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Newsweek
4 days ago
- Newsweek
The 'World's Biggest City' You've Probably Never Heard Of
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. Chongqing, China—a city of nearly 18.2 million people—remains virtually unknown to many travelers outside Asia, despite being one of the most-distinctive urban landscapes in the world. That was the central message from YouTuber and polyglot Arieh Smith (@xiaomanyc), during a panel discussion at Newsweek's inaugural New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit earlier this month. "The story of Chongqing is a great, great story. It's the world's biggest city that you haven't heard of," said Smith, who developed near-native fluency in Mandarin Chinese while living and studying in China. His experiences exploring the city left a lasting impression, particularly its unusual geography and sci-fi aesthetic. Stock image: The Dongshuimen Bridge in Chongqing is lit up at night. Stock image: The Dongshuimen Bridge in Chongqing is lit up at night. Getty "It's built on mountains, so it has the most-crazy geography," Smith said. He added that visitors are often "shocked to see a city nearly three times the size of New York," which has a population of around 8.8 million. Many are left wondering "how does this exist in the middle of China" and how they've "never heard about this crazy cyberpunk, sci-fi destination … that young people can get really excited about and interested in." As an online creator who shares multilingual content and global travel experiences with millions of viewers, Smith emphasized the role of digital platforms in spotlighting lesser-known destinations. "I think that social media can really be a force for exploration of these unknown destinations," he said. Stock image: The exterior of Hongya Cave is seen. Stock image: The exterior of Hongya Cave is seen. Getty Chongqing, which the Lonely Planet travel guide says is "the most important city in western China and the economic engine of the upper Yangzi [Yangtze]," is increasingly recognized for its dramatic vertical layout and rugged topography. The guide praises its "fantastic food and charismatic geography," noting its position at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers as a gateway to the scenic Three Gorges region. Chongqing's built environment defies standard urban planning. The Western China International Communication Organization describes it as "internationally renowned as the '8D Magic City'," citing its blend of steep terrain, suspended bridges, transit systems that slice through buildings, and rooftop playgrounds. "This city, uniquely perched on mountains and divided by rivers, defies traditional urban planning with its awe-inspiring infrastructure and innovative transportation solutions," the group says. Stock image: A monorail train goes through a high-rise residential building in Chongqing, China. Stock image: A monorail train goes through a high-rise residential building in Chongqing, China. Getty Among its most-photographed landmarks is the Hongya Cave, a cliffside commercial and cultural complex that fuses traditional Chinese architecture with modern retail. Other signature features include football fields built above traffic arteries and skybridges and monorails linking dense clusters of towers—an architectural response to the city's spatial constraints. Stock image: People gather on a street in Jiefangbei, Chongqing, China. Stock image: People gather on a street in Jiefangbei, Chongqing, China. Getty A May 2022 study in Urban Studies contextualized these features within the framework of "extreme vertical density," describing Chongqing as a standout case of post-socialist urban transformation. The city, the study adds, has "become 'spectacles' in themselves, widely photographed and discussed on social media," and exemplifies "verticality as an everyday, historically grounded and contested environment." For Smith, Chongqing's appeal lies in both its physical form and its capacity to surprise. As travelers increasingly seek novel experiences, Chongqing's blend of scale, innovation, and visual drama could turn this lesser-known megacity into a top-tier global destination. Stock image: A night view of buildings in Chaotianmen Square and cruise ships is seen in Chongqing, China. Stock image: A night view of buildings in Chaotianmen Square and cruise ships is seen in Chongqing, China. Getty Do you have a travel-related story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
From AI to Overtourism: The Future of Travel Debated at Newsweek Summit
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. 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 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 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 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 to have taken the effort to learn those words and pronounce it with your actual 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 Group, highlighted a strong rebound in Chinese travel. "The Chinese market has recovered very 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 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 in is extraordinary." Jane Sun, CEO of the 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 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 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 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 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.
