Saudi Arabia has marked a historic milestone in its tourism sector, with international visitor spending reaching an unprecedented SR49.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a 9.7 percent increase from the same period in 2024. This surge contributed to a travel surplus of SR26.8 billion, up 11.7 percent year-on-year, underscoring the Kingdom’s rapid transformation into a global tourism powerhouse.

This remarkable growth is fueled by strategic initiatives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and position tourism as a key pillar. The Ministry of Tourism credits this success to enhanced visa facilitation, innovative digital platforms like the ‘Spirit of Saudi Arabia’ app and the smart tour guide ‘Sara’, and the development of diverse tourism segments including adventure, ecotourism, cultural, medical, and business tourism.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism renaissance is anchored by world-class projects and heritage sites. The ultra-luxury Red Sea Project offers pristine coastal experiences such as snorkeling and scuba diving, while NEOM’s sustainable eco-tourism initiatives attract environmentally conscious travelers seeking unique adventures. Cultural tourism flourishes with revitalized sites like AlUla and Diriyah Gate, enhanced by immersive technologies that enrich visitor engagement.

Luxury tourism is also booming, with significant investments in high-end resorts and hospitality infrastructure. For instance, AlUla’s “Journey Through Time” masterplan, a $15 billion initiative, is set to generate tens of thousands of jobs and billions in GDP by 2035, featuring new luxury hotels like Marriott and Six Senses. NEOM’s Sindalah Island resort, with its upscale retail, dining, and leisure offerings, exemplifies the Kingdom’s ambition to attract affluent global travelers.

Building on this momentum, Saudi Arabia recently launched TOURISE, a groundbreaking 50-year tourism roadmap designed to sustain and accelerate growth. The initiative, supported by global industry leaders, focuses on AI-powered tourism, innovative business models, travel experience enhancement, and sustainable development. The first TOURISE Summit is scheduled for November 2025 in Riyadh, promising to showcase high-value investment opportunities and foster international collaboration.

The Kingdom’s tourism sector now contributes nearly five percent of GDP, second only to oil, and is projected to grow by 8 percent in 2025, with visitor numbers expected to surpass 30 million by year-end. This rapid expansion is backed by an $800 billion investment commitment and a vibrant calendar of global events, including the upcoming Esports World Cup and FIFA World Cup 2034.

At the Arabian Travel Market 2025, Saudi Arabia reinforced its global tourism leadership by securing 14 major international partnerships with hotel groups, travel platforms, and regional operators. The “Saudi Land” pavilion attracted over 46,000 visitors, showcasing the Kingdom’s diverse destinations and cultural heritage. These collaborations aim to enhance connectivity, diversify tourism products, and boost international arrivals.

The Saudi Tourism Authority’s summer 2025 program, ‘Colour Your Summer’, highlights the Kingdom’s year-round appeal, promoting coastal escapes along the Red Sea and adventure tourism in mountainous regions like Aseer and Taif. These efforts reflect a comprehensive strategy to cater to diverse traveler preferences and further integrate tourism into the national economy.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism boom in early 2025 is a testament to the Kingdom’s visionary leadership and strategic execution. By blending heritage preservation, luxury development, technological innovation, and sustainability, Saudi Arabia is rewriting the global tourism playbook. As the Kingdom accelerates toward its Vision 2030 targets, it is poised to become a dynamic, multifaceted destination that offers unparalleled experiences to travelers worldwide.

The ongoing two-day strike by French air traffic controllers has triggered widespread travel chaos across Europe, with significant flight cancellations and disruptions extending well beyond France’s borders. The strike, called by minority unions UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT, protests chronic understaffing, outdated equipment, and problematic management practices within France’s air traffic control system.

On Thursday alone, France’s civil aviation authority DGAC reported the cancellation of 933 flights, representing about 10% of scheduled flights nationwide, with cancellations rising to 25% at major Paris airports such as Charles de Gaulle and Orly. By Friday morning, around 1,000 flights had already been cancelled after DGAC mandated a 40% reduction in flights at Paris airports to manage the strike’s impact.

 Other French airports, particularly in the south, saw up to half of their flights affected. Across Europe, the Airlines for Europe (A4E) lobby group estimated that 1,500 flights were cancelled over the two-day period, disrupting travel plans for approximately 300,000 passengers.

