were Emirates Group executives, elated graduates and their equally happy families and friends, and the university’s erudite and experienced faculty.
HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “Emirates Aviation University’s contribution to nation-building, particularly in relation to the country’s key aviation sector, is well recognised. The university has been an important pivot not just for training and education but also for research, development and community engagement within aviation. Our commitment to EAU is unwavering, and we enhance and amplify its capabilities with support from our Group’s senior leadership team and our solid investments in its future. Congratulations to our graduates – they have every reason to feel proud.”
This year’s cohort represented over 25 nationalities and a range of postgraduate and undergraduate degrees and disciplines, including aviation management, aviation safety, air transport management, aerospace and aeronautical engineering.
Reflecting on EAU’s 35th year, Professor Ahmad Al Ali, Vice-Chancellor of Emirates Aviation University, said: “This generation of graduates is stepping into the world of aviation at a pivotal moment of rapid transformation – in the UAE and globally. Their commitment and innovation will not only propel the industry forward but will also help to sustain it long-term as the world navigates the shortage of an expert and experienced workforce. Congratulations to our graduates – their achievements are a testament to our successful academic journey.”
The graduating class of 154 students includes 24 postgraduate and 130 undergraduate students, and some who are Emirates-sponsored. The university honoured 19 exemplary students across all disciplines.
Over 650 undergraduate students received the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to intern with the Emirates Group for more than one semester in the last 4 years. The Emirates Group Internship Programme offers students valuable real-world experience as an integral part of their academic studies. Undergraduate students undertake a one-semester placement, earning up to 15 credit hours toward their degree.
About Emirates Aviation University Since its founding in 1991, EAU, the education arm of the Emirates Group, has established itself as the leading university for aviation studies in the region. The university offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programmes in aeronautical engineering, aviation management, logistics & supply management, AI & data science, aviation safety, and aviation security studies. Over the past three decades, EAU has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its facilities, faculties, learning resources and earning global accreditations, including recognition from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, UK. For more information, visit https://www.eau.ac.ae/en
SEMPORNA, Sabah, 9 July 2025: The proliferation of new hotels, resorts, chalets, and lodges in Semporna and its surrounding islands is a clear sign of growing tourist confidence in Sabah’s east coast as a safe and attractive destination.
Many of these accommodations, some built on stilts over the water, show that more tourists will continue to visit the region, driven by improved security.
Datuk Joniston Bangkuai presents a memento to US ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan, while Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (left) and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai (right) look on.
Among the new developments are Seafest Regency and Pearl Bohey Dulang Resorts, both of which officially opened this year to meet the rising demand for accommodations in Semporna.
Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who joined Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and foreign delegates on a site visit to the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) last week, said Sabah’s tourism sector continues to show healthy growth.
The state recorded 1.44 million visitor arrivals between January and May this year, generating an estimated RM3.3 billion in tourism receipts.
Joniston said the steady increase in visitor arrivals, particularly from international markets, is closely linked to Sabah’s strong security framework, which is diligently maintained by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom).
“The fact that Sabah has reported zero kidnapping-for-ransom incidents over the past several years reflects ESSCom’s commitment to keeping our waters and communities safe.
“This complements the ongoing efforts of the Sabah Tourism Board to promote Sabah as a safe and welcoming destination,” he said.
Joniston was speaking at a dinner held in conjunction with the security site visit, which involved 15 diplomatic representatives and officials from 10 countries, namely the US, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, China, South Korea, and Spain.
Present were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Awang Alik Jeman; Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai; Joint Forces commander Datuk Zahani Zainal Abidin; and ESSCom Commander Datuk Victor Sanjos.
The delegation also visited Pulau Omadal, Pulau Sibuan, Pulau Bohey Dulang, and Pulau Mataking.
“We are seeing the positive results of these close collaborations. Tourists feel safe to explore Sabah, even in the ESSZone, and investors are also confident of continuing to invest here,” said Joniston, who chairs the Sabah Tourism Board.
According to the latest figures from the Sabah Tourism Board, international visitors accounted for 559,150 arrivals, while domestic tourists made up 879,420 arrivals. China (243,688) remains Sabah’s top international market, followed by South Korea (76,685).
