Global Scans · Travel · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: How we travel, where we travel and whether we travel at all will mean tremendous change in the decades ahead.

• [New] Gradually, people could order food, book air travel, find dates, and navigate backroads and byways through a digital device, giving rise to new business models and companies such as Shopify and DoorDash. Sands Capital
• [New] Total travel spending is forecast to reach $1.37 trillion in 2026 and $1.42 trillion in 2027. / USA U.S. Travel Association
• [New] Growth in business travel is expected to remain below leisure travel growth in the near term, before improving from 2027 onward as broader economic conditions stabilize and corporate travel budgets recover. U.S. Travel Association
• [New] Following 2.1% growth in 2025, domestic leisure travel spending continues to expand, rising 0.9% to $909 billion in 2026 and growing more quickly in 2027 and beyond. U.S. Travel Association
• [New] The Korean National Police Agency said Wednesday it will implement a Highway Special Management Plan through the end of this month, deploying more than 60% additional unmarked patrol cars on nine major expressway routes near popular travel destinations. Seoul Economic Daily
• [New] With the EU planning new sustainability initiatives for 2026, many embassies will highlight green technologies, renewable energy and climate-friendly tourism. Hotel Washington
• [New] Globally 43% of all travelers say they plan to avoid overcrowded tourist destinations, 42% plan to travel outside of peak season, and 25% will seek out destinations with cooler temperatures. Booking.com
• [New] A new type of electromagnetic thruster has successfully completed an early test at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, offering a glimpse of how astronauts could one day travel to Mars. ScienceDaily
• [New] Space tourism in 2026 has demonstrated that paying customers will reliably fund human spaceflight infrastructure. Space Economy Institute
• [New] Tourism Economics, a global travel data company, initially projected a 3.9% increase in arrivals throughout the calendar year. The Athletic
• [New] Transport-related emissions are expected to grow by 45% for international travel and 21% for domestic travel from 2016 to 2030 (UN Tourism). Office of Sustainability - Student Blog
• [New] The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its Long-Term Demand Projections for air travel, showing that global air passenger demand is expected to more than double by 2050. TravelMole
• [New] By 2040, Singapore aims to grow tourism receipts to US$ 47-50 billion, reinforcing its policy of value-led growth. TravelMole
• [New] STB expects 2026 international visitor arrivals to reach between 17 to 18 million, bringing in approximately S$31.0 to 32.5 billion in tourism receipts. Singapore Tourism Board
• [New] Canada's tourism industry is poised for a significant upswing in 2026, with visitor spending expected to hit $140.9 billion, marking a 6% increase from 2025. Travel Daily Media
• [New] Voyager Technologies in Colorado is readying a space hotel for 2029. The Week
• [New] With revenues projected to grow to $177 B by 2030, tourism is a key economic driver and one of Canada's top service exports, with the potential to contribute 9-10% to Canada's $300 B trade diversification goal. CNW Group
• [New] By 2035, total tourism revenue is projected to reach $216.3 billion, up 67% from 2024 levels. / Canada CNW Group
• [New] As instability continues to shape travel demand in the Middle East and beyond, brands that respond proactively by adapting strategies to prioritise trust and safety, have the chance to seize new opportunities. Mintel
• Geopolitical instability has become the most significant external risk influencing business travel decisions in 2026. Hotel Online

Last updated: 09 May 2026