10 | UPDATES
Middle East War Helps Spain Welcome 96.8 Million Visitors
NEW research has confirmed Spain as Europe’s strongest travel market, with 96.8 million visitors and 7% revenue growth in 2025.
Spain welcomed 96.8 million international visitors in 2025, a 3.2 percent increase over 2024. Whilst tourism revenue rose 7 percent, this reinforced Spain’s position as the world leader in tourism expenditure received.
The report notes that Spain has been the strongest performing market among all European countries included within the Phocuswright research.
Growth is said to have been driven by stable post-pandemic demand and a shift toward destinations perceived as safe alternatives amid the war in Iran. As the report states,
“International travellers
who might have otherwise visited Middle Eastern or Asia Pacific destinations are increasingly redirecting to European markets perceived as safe alternatives.” Hotels reached record gross booking levels in 2025, supported by higher ADR and longer stays. Online channels continue to expand, with leisure and unmanaged online bookings reaching €23.9 billion in 2025.
Air travel remains a strategic strength following Turkish Airlines’
investment
in Air Europe and its enhancing of connectivity with Latin America and APAC. “Spain is the strongest-performing travel market in Europe right now, and the data backs that up – 96.8 million visitors, 7% revenue growth, record hotel bookings,” said Pete Comeau, Managing Director at Phocuswright.
H10 Hotels Launch New App for Guests
WITH the aim of adapting its services to the demands of the digital environment and continuing to enhance guest satisfaction, H10 Hotels has announced the official launch of its new mobile app.
This revamped digital tool will aim to transform the way guests interact with the group’s properties, hoping to deliver an improved customer experience by providing direct and easy access to hotel services. Users can search, book and manage every aspect of their trip across all the company’s hotels and destinations from a single profile, hoping to save time and enhance the overall user experience. Guests can complete online check – in prior to arrival. Through the app, guests can also book restaurant tables, request wellness treatments at the Despacio Spa Centre, reserve parking spaces or extend their stay by requesting late check – out . The Room Service module also allows users to view the hotel’s dining menu and place orders directly to their room without the need for phone calls.
The app fully integrates the new members’ private area.
Universal UK Resort Officially Named as Government Announce £1.3 Billion Investment
UNIVERSAL’S first resort in the UK and Europe has officially been named, as the UK Government pledges an investment of £1.3 billion to support the project. Expected to open in 2031, entertainment
based in Bedfordshire and has been named ‘Universal United Kingdom Resort.’ Comcast NBCUniversal has committed to invest over £5 billon in the entertainment resort complex during the expected 5 years of construction, marking one of the largest ever investments in the UK tourism sector. Set to feature a world-class theme park and resort, the project will be developed by the company’s Universal Destinations & Experiences segment and is the brand’s first major destination in the UK and Europe. Universal United Kingdom Resort will also feature a 500-room hotel, alongside retail, dining and entertainment facilities. Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, detailed that the announcement “marks a significant milestone on our journey to bring Universal United Kingdom Resort, featuring immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and unparalleled creativity and innovation to the UK. This new theme
resort complex will
the be
park and resort will create so many new opportunities for the people of Bedford and beyond and allow us to share our distinct experiences with guests from around the world.”
Comcast NBCUniversal’s investment is expected to bring nearly 20,000 jobs during construction and a further 8,000 jobs when the resort opens in 2031. Approximately 80% of employees at the theme park and resort are expected to come from Bedfordshire and the surrounding regions. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said, “This landmark investment in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors. Our own investment in transport and infrastructure means that local people will benefit — improving connectivity,
industries, and bringing millions of visitors to the UK from across the world.” The theme park and resort is expected
to attract millions of visitors each year including more than a million additional overseas visitors.
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Bombardier and ELIE SAAB Unveil Haute Couture Bespoke Global 8000 Aircraft
BOMBARDIER and ELIE SAAB are proud to unveil a bold new chapter in business aviation: a bespoke cabin design for the Global 8000 aircraft that redefines the onboard experience through the lens of haute couture. First-of-its-kind collaboration brings together Bombardier’s industry-leading engineering and performance with ELIE SAAB’s timeless design expertise, elevating the world’s fastest business jet’s cabin into a refined living environment. This collaboration reflects a natural alignment between two globally renowned brands, united by a shared commitment
to serving a discerning global clientele with uncompromising standards of quality, precision, and sophistication. Éric Martel, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier, said:
“When we began discussions with ELIE SAAB, the Global 8000 was already well on the path to becoming a certified, operational aircraft.
This
allowed us to go beyond concepts and rethink the cabin as a true living space, while fully respecting the performance and operational realities of the aircraft,” “This
collaboration pushes the boundaries of business
www.nitravelnews.com
July/August 2026
aviation and reflects our relentless focus on elevating the customer experience.” Elie Saab Jr., CEO of ELIE SAAB, said: “With Bombardier,
we approached
this collaboration with an haute couture mindset, elevating every material and detail into a carefully curated expression of luxury, precision and design excellence. “This project also reflects our desire to accompany our clients in their daily lives wherever they are, extending the ELIE SAAB universe into every moment of their journey. It is truly a new approach to private aviation, where travel becomes a seamless continuation of refined living.”
FIFA World Cup 2026 Sets New Benchmark for Trusted, Seamless Travel Across Borders
HEADLINE
AS the FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) presents its latest research, “FIFA World Cup Border Management & Visa Facilitation: 20 Years of Evolution (2006–2026).” The research highlights how this historic tournament marks a turning point in global border management and brings together two decades of innovation to deliver one of the most seamless and secure travel experiences ever achieved.
The 2026 edition is the largest FIFA
World Cup in history, expanding to 48 teams, and the first to be hosted by three nations simultaneously. In the United States alone, more than 5.9 million Electronic System for Travel Authorisation
(ESTA) applications
were submitted in the lead-up to the tournament.
Initiatives such as FIFA PASS, which prioritises visa appointments for ticket holders, and COMPASS, an AI-powered digital assistant, have helped travellers navigate entry requirements more efficiently while supporting border authorities in managing demand. In Mexico, citizens of more than 65 countries are able to enter visa-free for stays of up to 180 days. Also, travellers holding valid visas or residency for the United States, Canada, Japan, the UK or the Schengen Area have been exempt from Mexican tourism visa requirements, enabling many international fans to travel between host countries without additional paperwork. In Canada,
travellers have been
required to obtain either a Visitor Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) prior to arrival, with applicants encouraged to reference “FIFA World Cup 26” to support timely processing. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO,
WTTC, said: “The FIFA World Cup has consistently demonstrated that border management can evolve from a barrier into an enabler of global connectivity. From Germany’s early focus on visa facilitation to the trusted traveller solutions seen in 2026, we are witnessing the emergence of a new model for travel. One that is digital, secure, and seamless at scale.
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