The timing of the strike is particularly disruptive, coinciding with the start of the European summer holiday season and the final school day in France before the holidays, when many families plan early departures. The French government has strongly condemned the strike, with Prime Minister François Bayrou describing it as "taking the French hostage," and Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot calling it "unacceptable" due to its wide-reaching impact on over 500,000 people.

Ryanair has been one of the hardest-hit carriers, cancelling 170 flights and affecting over 30,000 passengers. CEO Michael O’Leary criticized the strike as an unfair burden on European travelers, urging the European Commission to implement reforms to prevent such disruptions, including ensuring full staffing during peak hours and protecting overflights during national strikes. Other airlines affected include EasyJet, which cancelled 274 flights, Lufthansa, which scaled back operations at several French airports, and British Airways, which deployed larger aircraft to mitigate disruption.

The strike’s effects extend beyond flights to and from France, significantly impacting flights overflying French airspace. This has caused delays and cancellations on routes between countries such as the UK, Greece, Spain, and Ireland. Passengers stranded at airports like Paris Orly have reported severe difficulties securing alternative travel or accommodation, highlighting the human toll of the disruption.

Underlying the strike are longstanding grievances from air traffic controllers regarding insufficient staffing levels, aging and failing technology, and a management culture they describe as toxic and incompatible with the safety and calm required for their work. The unions argue that the DGAC has failed to adequately invest in modernizing air traffic control infrastructure despite repeated assurances.

This strike adds to recent challenges faced by European aviation, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that led Ryanair to cancel over 800 flights last month. Despite these setbacks, Ryanair reported operating more than 109,000 flights in June, carrying nearly 20 million passengers, a 3% increase year-on-year.

The disruption caused by the French air traffic controllers’ strike underscores vulnerabilities in Europe’s air traffic management system and the urgent need for reforms to ensure reliability during peak travel periods and to protect passengers from avoidable delays and cancellations.

Saudi Arabia has marked a historic milestone in its tourism sector, with international visitor spending reaching an unprecedented SR49.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a 9.7 percent increase from the same period in 2024. This surge contributed to a travel surplus of SR26.8 billion, up 11.7 percent year-on-year, underscoring the Kingdom’s rapid transformation into a global tourism powerhouse.

This remarkable growth is fueled by strategic initiatives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and position tourism as a key pillar. The Ministry of Tourism credits this success to enhanced visa facilitation, innovative digital platforms like the ‘Spirit of Saudi Arabia’ app and the smart tour guide ‘Sara’, and the development of diverse tourism segments including adventure, ecotourism, cultural, medical, and business tourism.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism renaissance is anchored by world-class projects and heritage sites. The ultra-luxury Red Sea Project offers pristine coastal experiences such as snorkeling and scuba diving, while NEOM’s sustainable eco-tourism initiatives attract environmentally conscious travelers seeking unique adventures. Cultural tourism flourishes with revitalized sites like AlUla and Diriyah Gate, enhanced by immersive technologies that enrich visitor engagement.

Luxury tourism is also booming, with significant investments in high-end resorts and hospitality infrastructure. For instance, AlUla’s “Journey Through Time” masterplan, a $15 billion initiative, is set to generate tens of thousands of jobs and billions in GDP by 2035, featuring new luxury hotels like Marriott and Six Senses. NEOM’s Sindalah Island resort, with its upscale retail, dining, and leisure offerings, exemplifies the Kingdom’s ambition to attract affluent global travelers.

Building on this momentum, Saudi Arabia recently launched TOURISE, a groundbreaking 50-year tourism roadmap designed to sustain and accelerate growth. The initiative, supported by global industry leaders, focuses on AI-powered tourism, innovative business models, travel experience enhancement, and sustainable development. The first TOURISE Summit is scheduled for November 2025 in Riyadh, promising to showcase high-value investment opportunities and foster international collaboration.

The Kingdom’s tourism sector now contributes nearly five percent of GDP, second only to oil, and is projected to grow by 8 percent in 2025, with visitor numbers expected to surpass 30 million by year-end. This rapid expansion is backed by an $800 billion investment commitment and a vibrant calendar of global events, including the upcoming Esports World Cup and FIFA World Cup 2034.

At the Arabian Travel Market 2025, Saudi Arabia reinforced its global tourism leadership by securing 14 major international partnerships with hotel groups, travel platforms, and regional operators. The “Saudi Land” pavilion attracted over 46,000 visitors, showcasing the Kingdom’s diverse destinations and cultural heritage. These collaborations aim to enhance connectivity, diversify tourism products, and boost international arrivals.

