From AI to Overtourism: The Future of Travel Debated at Newsweek Summit
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Technology, sustainability and the power of human connection were at the center of a lively debate on the future of travel at Newsweek's inaugural New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit last week.
Newsweek's senior staff, including Dr. Adil Ali, head of travel content for New Destinations, senior reporter Soo Kim, and senior editor Eileen Falkenberg-Hull were joined by broadcaster Simon Calder for a wide-ranging discussion with industry experts on the travel sector's most urgent challenges and opportunities.
More than 120 guests gathered at the event held at The Shard in London, the capital of the United Kingdom, where leaders from around the globe unpacked the forces that are reshaping the travel industry.
An overview of guests seated at Newsweek's Travel & Tourism Summit on July held at The Shard in London, U.K.
An overview of guests seated at Newsweek's Travel & Tourism Summit on July held at The Shard in London, U.K.
Newsweek via Dolly Shah Photography
Opening the summit, Amit Shah, executive vice president of Newsweek International, set the tone for the discussions. "At Newsweek, we've been telling those stories for nearly a century. But today, that story is changing faster than ever—travelers want deeper, more authentic experiences; destinations want to stay unique and protected; and the industry must balance growth with genuine care," Shah said.
Amit Shah, executive vice president of Newsweek International, pictured at the New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit.
Amit Shah, executive vice president of Newsweek International, pictured at the New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit.
Newsweek via Dolly Shah Photography
Airports as Engines of Transformation
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, challenged the industry to rethink the airport experience. "Reimagining the airport experience, it shouldn't be a hard thing," he said, emphasizing that airports should not be purely transactional spaces. "People don't have the vision that an airport should be a place of hospitality...a place of welcome," he added.
Dubai Airports is the authority that owns and operates airports in the city, including Dubai International Airport (DXB), which has ranked as the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic since 2014.
For Griffiths, transforming the infrastructure around check-ins and baggage is key. "Why, in the 21st century, are we sticking paper labels on suitcases?" he asked. "Every luggage manufacturer could print a unique barcode on a suitcase...you can track wherever it is in the world."
Griffiths argued that while technology has advanced rapidly, the aviation sector has lagged in leveraging that potential. "We're just reaching the limits of human ingenuity in sectors that really do need to change," he said.
Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of Istanbul Airport, highlighted how airport investment can spark economic growth. "In 2013, Turkey invested in a brand-new place from scratch, and the brave plan to transfer all the operations from a 60 million tax airport to a brand-new airport...That was a real challenge and a brave decision to be taken," Bilgen said.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports (right) and Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of Istanbul Airport (center) during a panel interview with Newsweek's Dr. Adil Ali (left).
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports (right) and Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of Istanbul Airport (center) during a panel interview with Newsweek's Dr. Adil Ali (left).
Newsweek via Dolly Shah Photography
Real People vs. AI in Travel Content
Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, emphasized the importance of knowing where AI-generated content comes from. "ChatGPT or any AI source has got to get their information from the location...understanding where that information comes from, the accuracy of it, the legitimacy of it matters a lot," Hill said.
René Frey, CEO of Rough Guides and Insight Guides, pointed to the pitfalls of AI-generated travel advice. "We all know that the guidebooks, they are the source of ChatGPT," he said. But without updates from people on the ground, "it's gonna be useless in six months, 12 months," Frey warned. "Real life is different from AI."
The Educational Role of Tourism
For Maeve Scanlon, vice president of business affairs at THG Creative, tourism must do more than entertain. "Education is one of the most important things that we have a responsibility to do," she said. "It's our responsibility to make sure that we are teaching those correct lessons and working with the community to ensure that we're spreading the right word, telling the right stories."
René Frey, CEO of Rough Guides and Insight Guides (left); Maeve Scanlon, vice president of business affairs at THG Creative (second from left); Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors...
René Frey, CEO of Rough Guides and Insight Guides (left); Maeve Scanlon, vice president of business affairs at THG Creative (second from left); Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (center); YouTuber Arieh Smith (second from right) during panel interview with Simon Calder (right). More
Newsweek via Dolly Shah Photography
Human Connection in a Digital World
YouTuber and polyglot Arieh Smith, known to his 6.7 million subscribers as @xiaomanyc, addressed the cultural value of learning languages. "Anyone can use Google Translate...but to have taken the effort to learn those words and pronounce it with your actual voice...that's human meaning," he said. "You can communicate with another person and a stranger."
