AGP Executive Report

Cruise Disruption: A woman who went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas was rescued after 20 hours, but passengers are seeking compensation after the search forced the ship to skip Naples. City Attractions: New York City plans to end Central Park horse-carriage rides by 2028, following a tourist’s death and years of animal-welfare concerns. Caribbean Tourism: Anguilla will host the region’s first sports tourism summit in August 2027, focusing on attracting visitors and sharing benefits with local communities. Cruise Plans: Seabourn will return to Egypt in 2029, with some voyages offering an overnight in Alexandria; Carnival has introduced bundles combining drinks, Wi-Fi and other extras. Travel Choices: Intrepid is adding more than 80 trips for 2027, including 15 family itineraries. Meanwhile, low water levels are still disrupting Rhine and Danube river cruises. Holiday Inspiration: Abta reports that 14% of people now use AI for travel ideas, up from 8% last year, while recommendations from family and friends remain the most popular source.

Luxury Holidays: easyJet holidays says its premium collection has drawn tens of thousands of bookings, with an average price of about £2,800—well above its £800 mainstream trips—and demand exceeding expectations. Cruise Tourism: Victoria’s Ogden Point passed one million cruise passengers in a season for the first time, with California visitors Geri and Gary Skardina arriving as passengers one million and one million and one. Subic and San Diego are also set to formalize a sister-port agreement to develop cruise tourism, trade and greener port operations. Tourism Value: Sri Lanka welcomed a record 2.36 million visitors in 2025, but tourism earnings grew just 1.6%, raising questions about how to attract higher-value travel. City Attractions: New York plans to phase out Central Park horse-drawn carriages by June 2028 following a tourist’s fatal accident; a council vote is scheduled for Oct. 22.

Air Links: ZIPAIR plans year-round nonstop flights from Toronto to Tokyo’s Narita airport in early 2027, with three to four services a week, offering a new budget-friendly route to Japan. Cruise Growth: Victoria is marking its first million-passenger cruise season, with a record 332 ship calls expected; Caribbean cruise arrivals are also rising even as broader tourism growth slows. Family Travel: Multi-generational trips are gaining ground, with 57% of families surveyed taking one this year. Travelers are balancing activities with relaxation and watching costs, often choosing stays with kitchens and inclusive experiences. Luxury Cruises: Cunard will bring chef Michel Roux aboard Queen Anne for five Norway and fjords residencies in 2027 and 2028, including exclusive tasting menus and cooking events. Louisiana Outdoors: A new free passport program encourages visitors to explore 32 state parks and historic sites, with prizes for completing the route. Coastal Tourism: Sand extraction on Sierra Leone’s Mahera Beach is damaging the landscape and threatening tourism, while local families depend on the trade for income.

Cruise News: Norwegian Cruise Line added two May 2027 Mediterranean voyages aboard Norwegian Aura, calling at ports in Greece, Croatia and Montenegro. Ports and Infrastructure: Taiwan is preparing for more cruise calls, with a new Penghu terminal due in 2027 and upgrades planned at Keelung and Kaohsiung; passenger numbers topped 800,000 by July, up 22% year on year. Destination Spotlight: Jamaica took several honors at the World Travel Awards, including Caribbean’s Leading Destination, Cruise Destination and Family Travel Destination, as tourism leaders highlighted recovery and resilience. Travel Safety: Attacks at Riyadh airport have disrupted travel and prompted warnings; a Hyderabad pilgrim died and several family members were injured. Booking Advice: Royal Caribbean’s revised cancellation rules could make changes more costly, so travelers should check the terms before booking. Travel Trends: More Chinese holidaymakers are choosing longer trips and deeper cultural experiences, with families accounting for over half of scenic-spot ticket orders during the National Day holiday.

Flight Disruptions: Tensions in West Asia have led to 10 flight cancellations at Kochi, with more services affected at Calicut, disrupting Kerala–Gulf travel. Cruise News: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aura will debut earlier than planned, adding Mediterranean sailings between Trieste and Athens from May 2027. Airport Recognition: Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport was named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport for an 18th straight year, months after recovering from Hurricane Melissa. Traveler Trends: Hilton’s 2027 report points to growing demand for flexible, experience-led trips, including solo travel, wellness breaks and shorter getaways. Egypt’s Tourism Push: The country is urging UK travel sellers to promote longer stays and multi-stop itineraries, pairing the Red Sea with Cairo, Luxor or the Nile.

