Amsterdam is once again at the center of Europe’s overtourism debate, as city officials explore the possibility of ending ocean cruise visits altogether by 2035.

The discussion marks a shift from earlier plans to relocate the city’s central cruise terminal, with policymakers now questioning whether continued accommodation of large cruise ships aligns with Amsterdam’s long-term goals for sustainability, livability, and urban balance.

City leaders revealed in late January that relocating the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam would cost an estimated €85 million, a price tag they now consider unjustifiable.

A recent feasibility study identified significant financial uncertainties and environmental concerns tied to developing a new terminal location, prompting officials to reconsider whether investing in cruise infrastructure makes sense at all. Instead, the city plans to examine a phased exit from ocean cruise tourism over the next decade.

Why Amsterdam Is Rethinking Ocean Cruises

Deputy Mayor Hester van Buren emphasized that the city’s priorities have evolved. Officials argue that large cruise ships contribute to congestion, emissions, and pressure on already strained public spaces, while delivering limited long-term benefits to residents.

Although cruises generate visitor spending, the city estimates that eliminating the ocean cruise sector would reduce tax revenue by roughly €46 million over 30 years – a figure leaders appear increasingly willing to absorb in exchange for environmental and quality-of-life gains.

Amsterdam has already taken steps to rein in cruise traffic. A cap of 100 ocean cruise calls per year takes effect in 2026, along with a one-ship-per-day limit. Shore power connections will become mandatory from 2027, and river cruise traffic is also being reduced, with a 10% cut beginning this year as the city works toward an annual cap of 1,150 river vessels. These measures reflect a broader policy direction that includes restricting hotel development and limiting annual hotel nights.

Industry Reactions and What Comes Next

Cruise lines are watching the debate closely. Industry groups stress that sailings to Amsterdam are continuing as planned and that dialogue with the city remains constructive. Several cruise operators point to recent investments in cleaner technologies, including shore power connections, as evidence that collaboration – rather than exclusion – could address many of the city’s concerns.

Some cruise brands have already adjusted by using alternative ports such as IJmuiden or Rotterdam, both within easy reach of Amsterdam by road or rail. If a full ban is implemented, these nearby ports are expected to absorb additional cruise traffic, allowing passengers to visit the city without ships docking in its center.

The political future of the proposal remains uncertain. Municipal elections scheduled for March will determine the composition of the next city executive, which will ultimately decide whether to pursue a full ban, continue with capped operations, or revisit relocation options. City officials have pledged to further assess the economic and employment impacts before any final decision is made.

Amsterdam’s deliberations echo actions taken elsewhere in Europe. Venice barred large cruise ships from its lagoon in 2021, while Barcelona relocated cruise docking away from its historic core. As cities grapple with the trade-offs between tourism revenue and urban sustainability, Amsterdam’s decision could become another defining case in how destinations reshape their relationship with cruise tourism.

China’s annual Spring Festival travel rush has officially begun, marking the start of what is widely considered the largest human migration in the world. Spanning 40 days from early February through mid-March, the 2026 travel period is unfolding under exceptional conditions: the longest Spring Festival holiday on record, surging passenger demand, and the debut of new smart airport infrastructure designed to handle unprecedented volumes.

Authorities expect travel levels to surpass last year’s already historic figures, reflecting both pent-up demand and the cultural importance of returning home for the Lunar New Year.

This year’s holiday coincides with a rare nine-day public break, a factor expected to spread travel over a longer window while also encouraging longer-distance trips. National planners estimate up to 9.5 billion passenger journeys across all transport modes during the period, exceeding the 9.02 billion recorded in 2025. Civil aviation alone is projected to handle around 95 million passenger trips, averaging nearly 19,400 flights per day.

Major hubs such as Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen Bao’an, and Chengdu Tianfu are operating at sustained peak intensity as demand concentrates on trunk routes linking China’s largest city clusters.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is drawing particular attention this year as its new Terminal 3 undergoes its first Spring Festival stress test. Over the 40-day period, the airport expects more than 10.5 million passenger trips and over 65,000 takeoffs and landings. To manage the surge, smart technology plays a central role.

Self-service systems allow passengers to complete check-in, baggage drop, and parts of the security process with minimal human intervention, significantly reducing congestion during peak hours. Group concierge services are also available for large parties, helping families and tour groups move through the terminal more efficiently.

Beyond efficiency, airports are emphasizing experience. Observation decks, cultural installations, festive performances, and pop-up street fairs are transforming terminals into spaces that reflect the celebratory spirit of the season. At Guangzhou, travelers encounter orchid gardens, local food stalls, and live entertainment, reinforcing the idea that the journey home is as meaningful as the destination itself.

Despite economic uncertainty that has made some consumers more cautious, travel demand remains robust. Domestic flight bookings are running more than 20 percent higher year over year, while outbound travel is rebounding strongly, particularly to Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, airlines and air traffic authorities have expanded capacity, refined traffic flow management, and coordinated staffing to maintain safety and reliability under pressure.