Hill added: "There's a difference between providing a product and providing a connection. What Arieh does provides a connection to people."
Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (right) during an interview with Newsweek's Eileen Falkenberg-Hull (left).
Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (right) during an interview with Newsweek's Eileen Falkenberg-Hull (left).
Newsweek via Dolly Shah Photography
The Shifting Priorities of Travelers
Jane Sun, CEO of the Trip.com Group, highlighted a strong rebound in Chinese travel. "The Chinese market has recovered very strongly...last year, Chinese consumers spent about $250 billion, which is 70 billion higher than the U.S." Sun said. She noted the popularity of global events among younger Chinese travelers, including the Paris Olympic Games and Taylor Swift concerts.
Sun also observed changing destination trends. "Norway, Iceland and Finland have become very popular for Chinese travelers...South Africa has become one of the destinations that are favored during the Chinese New Year," she said.
Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said southeast Asia is now "the fastest growing region in travel and tourism globally." She also praised Chinese tourists' "attitude towards lower taxation, the use of tech...WeChat in China...it is extraordinary."
Jane Sun, CEO of the Trip.com Group (pictured on television screen), during a virtual interview with Newsweek's Soo Kim at the New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit.
Jane Sun, CEO of the Trip.com Group (pictured on television screen), during a virtual interview with Newsweek's Soo Kim at the New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit.
Newsweek via Dolly Shah Photography
Beyond Buzzwords: Regenerative Travel and Sustainability
Dr. Aaron Salā, CEO of the Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau, critiqued the overuse of the term "regenerative" in travel. "Regenerative is just a current buzz word," he said. "Regenerative [travel] has to be in the DNA, in the doing of the industry...so that regenerative doesn't only create an opportunity for advantageous affect on the visitor—it must also create sustainable effect on the environment and community."
Salā added: "The ecosystem I'm building now must be for profit, it must be generationally linked to generational income...because I have to feed my family" as well as the families of others.
Xavier Font, a professor at the University of Surrey and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, warned of both "greenwashing"—exaggerating claims of sustainability practices—and its lesser-known counterpart "greenhushing"—where businesses downplay sustainability efforts to avoid criticism. "We see that companies are quite often doing both things," Font said.
Lyn Hughes, founding editor of the Wanderlust magazine, lamented the return of overtourism post-COVID. "We came out of COVID and suddenly we go right back to overtourism...There was even more plastic waste, there was more of everything," Hughes said.
Font explained: "First-time tourists behave very very differently than repeat tourists," adding that repeat visitors are "much more respectful of that place."
Dr. Aaron Salā, CEO of the Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau (left); Lyn Hughes, founding editor of the Wanderlust magazine (center) and Xavier Font, a professor at the University of Surrey (right) pictured during a...
Dr. Aaron Salā, CEO of the Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau (left); Lyn Hughes, founding editor of the Wanderlust magazine (center) and Xavier Font, a professor at the University of Surrey (right) pictured during a panel discussion at Newsweek's New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit. More
Newsweek via Dolly Shah Photography
Planning for Sustainable Growth
Simpson urged governments not to take tourism for granted. Growth "does not happen by accident," she said. "It takes investment, political will and clever marketing." Simpson pointed to a projected $12.5 billion drop in international visitor spending in the United States this year as a warning.
"You cannot rest on your laurels and think that people will be coming," Simpson said. "Too many policymakers assume that tourism will simply look after itself."
Robin Johnson, global marketing director for Visit Britain, shared a call to action. "The future of tourism must be built together," he said. "Whether it is advancing sustainability, embracing new technologies or telling our stories with more power and precision—we will succeed through collaboration."
Robin Johnson, global marketing director for Visit Britain (left) and Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (right) speaking at the New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit on July 3....