Tourist Tax: UK holidaymakers could face an optional levy on accommodation as the government considers giving local areas the power to introduce one, with debate over who pays and how the money is spent. Travel Disruption: Repeated attacks on Saudi airports have killed and injured civilians, disrupted flights and prompted fresh travel warnings. Travellers, including pilgrims, should check advisories and airline updates before departure. Airline Upgrades: American Airlines plans to install Starlink Wi-Fi across more than 1,030 mainline aircraft, with installations due to start in early 2027; most passengers won’t see the service right away. Cruise Safety: A passenger who went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas was rescued alive after nearly 20 hours in the Ionian Sea. Hotel Demand: Taiwan’s AI-driven business boom is boosting travel demand, helping luxury hotel operator Formosa International Hotels head toward record revenue and profit this year.

Saudi Travel Disruption: Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport remains closed after an attack killed 12 people and injured more than 300; another projectile was reported nearby Sunday. Houthis warned travellers to avoid Saudi airports, and new travel advisories have been issued. New York–Atlantic City Link: Developers are promoting a proposed high-speed ferry for next summer, with a 2½-hour trip priced at $145 round trip, to bring more visitors to Atlantic City. Nile Cruise Rescue: Egyptian crews refloated a cruise ship carrying 99 tourists after it ran aground near Kom Ombo; authorities reported no confirmed injuries. Wellness Tourism: Tasmania is seeking private-sector proposals for a northern wellness precinct, potentially including spa facilities, retreats and nature-based stays. Cruise Trends: Japan is courting younger travellers with shorter, cheaper sailings, while African ports are increasingly focused on capturing more passenger spending ashore.

Tourism Leaders: Jamaica is hosting the World Travel Awards’ Caribbean and Americas gala, bringing regional tourism and hospitality leaders together to spotlight destinations and industry growth. Cruise Trends: Japan’s cruise operators are betting that shorter, cheaper sailings can attract younger travelers, while Fred. Olsen is offering a 19-night North Africa and Malta cruise from Liverpool in February 2027. Premium Travel: Qatar Airways plans refreshed menus by Australian chef Ross Lusted, signature cocktails and Starlink Wi-Fi for premium passengers flying from Australia, with menus launching in February. Travel Planning: Thanksgiving travelers can save by shifting dates or destinations and considering vacation rentals, as peak-day fares drive up costs. Destination Investment: Phuket and Phang Nga are drawing tourism-related property investment, including luxury stays and wellness projects.

Cruise Season: Newcastle is preparing for a record 18 ship visits from October to April, with more than 30,000 visitors expected. In Alaska, Ketchikan farewelled Norwegian Encore on Oct. 9, marking the end of its cruise season. Travel Disruptions: Hurricane Isaias is causing flight delays and forcing some fall travelers to change or cut short their plans. Luxury Travel: Ultra-luxury hotels are gaining pricing power as wealthy travelers outpace limited new room supply; meanwhile, Orient Express’s new Corinthian yacht offers all-inclusive sailing from about €4,000 a night. Future Voyages: Holland America has detailed a 28-day Pan Am anniversary cruise for 2027, visiting 18 destinations across the Caribbean and Central America. Food Tourism: Culinary experiences are increasingly shaping trip choices, as destinations and hotels put local food at the heart of travel.

Cruise Deals: Caribbean fares are easing as passenger capacity climbs 11.5% year over year. A January 2027 inside cabin averaged $748 in September, down from $846 a year earlier, though discounts vary by line. Food at Sea: Windstar has announced five 2027 sailings with James Beard-affiliated chefs, including hosted dinners, cooking demonstrations and culinary tours in destinations from Greece to French Polynesia. River Cruise Disruption: Low Danube water levels left passengers on Tui sailings facing long coach trips instead of planned river excursions; the company says its terms do not provide refunds when buses complete the itinerary. Cruise Season Outlook: Dominica projects 475,000 passengers for its 2026–27 season, while Guernsey expects 28,000 visitors this year and has 63 cruise bookings for 2027, up from 51. Storm Travel Changes: Hurricane Isaias prompted some Nashville travelers to leave a day early, while Carnival rerouted a ship away from the storm.

Cruise Season: Dominica opened its 2026–27 season with 267 ship calls and 475,521 passengers projected, while the island targets one million annual cruise visitors and says it wants more visitor spending to reach local businesses. Cruise Industry: Norwegian Cruise Line added two Mediterranean inaugural sailings for Norwegian Aura in May 2027 after the ship’s construction moved ahead of schedule. In Australia, Journey Beyond completed its acquisition of Kelsian’s tourism portfolio, adding harbor cruises, resorts and tours to its rail and travel offerings. Travel Alerts: Travel groups issued advisories after an attack on Riyadh airport; travelers heading to Saudi Arabia should check the latest official guidance. Luxury Travel: British Airways previewed upgraded first-class cabins for its A380 fleet, with refreshed dining, amenity kits and hotel-style touches. Destination Marketing: Taiwan promoted wellness travel to Pacific Northwest runners at the Portland Marathon, spotlighting its hot springs, tea culture and mountain escapes.