Joniston also highlighted a strong increase in tourist arrivals from Europe, which recorded 35,240 visitors from January to May, a 25.6 per cent growth compared to the same period last year.
The top European source markets include the UK and Ireland (13,910 arrivals), Germany (3,854), and France (2,750).
Meanwhile, the United States contributed 9,356 arrivals, while Canada recorded 2,949 arrivals.
Joniston expressed confidence that Sabah’s tourism sector will continue on its positive path, supported by the joint commitment of security agencies, local communities, and tourism industry players.
“We consistently maintain a positive outlook on the growth of tourist arrivals to Sabah. With ESSCom’s strong support and the growing trust of our visitors, we are well-positioned to welcome even more tourists in the coming months,” he said.
SOUTHAMPTON, England, 9 July 2025: Cunard has reported a significant uplift in demand following the launch of its 2027 programme, with a 55% increase in nights booked during the first seven days compared to the equivalent period for the 2026 launch.
Cunard’s latest programme includes 195 new itineraries between April 2027 and January 2028
Photo credit: Cunard. Queen Mary 2.
Both the UK and North American markets contributed significantly to this success, with bookings up almost 50% in the UK and more than 100% in North America.
Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Crossings continue to perform strongly. This iconic route remains one of Cunard’s most popular and continues to attract strong interest from guests around the world.
Summer 2027 programme
Cunard’s latest programme boasts 195 new itineraries across its fleet, visiting 115 destinations in 32 countries between April 2027 and January 2028. The new itineraries include 93 UNESCO World Heritage sites and come with 18 overnight port calls and 33 late-evening departures.
The programme offers more variety and choice than ever before, with three of Cunard’s Queens offering round-trip voyages from the UK for the first time since 2018 — increasing the capacity of Southampton departures by 54% year on year.
SINGAPORE, 9 July 2025: As the travel and tourism sector enters the height of the northern hemisphere summer season, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launches a new report calling for a more balanced approach to managing tourism in popular destinations.
While overcrowding is often viewed as a tourism problem, many of the real pressures stem from deeper issues, such as underinvestment in infrastructure, poor planning, and fragmented decision-making. These challenges affect both residents and visitors and need joined-up solutions.
Travel and tourism support one in every 10 jobs and nearly 10% of global GDP and could reach one in three new jobs over the next decade. When managed well, it also fosters cultural exchange, global understanding, and environmental protection. But without thoughtful planning, the benefits it brings could be at risk.
WTTC’s paper, Managing Destination Overcrowding: A Call to Action, explains that there’s no simple fix to the problem and urges governments, local leaders, and businesses to work together to support both communities and visitors.
Annually, governments around the world collect more than USD3.3 trillion from travel and tourism businesses, equivalent to 9.6% of global tax revenues. The international tourism body urges governments to reinvest this sum in vital infrastructure and solutions to relieve pressures on already very popular destinations.
The report examines some of the root causes of overcrowding in a select number of increasingly popular destinations across Europe. It provides practical solutions that can be tailored to local needs, from using better data and planning tools to involving residents in decisions.
A practical plan of action
The paper outlines six simple steps that destinations can take to manage tourism more effectively.
Get organised – Bring the right stakeholders together via empowered task forces.
Make a plan – Define a shared vision and destination strategy.
Gather the evidence – A lack of data is exacerbating issues in several destinations. It is therefore crucial to conduct evidence-based diagnoses and responses tailored to the unique challenges faced by each destination.
Stay vigilant – Monitor conditions and take action promptly.
Invest wisely – Reinvest in infrastructure and resilience, being transparent about where money is spent.
Empower residents – Ensure residents have a say and understand the benefits of travel and tourism in their communities.
Why it matters
A growing number of destinations have introduced tourism taxes in response to pressure, but WTTC warns that these measures don’t always solve the real problems and can put jobs, income, and services at risk.
The report finds that if 11 major European cities capped visitor numbers, it could result in USD245 billion in lost GDP and nearly 3 million jobs over three years.
WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson said: “Travel & Tourism brings huge benefits, including jobs, investment and deeper cultural understanding. But growth needs to be managed carefully.
“We’re encouraging all decision-makers to think ahead, work together, and focus on long-term benefits for residents and visitors alike. This isn’t about stopping tourism, it’s about making it work for everyone.”
