Browsing: Travel

U.S. State Department introduces visa bond program, targeting B-1 and B-2 visa applicants from high-risk nations with up to $15,000 entry bonds.

Las Vegas tourism dropped 11.3% in June as visitors recoil from soaring prices, luxury pivots, and rising visa fees impacting international travel

Etihad Airways has officially inaugurated its first flight to Atlanta, marking a significant step in the airline’s ongoing North American expansion. The inaugural service from Abu Dhabi to Atlanta touched down on July 2, 2025, connecting the capital of the UAE with the economic hub of the southeastern United States. The launch of the new route adds Atlanta to Etihad Airways’ existing U.S. destinations, which include New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Boston. With the addition of Atlanta, the airline now offers direct services to five major U.S. cities, strengthening connectivity between the United States and the Middle East. Passengers departing from Abu Dhabi benefit from the…

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported steady growth in global air travel demand for May 2025, with international passenger traffic showing notable gains despite regional variations. According to IATA’s latest data release, total global passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 5.0 percent compared to the same month in 2024. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), also grew by 5.0 percent year-on-year. The overall load factor for May stood at 83.4 percent, marking a slight decline of 0.1 percentage points compared to May 2024. The load factor reflects the percentage of available seating capacity…

The number of foreign visitors to South Korea reached 1.63 million in May 2025, reflecting a significant recovery in the country’s tourism sector. According to data released by the Korea Tourism Organisation on Monday, this represents a 14.9 percent increase compared to the same month in 2024 and exceeds pre-pandemic levels, reaching 109.7 percent of the figures recorded in May 2019. The latest statistics highlight the steady resurgence of international travel to South Korea following years of restrictions and downturns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among all foreign visitors in May, Chinese tourists made up the largest portion with 484,000 arrivals. Although this figure represents 96.8…

Air Arabia, the largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, has officially launched its new direct service to Sochi, Russia. The inaugural flight marks an expansion of the airline’s growing network in Russia, providing six weekly flights from Sharjah International Airport to the popular Black Sea resort city. The introduction of the Sharjah-Sochi route makes Sochi the sixth Russian city directly served by Air Arabia, joining existing destinations that include Moscow, Kazan, Samara, Ufa, and Yekaterinburg. The new service reflects the airline’s ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity between the UAE and Russia, further strengthening economic, tourism, and cultural ties between the…

Air travel across Italy faced significant disruption on Friday, June 20, 2025, as a nationwide strike led to the cancellation and delay of over 160 flights at major airports including Milan Malpensa, Venice Marco Polo, Pisa Galileo Galilei, and Florence Amerigo Vespucci. The industrial action, organized by a coalition of grassroots unions, coincided with the early stages of the peak summer travel season, affecting both domestic and international passengers. Major airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) were among the carriers impacted by the work stoppage, which extended across the air and rail sectors.…

The United States tourism sector is facing an acute international backlash in 2025, as a combination of foreign government travel warnings, mass civil protests, and a deteriorating global perception converge to produce a projected loss exceeding $12.5 billion in international tourism revenue. Warnings issued by key governments including Canada, the UK, China, and Japan, alongside sharp visitation declines from Germany, France, and Mexico, have created a crisis that now spans both economic and diplomatic dimensions. Canadian authorities have advised citizens to avoid high-risk U.S. urban centers, leading to a more than 70 percent drop in Canadian bookings. The UK has issued similar guidance, urging travelers to avoid large gatherings and remain…

Global air travel faced major disruption on June 13 as escalating conflict between Israel and Iran led to the cancellation or diversion of hundreds of flights across Europe and the Middle East. According to Eurocontrol, approximately 1,800 flights were affected by mid-morning, including 650 cancellations, significantly impacting passenger movement and airline operations. Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicated 15,964 delays and 928 total cancellations worldwide on the same day, with 168 of those involving U.S. airports. The disruptions came amid an intensifying geopolitical crisis, with military strikes leading to the closure of multiple regional airspaces. Commercial aircraft avoided skies over Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, with major airports…

Tourism in the EU exceeded 3 billion nights in 2024, marking a 2.2% increase, with Spain, Italy, and France accounting for most stays.