Newsweek
04-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
CEO of World's Busiest Airport Shares Eye-Opening Take on Future of Travel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The chief executive managing the world's busiest airport is on a mission to eliminate the friction of air travel and redefine what an airport can be. Speaking during Newsweek's inaugural New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit on July 3 and in a separate interview with Newsweek, Paul Griffiths, the CEO of Dubai Airports, laid out a sweeping vision for the future of airports among other experts in the travel industry. Dubai Airports is the authority that owns and operates airports in the city, including Dubai International Airport (DXB); it has ranked as the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic since 2014. Opening the discussion floor at the event, Amit Shah, executive vice president of Newsweek International, said that the story of travel is "changing faster than ever." He added that "travelers want deeper, more authentic experiences; destinations want to stay unique and protected; and the industry must balance growth with genuine care." Griffiths said that "people don't have the vision that an airport should be a place of hospitality … a place of welcome." He added that, "when people come to a country, the first experience they get is the airport experience. When they leave, it's the last impression they have." Dubai International Airport is coming off a record year. In 2024, it welcomed 92.3 million guests, surpassing its previous high of 89.1 million in 2018. Over the last decade, DXB has served more than 700 million passengers on over 3.3 million flights. The airport authority is looking to build an even-bigger hub with the expansion of Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport; "when ultimately completed, [it] will be 260 million passenger capacity—by far the largest, more than double anything that exists at the moment," Griffiths said at the event. Paul Griffiths (left), the CEO of Dubai Airports, stands with Amit Shah, the executive vice president of Newsweek International, at the inaugural New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit held on July 3 in London in... Paul Griffiths (left), the CEO of Dubai Airports, stands with Amit Shah, the executive vice president of Newsweek International, at the inaugural New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit held on July 3 in London in the United Kingdom. More Newsweek 'Reimagining the Airport Experience' Griffiths said "reimagining the airport experience, it shouldn't be a hard thing," and he is determined not to replicate outdated models. "The worst nightmare is, if we're doubling the size of check-in, we're doubling the queues, we're doubling the walking distances," Griffiths said. "We don't want to build ever-bigger things; we want to build faster things with much-better processing times." Instead, Griffiths outlined a plan to decentralize operations into "something like eight smaller airports" linked by high-speed rail. The aim is to create a seamless connection from city to gate, with integrated logistics that minimize the distance between travelers and their aircraft. "You can book into a railway station and then transition seamlessly from your plane onto the train with a few steps," Griffiths said. The interior of Dubai International Airport. The interior of Dubai International Airport. Maremagnum/Corbis Documentary RF/Getty Scrapping the Outdated Check-in System Asked whether he is planning to scrap the traditional check-in experience at Dubai International, Griffiths said at the event: "Utterly and totally." This transformation hinges on the abandonment of legacy systems. Griffiths was especially critical of current baggage procedures. "Why do you have to go to the airport and actually stand in line and then drop your bag off?" he asked. "Why, in the 21st century, are we sticking paper labels on suitcases?" Griffiths described the process as "just so ridiculous," adding "every luggage manufacturer could print a unique barcode on a suitcase, which could be read by the airport systems and there you can track wherever it is in the world on whichever airline." Griffiths repeatedly returned to a central premise—the airport experience must be frictionless. He told Newsweek: "What we're trying to do is combine one biometric signature that happens when you walk into the airport—you won't even see the cameras, you won't know it's happening—that does check-in, seat allocation, baggage registration, security and immigration—all done." Such an approach could render many traditional steps obsolete. "If you ever go to a car showroom and buy a car, and they give you the car, and they say, 'By the way, see those four wheels; you're gonna have to bolt them onto the car yourself'—I mean that doesn't happen," Griffiths said. "We have to rethink and go back to basics." Maximizing Efficiency With AI Dubai Airports is already experimenting with technologies to improve operations, including AI-powered video analytics during aircraft turnarounds. Griffiths said: "If, for example, the catering truck arrives, and it stays there for too long … you can analyze how far behind the optimal time they are, then you can have a look at how you might be able to improve that," he added. "It's a very interesting journey; we'll learn a lot from it." Griffiths said: "I think the technology exists to do virtually anything in the world; we're just reaching the limits of human ingenuity in sectors that really do need to change, and I think that's going be the case in the aviation industry, thinking of different ways of doing things." And it is not just the check-in process that needs change. Griffiths added that AI also has potential to revolutionize airport security and baggage screening. "Now, AI is so clever. I'm sure AI could analyze the imaging and give a far-higher level of accuracy … so, why don't we make that whole process far less intrusive, far more accurate and far quicker and far safer?" he asked. Stock image: Emirates planes are parked at Dubai International Airport on September 14, 2017. Stock image: Emirates planes are parked at Dubai International Airport on