Market Update - 29.10.2026

CURRENT MAJOR TOPICS WITHIN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE DACH REGION

‍Luxury Travel Demand Grows Through Personalised Experiences: Airtours is reporting strong growth in luxury travel bookings for winter 2026/27, with individually planned trips up more than 26 percent year on year and luxury cruises increasing by 30 percent. The Maldives remains the most popular long haul destination, followed by Thailand and Mauritius, while Vietnam, Singapore, Mexico and the Caribbean are also performing well. Demand is increasingly driven by tailor made itineraries, exceptional accommodation, immersive nature experiences and greater flexibility, rather than traditional status symbols. Airtours Private Travel is expanding its offerings in destinations including the Nordic countries, Canada, South America, Japan and Africa. Luxury cruises are also attracting growing interest, particularly voyages to Japan and the South Pacific and expeditions to remote regions. Sustainability, authentic local experiences and personal travel advice are becoming more important, reflecting a broader shift towards luxury defined by meaningful experiences and lasting memories. Read more.

AI and Social Media Shape Travel Trends for 2027: Travel provider Urlaubsguru’s 2027 trend report highlights popular destinations, emerging markets and changing travel planning habits among German consumers. Spain leads the ranking for package holidays, followed by Turkey, Egypt and Greece, while Thailand, the Maldives and the Dominican Republic are the most popular long haul destinations. Norway, Montenegro, Georgia, Vietnam and Colombia are identified as emerging destinations based on rising search volumes and market analysis. Digital channels are increasingly influential, particularly among younger travellers: 75 percent of those aged 18 to 24 use social media to plan trips, while 47 percent of travellers aged 25 to 34 already use AI tools. However, social media can also create unrealistic expectations, with 32 percent of respondents saying they had been disappointed by a destination or hotel they had seen online. For family holidays, convenient travel arrangements, catering and child friendly facilities remain key priorities. Despite these trends, most respondents have yet to finalise their travel plans for 2027. Read more.

German Campsites Record 19.5 Million Overnight Stays in Summer: Campsites across Germany recorded a new summer record of 19.5 million overnight stays in July and August, an increase of almost 4 percent compared with the previous year, according to booking portal Camping.info. Domestic travellers accounted for 16.8 million overnight stays, up 3.7 percent, while international visitors increased by 5.5 percent to 2.7 million. The Netherlands remained the largest international source market, followed by Switzerland and Belgium. Regional performance varied, with Saarland recording the strongest growth at 16.4 percent, followed by Saxony Anhalt at 15.1 percent. Bavaria remained Germany’s leading camping destination with 3.7 million overnight stays, ahead of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, Schleswig Holstein and Lower Saxony. The figures underline the continued popularity of nature based and flexible holidays. Following a record 44.7 million overnight stays in 2025, demand remains strong, and many campsites have already opened bookings for the 2027 season. Read more.

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CURRENT TOPICS WITHIN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IN GERMANY & EUROPE

Zurich Airport Named Europe’s Leading Airport for the 23rd Consecutive Year: Zurich Airport has once again been named Europe’s Leading Airport at the 2026 World Travel Awards, securing the title for the 23rd consecutive year. CEO Lukas Brosi described the award as recognition of the daily commitment of the airport’s employees and partners and its continued focus on service and quality standards. Zurich Airport is also nominated for the global title of World’s Leading Airport 2026, with industry professionals and the public able to participate in the ongoing online vote. Two hotels at The Circle also received awards: Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle was named Switzerland’s Leading Airport Hotel 2026, while Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle received the title of Switzerland’s Leading Conference Hotel 2026. The annual World Travel Awards recognise achievements across the international travel and tourism industry, with winners determined through a global online vote. Read more.

Saint Lucia Introduces Daily Connection from Frankfurt via Gatwick: Saint Lucia has become easier to reach from Germany following a new interline agreement between Condor and British Airways. The connection allows travellers to fly daily from Frankfurt to Saint Lucia via London Gatwick, with both flights booked on a single ticket through Amadeus. Unlike previous options that often required a transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick, passengers can now remain at the same airport, although a terminal change from the North Terminal to the South Terminal is required. The journey takes approximately 13.5 hours, with checked baggage transferred through to Hewanorra International Airport. The shared ticket also provides support in the event of missed connections due to delays, subject to applicable conditions. The new route simplifies travel planning for German tour operators and travel agencies, strengthening Saint Lucia’s accessibility in the German market.

EuroAirport Offers 89 Direct Routes for Winter 2026/27: EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg will offer 89 direct routes to 31 countries during the winter 2026/27 season, running from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027. A total of 20 airlines will operate services, with a focus on European destinations and the Mediterranean. New or returning routes include Poznań in Poland, Varna in Bulgaria and Yerevan in Armenia. Wizz Air is also adding Pristina to its network and will launch flights to Naples in March 2027. Frequencies will increase on several existing routes, including Amsterdam, Bucharest, Lisbon, Marrakesh, Porto, Pristina and Skopje. Looking ahead to summer 2027, Air Canada will introduce four weekly flights to Montréal from 17 June, complementing existing services by Air Transat. EasyJet will also add Pantelleria, Sarajevo and Tivat to its summer network. Meanwhile, the airport is investing €600 million over seven years, including an expansion of the southern boarding areas scheduled for completion in spring 2028. Read more.

