The 176th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has formally registered World Expo 2030 Riyadh. Organised under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow”, Expo 2030 Riyadh will take place in the capital of Saudi Arabia from 1 October 2030 to 31 March 2031.

The Bahamas has launched an aggressive national conservation initiative to address and reverse the devastating effects of warming ocean temperatures and a disease ravaging its coral reefs. The country’s first coral gene bank opened today at Atlantis Paradise Island to house, propagate, and replant healthy coral on damaged reefs. The coral rescue initiative is the result of a powerful collaboration between the government of The Bahamas through the Department of Marine Resources, the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection and the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as Atlantis Paradise Island and the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS), the University of The Bahamas, and the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).

In a bold move to redefine tourism in Thailand’s most visited island, a coalition of top-tier hotels have come together to unveil a new destination branding initiative for North Phuket. While Southern Phuket has long monopolised the spotlight with its neon nightlife and polished resorts, a quieter, more deliberate movement has begun in the island’s northern reaches.

Phocuswright Europe 2025 kicked off in Barcelona last week, welcoming over 600 attendees from 20+ countries to discuss the future of travel.  The event highlighted the booming travel industry, tempered by geopolitical and economic concerns.  A key theme was the disruption in travel distribution, with technology reshaping customer loyalty and content control.  Speakers emphasized AI’s growing role, with insights from TripAdvisor, Expedia, Accor, Booking, and Google.  The conference also featured startup pitches, investment trends, and exclusive research on traveler behavior, AI adoption, and sustainability.

Sustainability and AI remain top priorities

Sustainability remained a priority, with Trip.com Group sponsoring carbon offset initiatives for the event. Attendees engaged in interactive polls and networking, reinforcing Phocuswright’s commitment to industry collaboration.  Research presentations covered AI-driven consumer trends, startup funding, and ski travel insights.