Vientiane authorities have outlined a new strategy to bolster the city's tourism sector, focusing on expanding accommodation capacity, enhancing infrastructure, and increasing income for local businesses. The plan, presented to the Vientiane People's Council, emphasizes sustainable tourism, technological integration, and the development of new attractions along the Mekong River and That Luang Lake.
A Chinese government travel advisory, citing diplomatic tensions and security concerns, has significantly impacted the growth of Chinese visitors to Japan. This has led to hotel cancellations, reduced retail sales, and concerns among Japanese tourism businesses, despite an overall record year for inbound tourism.
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, have decided to reconsider the planned route for the Hokuriku Shinkansen's Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka section. The move comes amid significant opposition from local municipalities over environmental and fiscal concerns, including ballooning construction costs.
Ryanair announced significant reductions to its Belgian operations, including removing 5 aircraft from Brussels Charleroi and cutting 20 routes, leading to a loss of 1 million seats. This decision, effective from the 2026/2027 winter schedule, is a direct response to Belgium's federal air passenger tax increasing to €10 in 2027 and a proposed €3 local tax in Charleroi.
Workers at the Louvre Museum in Paris initiated a renewable strike on Monday, December 15, leading to the museum's closure. The industrial action stems from long-standing grievances over deteriorating working conditions, insufficient staffing, and a perceived lack of resources, exacerbated by recent security breaches and structural issues.
The New York County District Attorney's Office recently returned 43 classical-era ancient artifacts, valued at over $2.5 million, to Turkey. The repatriated items include a marble head of Demosthenes, a 'Nude Emperor' statue, and 41 terracotta plaques, recovered through extensive investigations into illicit trafficking, significantly enhancing Turkey's cultural tourism.
The Maldives has achieved a new tourism milestone, recording over 2,080,134 tourist arrivals by December 10, 2025. This new record surpasses the previous year's figures, with the nation now targeting 2.2 million visitors by year-end.
Mexico welcomed 16.5 million international tourists by air between January and October 2025, marking a significant 10.2% increase compared to 2019. This growth, led by travelers from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, underscores the country's robust tourism recovery and expanding global appeal.
Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, has been officially named the Arab Tourism Capital for the year 2027. The announcement was made during the 28th Ordinary Session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism, held in Baghdad, Iraq, from December 8-9, 2025. This designation recognizes Tunis's rich cultural heritage and its strategic efforts to boost its tourism sector.
Italian cooking and its associated rituals have officially been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The designation, announced on December 10, 2025, in New Delhi, recognizes the profound cultural, social, and intergenerational significance of Italy's culinary traditions, highlighting conviviality and the transmission of knowledge.
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, Egypt, has officially opened to the public on November 4, 2025, following an inauguration for dignitaries on November 1. The colossal museum, dedicated to ancient Egyptian civilization, houses over 100,000 artifacts, including the complete King Tutankhamun collection, and cost over $1 billion.
Manama, the capital of Bahrain, has been recognized as the World's Leading Business Travel Destination at the prestigious World Travel Awards Grand Final 2025. The ceremony, held at Exhibition World Bahrain, celebrated the Kingdom's growing prominence in global tourism and its strategic focus on the MICE sector.
The Netherlands will raise the Value Added Tax (VAT) on accommodation services from 9% to 21% starting January 1, 2026. This move, part of the 2026 Tax Plan, aims to boost government revenue but faces strong opposition from the tourism sector, which warns of reduced visitor numbers and economic repercussions.
Bolivia has officially launched a new visa-free travel program for citizens of Latvia, the US, Israel, South Korea, South Africa, Estonia, and Romania, effective December 8, 2025. This strategic move aims to significantly boost the country's tourism sector and stimulate economic growth by removing previous travel barriers.
Germany has confirmed an aviation tax cut, effective July 1, 2026, aiming to alleviate financial pressures on airlines and enhance the country's competitiveness as an aviation hub. The measure reverses a 2024 tax hike, saving the industry an estimated 350 million euros annually, though its impact on passenger ticket prices remains uncertain due to a global aircraft shortage and other rising operational costs.
Argentina is projected to experience a record $13 billion tourism outflow in 2025, driven by a strong peso that makes international travel affordable for Argentines and deters foreign visitors. This deficit, representing 1.6% of GDP, strains foreign currency reserves and impacts the local tourism sector.
The South African Cabinet has endorsed the 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, which includes a new 3% inflation target. This comes as the country reported significant economic improvements in Q3 2025, with 248,000 new jobs created and overseas tourist arrivals surging by 24% year-on-year.
Spain has set a new tourism record in 2025, welcoming 85.6 million international visitors by October. This milestone reflects a significant economic boost, with tourist spending reaching €118.6 billion year-to-date and an average expenditure of €1,383 per visitor.
Vietnam has significantly broadened its e-visa program by adding 41 new international checkpoints, bringing the total to 83. This expansion, formalized by Resolution 389/NQ-CP, aims to streamline entry for foreign visitors and boost tourism, building on earlier reforms that extended e-visa validity to 90 days for all nationalities.
Vietnam has significantly expanded its e-visa program, adding 41 new international checkpoints across airports, land borders, and seaports. This brings the total number of e-visa eligible entry and exit points to 83, aiming to facilitate foreign visitors and bolster the country's tourism sector. The policy, effective December 2, 2025, builds on earlier reforms from August 2023.