Robin Johnson, global marketing director for Visit Britain (left) and Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (right) speaking at the New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit on July 3. More
Newsweek via Dolly Shah Photography
Newsweek's New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit was sponsored by İGA (Istanbul Grand Airport), Enter Air, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, The Landmark Trust, THG Creative, &Beyond, Nikki Beach, The Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau, Koelnmesse GmbH and Holidays by Turkish Airlines.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
29 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows States Where Seniors Are Most Likely To Outlive Their Savings
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. While retirement used to be a relatively short period of time after one's career ended, higher life expectancies mean many Americans may outlive their retirement savings. However, a new report from Seniorly showed that a person's likelihood of living past their savings could vary dramatically based on where they live. Seniors in 41 states and Washington, D.C., were projected to outlive their savings and face an average shortfall of $115,000. Why It Matters With Social Security payments covering 30 percent of a retiree's living expenses on average, the study found that many seniors would need to rely on their own retirement savings. While careful planning can allot a good nest egg during a retiree's golden years, running out of money could push substantial numbers of seniors back into the workforce and elevate senior poverty rates nationwide. About one in three adults aged 65 and older are living below the poverty level, according to ConsumerAffairs. What To Know Seniors in almost all states are set to live past their retirement savings, but for how long and by how much depends on where they live, according to Seniorly. New York was the worst state for seniors outliving their savings, with an average shortfall of $448,000 between costs and income from investments, retirement savings and Social Security benefits. Individually, New Yorkers would need $1.12 million to cover living expenses over 19.4 years of expected retirement without depleting their savings. Not far behind were Hawaii and Washington, D.C, while Alaska and California rounded out the worst five. All four states and D.C. had a gap of $337,000 or more. "States like Hawaii, California, and New York simply cost more to live in across the board, so it's no surprise that retirees in those places are more likely to run out of savings," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the founder of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. The top five states where retirees were least likely to live past their retirement savings were Washington, Utah, Montana, Colorado and Iowa. However, life expectancy played a major role. States with lower expectancies naturally ranked better for the likelihood that seniors could make their retirement savings stretch. A walking frame in the room of an elderly resident in a residential care home in Bristol, England, on January 22, 2022. A walking frame in the room of an elderly resident in a residential care home in Bristol, England, on January 22, People Are Saying Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the founder of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "Costs for retirees are increasing faster than inflation, especially in areas like housing, health care, and food. In the states with higher shortfalls, more of a retiree's money is going toward basic living expenses. That could reflect not just higher costs, but also the strain that places on a retiree's quality of life." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "On both coasts, states like New York and California have retirees that, thanks to higher average earnings, can have more savings. Unfortunately, that also is linked to higher expenses, and the result is many retirees facing significant shortfalls in retirement." Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "These results are shocking. With 41 states plus D.C. showing a projected shortfall, it is clear this has little to do with your state of residence, but instead has everything to do with your state of preparedness. Americans are simply not prepared to fund their retirements." What Happens Next More than half of Gen Xers and 40 percent of baby boomers already expect to outlive their savings, according to a survey from Northwestern Mutual. Long term, these trends could boost even more migration to lower cost of living states for retirees, Beene said. "Lists like these are one of the primary reasons why migration to the Midwest and southeastern United States has been so strong in recent years," Beene said. "As more baby boomers enter retirement, they quickly realize states in those regions of the country can extend their dollars far more in their golden years."