Frankfurt Airport Offers 231 Destinations for Winter 2026/27: Frankfurt Airport has launched its winter flight schedule with 80 airlines connecting the hub to 231 destinations in 92 countries. New routes include Kuala Lumpur, Sharjah and Agadir, while services to Abu Dhabi are also being expanded. Discover Airlines will operate twice weekly flights to Agadir, while Lufthansa introduces five weekly nonstop flights to Kuala Lumpur, strengthening connections between Germany and Malaysia. Air India is increasing services to Delhi and Mumbai, and Air China will continue its route to Beijing Daxing, first launched during the summer season. Air Arabia will join Frankfurt Airport’s airline network from 15 December with daily flights to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Connectivity to Abu Dhabi will also increase, with Condor launching daily services in early November in cooperation with Etihad Airways, followed by an additional daily flight operated by Etihad from December. Within Europe, Condor will maintain up to three daily flights to London Gatwick and continue its multiple daily services to Linz. Read more.

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DESTINATION NEWS

TURKEY: Didim Seeks Growth Through Culture, Gastronomy and Authentic Experiences: The Turkish Aegean destination of Didim aims to diversify its tourism offer beyond traditional beach holidays and all inclusive resorts, focusing on cultural heritage, gastronomy, nature and authentic local experiences. At the Twin Cities World Tourism Forum, local leaders and tourism experts discussed how international partnerships and new target groups could support economic development while preserving residents’ quality of life and the destination’s identity. Attractions such as the ancient Temple of Apollo, the archaeological sites of Miletus and Priene, and the Bafa Lake landscape offer opportunities for cultural and nature based tourism. Gastronomy is another growing focus, with more than 30 upscale restaurants in leading hotels and the newly opened Zeytinlik gourmet village showcasing traditional Anatolian cuisine and regional products. Didim also plans to use cultural festivals, sporting events and themed group trips to attract visitors beyond the main summer season. The strategy prioritises meaningful experiences and sustainable development over increasing visitor numbers at any cost. Read more.

SPAIN: Spain’s Travel and Tourism Sector Set for Strong Economic Growth: Spain’s travel and tourism sector is expected to contribute more than €269 billion to the national economy in 2026, representing annual growth of 4.1 percent, according to the latest economic impact study by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The forecast has been revised upwards from an earlier estimate of 3.7 percent and exceeds projected growth for Spain’s overall economy, Europe’s tourism sector and the global industry. International business travel is also expected to strengthen, with spending by international business travellers forecast to rise by 8.1 percent in 2026. Spain remains one of Europe’s leading tourism destinations, having recorded a record €115.8 billion in international visitor spending in 2025 and welcoming 96.8 million international arrivals, making it the world’s second most visited country. International visitors accounted for 58.7 percent of total tourism spending in Spain, underlining the importance of inbound travel to the country’s tourism economy. Read more.

CANARY ISLANDS: Canary Islands Lose German Visitors Despite Geopolitical Uncertainty: The Canary Islands recorded 129,239 fewer German visitors between January and September 2026 compared with the same period last year. German arrivals fell by 7.4 percent in September alone to 166,718, with Tenerife particularly affected, reporting an 11.8 percent decline since the beginning of the year and a 19.5 percent drop in September. Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria also experienced significant declines, while Lanzarote remained relatively stable and La Palma was the only island to record growth among German visitors. The downturn extends beyond Germany, with fewer arrivals also reported from Italy, Poland, Austria, Hungary and the Nordic countries. Industry observers point to economic uncertainty, high living costs and growing price sensitivity, which are encouraging travellers to choose more affordable destinations such as Egypt, Morocco and Turkey. Reduced winter flight capacity from Germany could further affect demand. Despite the decline, tourism revenues remain stable as higher average prices offset some of the drop in visitor numbers. Industry representatives view the trend as a possible normalisation following the record years after the pandemic rather than a structural crisis. Read more.

BRAZIL: Brazil Increases Number of Blue Flag Beaches by 25 Percent: Brazil has awarded the Blue Flag sustainability certification to 75 beaches and marinas for the 2026/27 season, a 25 percent increase compared with 60 locations in the previous season. The total includes 63 beaches and 12 marinas, placing Brazil first in South America and second across the Americas. The Blue Flag programme assesses water quality, environmental management, education, infrastructure and visitor safety. Established award winners such as Praia do Tombo in São Paulo and Prainha in Rio de Janeiro have retained their certifications, while new additions include beaches in Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro and Alagoas. The expansion supports Embratur’s international tourism strategy to position Brazil as a diverse and sustainable destination. The initiative also encourages visitors to explore several beaches during their trip and discover other experiences across the country. Read more.

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