Global Scans · Travel · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: How we travel, where we travel and whether we travel at all will mean tremendous change in the decades ahead.

• [New] Nationwide only 41% of rural hospitals are still providing labour and delivery services, leaving many women with no choice but to travel great distances to have their baby delivered, increasing the risk of complications. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to use a trip this week to China to urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to pressure Iran into making concessions and end the current limbo. The American Legion
• [New] Making train travel easier to book is part of a broader strategy to shift transportation habits before 2030. TravelPirates
• [New] The European Commission has proposed new rules aimed at making rail travel across Europe easier to plan, book and complete, particularly on journeys involving different operators or more than one country. Politis
• [New] China's peak May travel season is running into mounting disruption as a sweep of heavy rain, cold fronts and localized storms collides with already strained aviation and rail networks, creating fresh uncertainty for millions of domestic and international travelers. The Traveler
• [New] U.S. travel spending will hit a record $1.37 trillion in 2026 and climb to $1.42 trillion in 2027. U.S. Travel Association
• [New] International visitor spending is projected to rise 5.8% to $5.2 billion despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty impacting inbound U.S. travel. Skift Meetings
• [New] The sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines has created major disruption across the U.S. travel industry, with thousands of passengers left stranded after flights were abruptly canceled ahead of the busy summer travel season. Trawick International
• [New] Business confidence in services fell to a 42-month low, reflecting pressure from higher energy prices, travel disruption, weaker consumer-facing demand and concerns about possible ECB rate hikes if inflation continues to rise. Stock Market Update
• [New] Summer holidays might look different for some people in 2026 as the war in Iran disrupts travel across the Middle East and pushes up prices for flights and package deals to European hotspots. BBC News
• [New] Full-year 2026 U.S. hotel Average Daily Rate is projected to rise roughly 1% year-over-year. Skift Meetings
• [New] 86% of business travelers said they will travel more as a group in 2026, up from 73% the previous year. Skift Meetings
• [New] 68% of travel managers plan to expand budgets in 2026; however, the share of travel managers expecting budget cuts is up 4%. Skift Meetings
• [New] People could see their travel plans upended as airlines cancel or consolidate flights to conserve jet fuel as the war in the Middle East disrupts supplies. The Guardian
• [New] STB projects international visitor arrivals in 2026 will reach between 17 million and 18 million, with tourism spending hitting $31 billion to $32.5 billion. ST
• [New] Travel-risk consultancies are recommending contingency playbooks that include switching to road transport for intra-Italian trips under 500 km, booking flexible hotel rates and maintaining remote-work fallback options. VisaHQ
• [New] The FIFA World Cup 2026 and upcoming international events will create higher demand for travel packages that include tickets to events. Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence
• [New] With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than two months away, tourism officials and hotel operators across North America are reporting slower-than-expected travel demand. Trawick International
• [New] Gradually, people could order food, book air travel, find dates, and navigate backroads and byways through a digital device, giving rise to new business models and companies such as Shopify and DoorDash. Sands Capital
• [New] Total travel spending is forecast to reach $1.37 trillion in 2026 and $1.42 trillion in 2027. / USA U.S. Travel Association
• [New] Growth in business travel is expected to remain below leisure travel growth in the near term, before improving from 2027 onward as broader economic conditions stabilize and corporate travel budgets recover. U.S. Travel Association
• [New] Following 2.1% growth in 2025, domestic leisure travel spending continues to expand, rising 0.9% to $909 billion in 2026 and growing more quickly in 2027 and beyond. U.S. Travel Association

Last updated: 16 May 2026