Here’s a wrap-up of what’s happening in travel around the globe:
The new European Entry/Exit System (EES) is being rolled out from October 12, 2025, through to April 2026. It is being set up to track entry and exit data of third-country nationals in the Schengen Area on short-stay visas.
The EES has been launched in Germany, which will adopt the EES for all external air and sea borders. The first place to utilise the system will be Düsseldorf Airport, with airport hubs, including Frankfurt and Munich, set to follow.
Data stored within the system will include a tourist’s personal details, biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images, as well as their arrival and departure times.
UK-based Riviera Travel has announced plans to expand its footprint into Asia with a new ship for Mekong cruises. The 50-guest Riviera Alba will debut in September 2027.
The Riviera Alba, which has 25 suites with wifi, an open-air sun and pool deck, main restaurant, lounge bar, spa, and library, will be utilised for the new “Vietnam, Cambodia and Mekong River Cruise”. This will be a 13-night itinerary visiting Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor Wat.
Emirates has announced that it will be adding six extra flights per week to its Dubai-London-Heathrow route. This will result in 48 flights operating across the network. The expansion is planned to begin on October 26, 2025.
The extra services have been strategically timed to connect overnight departures from Heathrow to Dubai (DXB) for convenient potential links to cities across Asia and Africa. The new flights will operate daily, except Fridays, during the winter season.
The French Transport Ministry will cease state funding for the Vienna–Paris and Berlin–Paris night trains as of January 2026. The subsidy was worth around €5-10 million/year.
While partner Austria’s federal rail company OBB acknowledged that both routes will be discontinued on December 14, 2025, it will maintain its Vienna–Brussels Nightjet three times a week next year.
The Paris-Vienna was launched in late 2021, with the Paris-Berlin night train beginning in 2023.
TUI has expanded its hotel network across Asia, with new resorts in Malaysia and Cambodia, focusing on relaxation and wellness.
The TUI BLUE Angkor Grace resort, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, will feature a spa and wellness centre catering for children aged six months to 12 years. There will be 151 rooms, hydrotherapy facilities, which include magnesium pools, cold baths, and rooms for massages and therapies. Daily yoga classes and sound therapy sessions will also be offered for relaxation.
TUI Blue Medini Johor, scheduled to open in August 2026, will be based in Medini, the central business district of Iskandar Puteri in Johor Bahru. It will have 214 rooms, a pool, a gym, and a restaurant. It is also being touted as an ideal place to visit Legoland Malaysia.
Marriott International is adding three new properties to its Philippines offering, with openings in Mandaluyong, Batangas, and Cebu in November, so bringing its portfolio in the country to 13.
Mr Bruce Winton, area general manager, Philippines at Marriott International, told BusinessWorld that the openings were in reference to AC Hotel Ortigas in Pasig City, which will have 150 rooms, and Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan, with 196 rooms. The Farm at San Benito will be rebranded as the Philippines’ first Autograph Collection resort.
In the Philippines, Marriott International operates hotels and resorts under brands including Sheraton, Westin, JW Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, and Four Points.
Andy Probert is an independent journalist who writes about global travel news, airlines, airports, and business. His work has appeared globally on the BBC, and in many national newspapers and magazines.