Cruise Watch: Juneau welcomed more than 1.7 million cruise passengers this season, setting a fourth straight annual record despite daily visitor limits. Oslo is considering a cruise fee of up to 100 kroner per passenger per day from 2027 to help cover pressure on city services. Route Changes: Nicko Cruises is revising its 2026–27 world cruise for safety: guests will leave the ship in Salalah, fly to Egypt for a five-day stay, then rejoin in Safaga while the vessel sails around Yemen without passengers. Border Technology: U.S. Customs and Border Protection says facial biometrics have verified more than 1 billion travelers. The agency plans to expand the system, while U.S. citizens can opt for manual passport checks. Seasonal Travel: Southern Europe is drawing more visitors in late autumn, as mild weather, lower prices and fewer crowds appeal to travelers seeking a quieter getaway.

Alaska Cruises: Juneau’s 2026 season ended with Norwegian Encore’s departure. The city expected about 1.69 million cruise visitors, with new daily capacity limits tested for the first time. Summer 2028 Bookings: Jet2 has opened its Gatwick programme early, offering 1.1 million seats to 32 destinations, with deposits from £60 per person. Luxury Stays: Auberge Collection properties earned 25 spots in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, including five highly ranked hotels. Cruise Disruptions: Tui river-cruise passengers say low water levels turned parts of their holidays into coach trips; some are still seeking refunds. Tourism Links: Barbados is building ties with Kenya and targeting African visitors, though the lack of direct year-round flights remains a hurdle. Heritage Getaway: Steam Dreams plans a 2027 vintage train day trip from Colchester to Bath, with time to explore the city’s historic sights.

Wellness Travel: Phuket will host the Global Wellness Summit from Nov. 10–13, putting the island’s nature- and Thai-inspired wellbeing experiences in the spotlight. New at Sea: Disney’s Believe is set to sail from Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 18, 2027, with the first stage adaptation of Encanto and a new Frozen-themed dining experience; bookings open Oct. 19. Travel Costs: Thailand is consulting on a proposed 1,000-baht departure tax for air passengers, with a public hearing open until Oct. 29; the final rate has not been set. Cruise Changes: Carnival Spirit’s return to Seattle is delayed by repairs, shortening the next cruise by a day and cancelling its Cabo San Lucas stop; affected guests will receive prorated refunds. City Breaks: Busan is expanding its after-dark offer with river cruises, night markets and waterfront events. Taiwanese arrivals rose 60.1% in the first seven months of 2026. River Cruise Deal: Riviera Travel is offering up to £800 off per person on select 15-day Rhine and Danube departures in May 2027, with flights, meals and excursions included.

Departure Costs: Thailand is consulting on a proposed 1,000-baht (about US$30) fee for air passengers leaving the country, to be added to ticket prices; public discussion runs through October 29. Cruise Outlook: Dominica opens its 2026–27 season expecting 267 ship calls and 475,521 passengers, nearly 50,000 more than last season. The U.S. Virgin Islands also reports strong growth, with stayover arrivals up 16.4% and cruise visits up 40.2%. Booking Trends: EasyJet Holidays says package bookings can save UK travelers up to £378 on European city breaks compared with arranging the same trip independently. Asia Demand: Unforgettable Travel has launched a dedicated Asia brand with 50 itineraries across 11 countries, citing a 226% rise in demand for the region since 2022. Haiti Cruises: Royal Caribbean has no return date for Labadee, with port calls suspended through June 2027 at the earliest amid ongoing security concerns.

Cruise & Ports: Rockland, Maine will host an Oct. 19 public workshop to review its 2026 PortShare Promise cruise-tourism season and share next steps for future cruise policy and operations. Cruise Line Growth: Holland America Line says it will expand to 12 ships by adding the Vista Class vessel Arcadia in 2029, with P&O Cruises transferring the ship to strengthen its global deployment. Luxury Stays: Accor has opened Mercure Perth Aurea Kings Park, its third Mercure property in Western Australia, with 70 rooms near Kings Park and Perth CBD. Home-Exchange for the Wealthy: ThirdHome is entering Japan, targeting demand from U.S. members and affluent travelers, with plans to secure properties in resorts like Niseko and Hakuba. Family Travel Deals: Prime Day luggage discounts are driving bargain hunting, with major carry-on and set deals highlighted for travelers preparing for the holiday rush. Travel Safety: A motorcyclist died after a crash on I-380 near Toddville; investigators say he wasn’t wearing a helmet. Tourism Policy: Thailand is weighing a THB 1,000 departure tax collected by airlines or ticket agents, with exemptions for certain passengers.