January 2026 2026
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www.nitravelnews.com once-in-a-lifetime
Page 34: Robin Nowacki explores the beauty of Sri Lanka
Page 24: Brian
McCalden ‘s off to sunny Spain: Viva Torremolinos...
Page 32-33: Tom Adair finishes his Austrailian adventure with an Irish goodbye...
Page 62: Heidi
McAlpin takes in the sights of England’s historic towns...
opportunity to visit the famous highway. And if that wasn’t enough, America will also play host to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Sharing with its bordered nations Mexico and Canada, USA will invite football fans from all nations to enjoy its culture, warmth and fiery flare from June 11th through to July 19th. 11 of the 16 cities set to host are within the US making it a major player in hosting; all eyes will be on her this Summer! FIFA also looks set to host fan festivals across the hosting cities, ensuring those without tickets can still join in on the fun. According to The Advantage
Travel
Partnership, bookings to the United States for 2026 are up 20 percent largely driven by these major events such as the FIFA World Cup, as well as an increase in immersive experience destinations such as the deep south states. 2026 may officially be the year of the horse,
but it’s definitely set to become the year of the eagle.
The Advantage Travel Partnership also highlighted the sheer dominance we are set to see in terms of cruise travel, with the industry on course to outperform in the off- peak and shoulder seasons. Despite cruise representing only around 3 percent of global leisure travel by passenger numbers, demand is accelerating. ‘With new ships and sustained marketing investment, cruise is undoubtedly one of the standout growth segments for the next 12 months’ says the travel body. With increased demand comes increased service as 2026 will look to welcome multiple new ships to the market including NCL’s Norwegian Luna, Royal Caribbean’s legend of the Seas and Emerald Kaia to name but a few. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Business Development Manager for NI and Ireland,
ABOUT US Publisher
Jonathan Adair
Jonathan@nitravelnews.com Editorial
Sarah Pickering
Sarah@nitravelnews.com Erin English
Erin@nitravelnews.com
Business Development Abbie Stothers
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Christine McCleery
Christine@nitravelnews.com Danielle Anderson
Danielle@nitravelnews.com Nadine Lawrence
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Emma McAllister
Emma@nitravelnews.com Nicole Wilson
Nicole@nitravelnews.com
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NORTHERN Ireland Travel News is delighted to welcome Nadine Lawrence to the team. Nadine’s career within the travel industry commenced in 2017, where she assumed the role of Store Manager in Thomas Cook Larne. From there, Nadine assumed the role of Store Manager for Hays Travel Larne before progressing into the position of a Learning and Development Coach for Hays Travel, specialising in long haul destinations and cruise. Joining the NI Travel News team, Nadine has taken up the role of Multimedia Sales Executive and is looking forward to collaborating and working closely with suppliers and local travel agent partners.
Speaking on her new position within the
NI Travel News team, Nadine highlighted, “NI Travel News has been an important part of my career within the travel industry and I am really excited to be starting my new role and joining this amazing team.” Nadine starts her post immediately and can be contacted directly for advertising and sales
enquiries at nadine@
nitravelnews.com.
NI Travel News Welcomes New Multimedia Sales Executive
Aaron Fletcher is looking forward to 2026 for not only the launch of its newest ship, but its increase in package bundles and offshore experiences. He explains, “Our private island in The Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, already offers our guests an unforgettable day in paradise with its long stretches of white sandy beach, Caribbean vibes, water based activities and much, much more. Well, in 2026 we are making it even better with a huge enhancement.
Early
2026 will see the arrival of a brand new pier making it even easier to access the island. The pier will be joined by a new welcome centre offering tram service throughout the island and a fantastic lagoon style pool area giving adults and families a chance
to relax and
enjoy the Caribbean vibe. Later in the year, we will be introducing a 19 slide water park, complete with Dynamic River and a 4.5m cliff jump. Vibe shore club will give guests the chance to sample the VIP private island life and indulge themselves in paradise.” The spike in enhanced off-shore experiences across all cruise lines has shown the deeper want for its customers to explore which follows the trend over the past 5 years in which travellers are searching for that little bit more. Exploration and enhancement is at the forefront of every travellers journey. Looking ahead in 2026, Advantage Travel Partnership is already tracking ahead of 2025 by 24 percent in bookings so far. As expected, summer holidays are leading the way, with summer bookings up 27 percent and taking a 49 percent share of 2026 travel. While some people are still booking last-
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minute deals, the dominant trend for 2026 appears to be shifting towards ultra-early bookings for increased value for money. Advantage is already seeing bookings for 2026/2027 winter holidays up by 24 percent and currently taking 6 percent of overall bookings.
City of Derry Airport is gearing up for a
busy winter season also with the official launch of its Top Flight programme this month. “January 2026 will see the take-off of Topflight for School’s ski charters to Verona for secondary schools across the Northwest for the third consecutive year.” Said Steven Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport”.
Following
the increasing trend, 2026 bookings for the programme are already
sold out, with 2027 already on sale. He continued,
“The ski programme has proved hugely popular with 2026 completely sold out and the 2027 programme now on sale. Joe Walsh Tours’ pilgrimages to Lourdes and Marian Tours pilgrimages to Medjugorje will also take to the skies in Summer 2026.” These busy schedules mimic the calendar across all airports on this island, with travel increasing beyond records in 2026 after already smashing this in 2025.
Despite the introduction of the vastly prolonged EU entry/exit scheme, tourist tax and new visa rules for many passengers travelling from Northern Ireland, it’s clear to see the hunger for travel hasn’t dampened. In fact, it has grown and continues to grow as we start the new year of adventure. So here’s to a stellar year!
NI Travel News Teams Up with Local Mental Health Charity to Raise Vital Funds 2026
NI Travel News has selected Lighthouse as its charity partner for 2026, marking a year-long collaboration focused on raising funds and awareness for mental health across Northern Ireland. The partnership will unite NITravel News’ reach and creativity with Lighthouse’s frontline support,
education, and
advocacy—sharing a clear message across the travel community: your mental health matters, help is always available, and you are not alone.
“From the moment I stepped into the NITravel News office, the energy and positivity
were palpable,” said Erin,
Partnership Executive at Lighthouse. “The team’s enthusiasm and ideas are inspiring, and I’m excited for the meaningful events we’ll deliver throughout 2026.” Over the year, Lighthouse and NI Travel News will host events and a programme of activity designed to
inform, engage, and support the industry and its audiences. Plans include editorial features and mental health explainers, staff-led fundraising initiatives, awareness campaigns, and events that open up conversations, reduce stigma, and help people find support when they need it most. The goal is to make a tangible, positive impact—boosting both resources and understanding—while ensuring clear pathways to help are visible and accessible.
Lighthouse extends its heartfelt thanks to the NITravel News team for placing their trust in the mission. With a shared commitment to kindness, inclusion, and practical action, we look forward to a year of collaborative initiatives that resonate across the travel sector and beyond. To learn more about Lighthouse, find resources, or get involved, please visit
https://lighthousecharity.com
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