The Saudi Tourism Authority’s summer 2025 program, ‘Colour Your Summer’, highlights the Kingdom’s year-round appeal, promoting coastal escapes along the Red Sea and adventure tourism in mountainous regions like Aseer and Taif. These efforts reflect a comprehensive strategy to cater to diverse traveler preferences and further integrate tourism into the national economy.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism boom in early 2025 is a testament to the Kingdom’s visionary leadership and strategic execution. By blending heritage preservation, luxury development, technological innovation, and sustainability, Saudi Arabia is rewriting the global tourism playbook. As the Kingdom accelerates toward its Vision 2030 targets, it is poised to become a dynamic, multifaceted destination that offers unparalleled experiences to travelers worldwide.

Emirates has reached a new milestone in luxury in-flight service, revealing that its passengers consumed an extraordinary 60 million pieces of luxury chocolate over the past year—a two-million increase from the previous year—demonstrating both the airline’s dedication to premium hospitality and the global appetite for gourmet experiences at 40,000 feet. This announcement comes as Emirates celebrates World Chocolate Day and highlights Dubai’s growing reputation as a hub for fine chocolate.

Breakdown by Cabin Class:

• Economy Class: Passengers enjoyed 36.6 million individual chocolates, making this the most chocolate-loving cabin.
• Premium Economy: Since its recent introduction, this class saw 1.06 million chocolates consumed, reflecting strong demand for elevated onboard treats.
• Business Class: Travelers in this cabin indulged in 9.1 million chocolates, with a selection of artisan pralines and truffles.
• First Class: Passengers relished 122,000 large gourmet chocolate boxes—equivalent to about 13.4 million individual pieces. First Class guests have access to unlimited chocolates and are invited to take their favorites home as a parting gift.

Global Chocolate Partnerships and Rotating Selection:

Emirates collaborates with renowned chocolatiers from around the world, including Coco Jalila (UAE), Valrhona (France), and Canonica and Neuhaus (Belgium). The airline rotates its chocolate offerings every six months, ensuring frequent flyers are continually surprised with new flavors and brands. The selection process considers chocolate type (dark, milk, white), fillings (ganache, praline, fruit), taste, texture, brand reputation, current trends, and sustainable sourcing practices.

Desserts and Special Treats Across All Classes:

• First Class: Passengers can indulge in 85% dark Lindt chocolate from their goodie baskets, pistachio and chocolate mousse cake, warm chocolate fondant with raspberry coulis, vegan chocolate tart with apricot compote, and more.
• Business Class: Features delights such as vegan onyx avocado chocolate tart, banana mango and milk chocolate dome, and chocolate mocha marquise wedge.
• Premium Economy: Offers chocolate mousse cake with passion fruit core and strawberry sauce.
• Economy Class: Rich chocolate mousse with classic crème anglaise and other chocolate desserts are served as part of the meal service.
• On longer routes, snack trays include chocolate candy bars, and children receive chocolate lollipops during festive occasions.

Emirates Lounges in Dubai:

The chocolate experience continues on the ground in Emirates’ Dubai lounges, where travelers can enjoy homemade Emirates chocolate ice cream, signature Costa Coffee hot chocolate, and a variety of MasterChef creations such as Sacher cake, chocolate and pistachio kunafa, Marveille cake, white chocolate ganache cake, chocolate chou, hazelnut crunchie, and vegan chocolate brownies.

Signature Experiences and Attention to Detail:

Emirates’ dedication to quality is evident in its careful curation of chocolate brands and desserts, with selections rotated regularly to keep the experience fresh and engaging. The airline’s partnership with elite chocolatiers like Valrhona—renowned for ethical sourcing and B Corp certification—underscores its commitment to excellence and sustainability.

This sweet surge not only enhances the ‘fly better’ experience for millions of travelers to 140 destinations worldwide, but also reflects Dubai’s status as a global center for luxury and culinary innovation.

The recent discovery of a pistol magazine inside the carry-on bag of a government adviser at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) has once again spotlighted critical vulnerabilities in airport security, igniting concerns over preferential treatment and systemic enforcement failures at Bangladesh’s busiest international gateway.

The incident occurred when the adviser’s bag, which had passed through initial screening including at the VIP terminal gate was flagged during a subsequent scan. This lapse in layered security protocols reveals glaring inconsistencies in how airport checks are applied, especially for influential passengers. The adviser described the oversight as unintentional, but aviation experts argue it highlights deeper issues in security enforcement and accountability.

