The United Nations General Assembly mandated UN Tourism with the implementation of the International Year. Now, with its launch of its new Road Map, the organisation has taken another step towards delivering on its responsibility. The Road Map is the product of a collaborative process, and was warmly welcomed by UN Tourism's Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS).
Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operating and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), reported the airport's strong 2025 annual performance on record, driven by unprecedented cargo volumes and robust passenger traffic that cements its position as a vital regional hub for commerce and connectivity.
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The Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID), the trade group representing over 600 airports across 44 countries and territories, recently released its Travel Retail Study in the Post-Pandemic Era, revealing a fundamental shift in airport retail dynamics. The study points out that younger travellers are now driving spend, while passenger behaviour, rather than sheer traffic volumes, has become the defining factor of airport travel retail performance. With overseas travel spend by Middle East residents expected to grow by six percent per year until the end of the decade, where it will top USD60 billion according to the latest ATM Travel Trends Report, exhibition space is in high demand among international participants at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, which will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 04-07. Hilton recently announced the opening of two new properties in Makkah, nearly doubling its presence in the Holy City and expanding its hospitality offerings for the millions of pilgrims and travellers who visit each year. Etihad Airways and Tunisair recencly signed a codeshare agreement strengthening air links between North Africa and Abu Dhabi and supporting growing demand for travel, tourism, and business between the two regions. The International Tourism Trade Fair, organised by IFEMA MADRID, has closed its doors with a positive outcome, reaffirming its strong convening power by slightly surpassing 255,000 visitors over its five days. During the professional days, attendance figures from the previous edition were consolidated at 155,000 visitors, with a 12 percent increase in international attendance, in line with the 11 percent growth in international exhibitors. Likewise, the general public attendance over the weekend was consolidated at 100,000 travellers. These results consolidate FITUR’s outstanding participation figures, with more than 10,000 companies from 161 countries, including 111 countries with official representation, and 967 main exhibitors. The economic impact of FITUR 2026 on Madrid reached €505 million, while supporting the maintenance of 3,753 jobs, confirming the fair’s position as one of the region’s most significant international events of the year and a key contributor to economic and tourism activity. FITUR thus opens 2026 by confirming the strong momentum of the global tourism sector. This favourable context is reflected in 2025 figures, a year in which, according to UN Tourism, international tourist arrivals worldwide exceeded 1.5 billion, while Spain welcomed 97 million international tourists, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. The 46th edition opened on Wednesday 21 January with a minute of silence, reflecting the tourism sector’s solidarity with the victims of recent railway accidents. The gesture was echoed during the official opening on Thursday 22 January, when Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain signed the book of condolences at the Andalucía stand.
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