September 14, 2017. GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Stopping Traffic for 'Missile Break' and Other Challenges The executive said that one of the biggest challenges in managing DXB is the sheer scale of the operation. "If anything goes wrong at my airports, you've got 200 people a minute wanting to know what's gone wrong very quickly," Griffiths said. While Dubai Airports employed 3,550 people in 2007, it now serves 96 million passengers with a staff of just 17,000. Even amid regional tensions—such as the recent U.S. missile strikes on Iran—Griffiths said the team maintained smooth operations. Griffiths said at the event: "I've never had a phone call [where someone asked], 'Oh, would you stop all the planes for about 60 minutes while we have a missile break?' I mean that's never happened before, but we literally got that call" saying, "there's gonna be a few things not under normal air traffic control that will be passing through your airspace." "We rerouted all of our Western traffic across the southern part of Saudi Arabia … and through Oman to avoid the problem on the northern side," Griffiths later told Newsweek. "We got around it by just using operational contingencies." Griffiths emphasized that successful airports must understand their role beyond logistics. Sometimes, he added, hospitality means personalization. "I had someone who said, 'Could I get someone to stamp my passport because I first arrived in Dubai in 1965 and would like to have another stamp saying my next arrival time is 60 years later?' and we arranged that," Griffiths said. Dubai's baggage system, the largest in the world, stretches 140 kilometers, or 87 miles—nearly the distance between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Griffiths said. "Our lost-bag rate is seven times better than the world average," he added. "The world average, when you travel, your luggage has about seven bags out of every 1,000 misrouted, and ours is less than one every 1,000 bags." Griffiths said he believes most airports fail at their core mission. "They're misunderstanding the fact that they need to be there to reassure travelers … every single customer needs to be treated as an individual," he added. "I'm trying my best to educate architects on what makes a good airport … some of them are listening, which is great." File photo: Dubai Airport CEO Paul Griffiths is seated at his office in Dubai on August 17, 2022. File photo: Dubai Airport CEO Paul Griffiths is seated at his office in Dubai on August 17, 2022. GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Do you have a travel-related story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Newsweek To Host Leading Voices on the Future of Travel in Upcoming Event
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. Newsweek will host its inaugural travel summit next month in London, England, gathering leading minds across the global travel industry for a full day of panels, keynotes, and expert-led discussions. The travel industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with a "robust and sustained travel demand" this year even amid growing geopolitical tensions, notes the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Around 300 million tourists were reported to have traveled internationally in the first quarter of 2025 alone, around 14 million more than in the same period last year, according to the UNWTO. The New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit, taking place on July 3 at The Shard, will feature a lineup of CEOs, strategists, marketers, innovators, and academics to explore pressing topics that are impacting the travel and tourism sector—from AI and sustainability to shifting traveler expectations and economic resilience. 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 will be joined by broadcaster Simon Calder to discuss the future of travel with a host of industry experts. The day's agenda will span several core themes, including what the modern traveler looks like, along with top destinations, emerging trends, and evolving consumer behavior. The event will also address strategic responses to changing global geographies and economies, as well as the travel industry's toughest challenges and the roles of sustainability, AI, and policy regulation in shaping industry outcomes. Stock image of tourists in Cappadocia, Turkey. Stock image of tourists in Cappadocia, Turkey. Getty The event will feature the following speakers: Paul Griffiths (CEO, Dubai Airports Company) Steve Hill (CEO, Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority) Selahattin Bilgen (CEO, iGA Istanbul Airport) Dr. Aaron J. Salā (president and CEO, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau) Rene Frey (CEO, Rough Guides & Insight Guides) Jane Sun (CEO, Group) Maeve Scanlon (VP business affairs, THG Creative) Professor Xavier Font (professor of sustainability marketing, University of Surrey) Arieh Smith (polyglot and YouTuber @xiaomanyc) Robin Johnson (global marketing director for Visit Britain) Lyn Hughes (founding editor, Wanderlust Travel Media) Through keynote speeches, fireside chats, and panel conversations, the event will present a platform for forward-looking dialogue about the intersection of travel, technology, climate change, and global culture. Organizers say the goal is to bridge innovation and responsibility across all sectors of the tourism industry. "Travel invites us to dream beyond the horizon," said Amit Shah, Executive Vice President of Newsweek International. "At the New Destinations Summit in London, we're reimagining how travel fosters deeper connections among people, cultures, and the planet. This gathering of visionaries aims to create sustainable, inclusive, and transformative travel experiences." Shah added: "At Newsweek, we're thrilled to spark conversations that inspire a new era of exploration, ensuring no place or community is left behind." The New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit takes place from 9 a.m. local time on July 3 at The Shard in London. For more information and to register for the event, see this link at the Newsweek website. Soo Kim will be moderating a virtual fireside chat with Jane Sun, CEO of Group, as part of this event.
