International tourist arrivals grew by 0.4% in the first half of 2026, reaching 690 million, according to UN Tourism's latest World Tourism Barometer. Initial strong performance in the first quarter gave way to declines caused by Easter calendar shifts, Middle East geopolitical conflict, severe weather and high travel costs. Consequently, full-year growth projections have been lowered to between 1% and 2%.
Marriott Bonvoy has partnered with Bank Mandiri to launch its first co-branded credit card in Indonesia. This move marks the travel program’s debut in the Southeast Asian credit market and Bank Mandiri’s first collaboration with a global hospitality group. The card allows Indonesian travellers to accumulate points through daily spending, which can be redeemed across Marriott’s portfolio of 10,000 destinations.
The Ascott Limited achieved a record-breaking 2025 by signing 19,000 units across 102 new properties. This 27 per cent year-on-year growth saw the company expand into 10 new cities including Taipei and Wellington. The firm is focusing on an asset-light model with a heavy emphasis on resort signings and property conversions. Ascott now operates or is developing over 1,000 properties globally as it nears its S$500 million fee income target.
The Ascott Limited has launched a global, open-access Disability Inclusion Playbook for the accommodation sector, setting a new benchmark for inclusive hospitality. Developed with Colorful Earth and supported by SG Enable, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, and Valuable 500, the Playbook details guidance across five key pillars: Training, Spaces, Hiring, Digital Interfaces and Programmes. This initiative addresses the underserved market of an estimated 1.3 billion travellers with disabilities.
Saudi Arabia is aggressively pursuing its Vision 2030 goal of becoming a global tourism leader. This ambition is supported by an US$800 billion investment in giga-projects. To propel this growth, the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh will gather international travel industry professionals in the capital from 29 September to 1 October 2026. Organisers expect over 450 exhibitors and 6,500 visitors. The goal is to stimulate new partnerships and investment.
NUMA Group has launched ‘Native by Numa’, a new premium lifestyle hospitality brand, as part of its multi-brand expansion across Europe. Targeting cities such as Rome and Paris, the brand aims to blend high-touch service with NUMA’s digital operating model to deliver authentic, design-led stays for modern travellers.
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