Newsweek
30 minutes ago
- Newsweek
US Falls to Record Low in Powerful Passport Ranking
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The American passport, once ranked the most powerful in the world, has now slipped to 10th place for global mobility—its lowest ever position. The 2025 Henley Passport Index has dropped America's rating three spots from last year, after a decade of decline. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security, via email, for comment. File photo of a United States of America passport, taken in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 16, 2021. File photo of a United States of America passport, taken in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 16, 2021. AP Why It Matters The fall in the ranking highlights shifting global mobility trends and reflects concerns about the U.S.'s approach to international relations and border policies—impacting both American travelers and the nation's global influence. The index, produced by London-based Henley & Partners, draws on exclusive International Air Transport Association data to rank passports by the number of countries granting their holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, making it a significant barometer of diplomatic ties and "soft power" worldwide. What To Know For 2025, the United States tied with Iceland and Lithuania for 10th place, marking its lowest position since the creation of the index 20 years ago, and continuing a decade-long slide from the No.1 spot it shared in 2014. Americans can travel visa-free to 182 destinations—four fewer than last year and 11 fewer than holders of the top-ranked passport, Singapore. Singapore retained its lead at the top of the list, with visa-free access to 193 out of 227 possible destinations. Japan and South Korea followed in joint second place, each offering access to 190 destinations. The decline in U.S. passport power seems to be attributable to a lack of reciprocation in visa-free travel, according to how Henley & Partners' calculates its rankings, which also looks at imbalances. America allows 46 nationalities to enter without a visa, the index showed. What Is the Criteria? Each passport earns one point for every country it can enter without needing a visa in advance. This includes destinations where travelers can enter visa-free, get a visa on arrival, or use an electronic travel permit without needing government approval before the trip. If a visa is required before departure, including needing government approval for an e-visa or visa on arrival, the passport gets 0 points. The total score reflects how many countries a passport allows entry to without needing prior visa approval. Top 10 Most Powerful Passports 1. Singapore: 195 visa‑free destinations 2. Japan and South Korea: 190 visa‑free destinations 3. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain: 189 visa‑free destinations 4. Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden: 188 visa‑free destinations 5. Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland: 187 visa‑free destinations 6. United Kingdom: 186 visa‑free destinations 7. Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland: 185 visa‑free destinations 8. Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates: 184 visa‑free destinations 9. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia: 183 visa‑free destinations 10. Iceland, Lithuania, United States: 182 visa‑free destinations What People Are Saying Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, said in a statement: "Your passport is no longer just a travel document—it's a reflection of your country's diplomatic influence and international relationships. In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever." Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, said: "The consolidation we're seeing at the top underscores that access is earned—and must be maintained—through active and strategic diplomacy. Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts." What Happens Next The United States' declining passport power could impact American travelers' global mobility, business opportunities and perceptions abroad. Experts say future rankings will likely hinge on either renewed diplomatic efforts to increase reciprocal visa agreements or the continuation of recent trends toward tighter border controls.
Hamilton Spectator
44 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
This Ontario island hides medieval-looking wine cellars underground — and you can explore their secrets on guided tours
Here's another unique Ontario experience to add to your bucket list — going underground to explore medieval-looking wine cellars. A historic wine estate located on Pelee Island in Windsor-Essex takes visitors below ground and into wine cellars, where you can dine or participate in wine and chocolate tasting. Inside the restored Vin Villa below-ground wine cellars, showing the dining area and chandelier. The Vin Villa Behind the Gates Tour and Tasting is a 'gentle walking tour' that features guided visits of the ruins, cellars and grounds of Vin Villa, one of the most historically significant viticultural sites in North America, and Canada's first commercial estate winery, according to Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island . Established in 1866, the estate — located at 56 Sheridan Point Rd. on Pelee Island — doesn't operate as a full-scale winery anymore, but its doors are now open for guided tours of the historic ruins and the stunning restored underground cellars. Pelee Island Adventures offers the tours where you can 'Go behind the gates of this historical winery and discover the history of winemaking on Pelee Island as the secrets of Vin Villa unfold.' The medieval-looking gate leading to the underground wine cellars. The tour takes guests on a trip to learn Pelee Island's winemaking history, and features a descent below ground into the restored wine cellars lined with antique stained glass and accented by a 48-inch chandelier suspended above a 28-seat timber wine-tasting table. Inside the Vin Villa dining area. The experience lasts for an hour and 10 minutes and starts at the Vin Villa gates. The tour includes a complimentary wine tasting for guests and chocolate tasting for children and non-wine drinking visitors. Adult tickets go for $47. Senior tickets for those 65 years old and above are listed at $41, while tickets for teens aged 13 to 18 are sold for $37 and kids aged 12 and under can get the $21 ticket. Inside the restored Vin Villa below-ground wine cellars. All guests will receive a souvenir medallion. The tickets for adults and seniors include a complimentary wine or chocolate tasting, while the entrance fee for kids and teens includes chocolate tasting. Reservations are required through their site . Private VIP tours at non-public scheduled times are also available, according to information on their booking page. A post shared by Gisselle & Marissa ✨ Travel & Life (@