This breach is not an isolated case. In May 2020, Ron Haque Sikder, Managing Director of Sikder Group, and his brother escaped the country via a private air ambulance during a COVID-19 lockdown that had halted most outbound flights. They reportedly used the VVIP terminal to leave unnoticed despite facing serious criminal allegations, raising questions about possible deliberate negligence or complicity among immigration and security agencies.

More recently, in September 2023, a 12-year-old boy managed to bypass all airport checks without a passport, ticket, or boarding pass and boarded a Kuwait-bound flight. The child blended in with an elderly couple and slipped past multiple layers of security, only being discovered after the plane was fully boarded. This incident exposed severe lapses in the screening process and led to the suspension of 10 airport staffers.

Insiders concede that VIPs and their aides often receive leniency during initial security checks. A senior airport official, speaking anonymously, admitted, “The more powerful the passenger, the less scrutiny their luggage gets. That’s just the reality at HSIA.” Such preferential treatment undermines the integrity of security protocols and places all passengers at risk.

In response to mounting criticism, HSIA’s Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad and Aviation Security Wing Commander Jakaria Mahbub have introduced enhanced security measures. These include stricter screening of VIP/VVIP baggage, mandatory manual inspections of flagged items, routine staff briefings, intensified CCTV monitoring, prior approval for carrying firearms, and formal investigations following breaches.

Despite these measures, skepticism remains widespread. Retired Biman pilot Captain Rezaul Karim emphasized, “Security protocols don’t fail because of machines they fail because of human hesitation. If rules are optional for VIPs, then the whole system is compromised by design.” He warned that persistent lapses damage Bangladesh’s aviation reputation and hinder progress toward meeting international safety standards necessary for expanding long-haul routes, such as direct flights to the United States.

The adviser involved in the recent incident, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, who holds a valid gun license, expressed regret, stating the magazine was mistakenly packed in his bag. He owns a licensed firearm for personal safety amid recent security threats and insisted there was no illegal or intentional wrongdoing.

Experts caution that unless uniform security screening is enforced for all passengers regardless of status further breaches could jeopardize not only individual safety but also Bangladesh’s standing in global aviation. The recurring security failures at HSIA underscore the urgent need for institutional accountability and consistent enforcement to restore public trust and international confidence.

Passengers on Lufthansa Flight LH414 found their transatlantic journey from Munich to Washington Dulles unexpectedly interrupted on June 30, 2025, when the flight was forced to divert to Boston Logan International Airport due to fuel concerns. The Airbus A380-841, operating as LH414, encountered unplanned airspace closures over the northeastern United States, which extended its flight path and left the crew with insufficient fuel to safely reach their original destination under Lufthansa’s strict operational standards.

As the aircraft approached New England, the flight crew alerted Boston Center that continuing on the assigned routing would leave them with virtually no fuel reserves. LiveATC audio captured the exchange, with the pilot explaining, “If we continue this routing with the additional time, that basically leaves us with zero fuel,” and requesting an immediate diversion to Boston. Air traffic controllers confirmed that all normal routes to Washington Dulles were closed and cleared the flight to proceed to Boston.

The A380 landed safely at Boston Logan, and no injuries or onboard emergencies were reported. For passengers, the diversion meant missed connections and, in many cases, unexpected overnight stays. However, Boston’s status as a major international hub allowed Lufthansa staff to quickly rebook travelers and manage the disruption. Ground crews at Logan also had to improvise, handling baggage and refueling logistics for an aircraft not originally scheduled to arrive there.

The operational impact extended beyond the immediate flight, with the return service from Washington to Munich cancelled as the aircraft remained in Boston. Lufthansa began working to reposition the plane and resume its long-haul schedule, though full recovery details were not immediately available.

This incident is not isolated. In December 2024, United Airlines Flight UA83 from Delhi to Newark faced a similar scenario, diverting to Boston due to low fuel after an extended Atlantic routing. In that case, passengers remained onboard during refueling before the flight continued safely to Newark.

These diversions highlight the challenges airlines face amid increasingly congested and unpredictable airspace. While such unscheduled stops can be inconvenient for travelers, they underscore the aviation industry’s commitment to safety, ensuring that operational decisions always prioritize the well-being of passengers and crew.