As chunyun accelerates, China’s aviation network is being tested not just on scale, but on its ability to blend technology, coordination, and service. The outcome will shape expectations for how megacities manage mass mobility in the years ahead.

China has confirmed that British citizens can now enter the country visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, marking a significant shift in travel policy and a notable thaw in bilateral relations.

The decision, finalized during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing, is the first time in more than two decades that China has waived short-term visa requirements for UK passport holders. The policy takes effect immediately and places the United Kingdom alongside dozens of other countries that already benefit from China’s expanding visa-free access framework.

The new arrangement applies to travelers visiting for tourism, business meetings, family visits, or transit, provided their stay does not exceed 30 days. While the removal of visa paperwork simplifies entry, travelers must still comply with standard arrival procedures, including advance passenger information and, in some cases, proof of onward travel and accommodation.

Longer stays or activities such as employment or study will continue to require appropriate visas, maintaining a clear distinction between short-term mobility and long-term residency.

A Boost for Travel, Trade, and Airline Connectivity

The visa waiver arrives as air connectivity between China and the UK continues its steady recovery. Passenger routes linking major cities in both countries have already returned to a stable growth phase, with load factors on primary routes hovering in the mid-80% range.

Airlines responded swiftly to the announcement, reporting an immediate surge in bookings for services to Beijing and Shanghai. This early demand signals strong pent-up interest from both leisure travelers and business passengers who were previously deterred by visa processing times and costs.

For companies operating across borders, the policy removes a key administrative barrier. Short-notice business trips, trade fair attendance, and client visits can now be arranged more flexibly, a change welcomed by small and medium-sized enterprises in particular. Travel managers also note that eliminating visa fees and processing delays could shave weeks off planning cycles while reducing overall trip costs.

Wider Economic and Tourism Implications

The implications extend beyond aviation. Tourism authorities expect the visa-free policy to support reciprocal growth in visitor flows, especially as Chinese travel to the UK has already rebounded to around 80% of pre-pandemic levels. Forecasts suggest Chinese arrivals to Britain could rise sharply in 2026, generating significant tourism revenue and reinforcing people-to-people exchanges.

At a strategic level, the move is widely viewed as a confidence-building measure amid broader efforts to stabilize trade and economic cooperation. Alongside travel liberalization, both governments have signaled interest in deeper engagement across services, education, and investment. Business leaders see easier mobility as a practical foundation for expanding commercial relationships, particularly in sectors where face-to-face interaction remains critical.

However, officials and risk consultants caution that visa-free entry does not eliminate all complexities. Travelers are advised to remain mindful of local regulations, data security considerations, and exit procedures that may still involve scrutiny. Even so, the overall sentiment is optimistic.

With flight searches, hotel inquiries, and corporate travel planning all trending upward, the reopening of visa-free access suggests that the UK–China travel corridor is poised to regain its role as a key channel for tourism and economic exchange in the years ahead.

Africa-based travel technology company Tripesa has launched Roamio, an artificial intelligence–powered travel marketplace designed to fundamentally rethink how trips are planned and distributed across the continent. Rather than functioning as a traditional online travel agency, Roamio positions itself as an “anti-OTA” platform that prioritizes traveler intent over inventory, aiming to connect travelers directly with vetted local experts who can deliver personalized experiences.

Roamio is Tripesa’s first standalone product and operates as a separate entity following the company’s pivot to an in-house venture studio model. Founded in 2021, Tripesa initially focused on building websites and digital infrastructure for tourism businesses. Over time, the company recognized that while digital tools helped structure operations, they did little to solve a more fundamental issue: access to demand. Roamio emerged as a response to that challenge, with the goal of turning inspiration and planning into qualified leads for local operators.

At the core of Roamio is conversational AI that helps travelers explore destinations, refine itineraries, and clarify what kind of trip they want to take. Instead of browsing pre-packaged tours, users interact with the platform to shape personalized travel plans. Those interactions are then converted into structured, high-intent travel requests that are routed to relevant local providers such as tour operators, guides, and transport services. The emphasis is on quality of intent rather than volume of listings.

For service providers, Roamio offers a markedly different distribution model. Operators can create profiles that highlight their expertise without uploading inventory or managing complex pricing systems. The platform does not rely on commission-heavy structures that often erode margins for small businesses. By eliminating multiple intermediaries, Tripesa aims to keep more revenue in the hands of local operators while offering travelers more authentic and flexible experiences.

The company’s leadership argues that traditional travel distribution has long favored operators with the largest marketing budgets and digital reach, often pushing travelers toward standardized experiences. Roamio’s approach seeks to rebalance that dynamic by making distribution more equitable and aligning supply with how travelers actually plan trips today. It also opens the door for ancillary services and more complex, multi-day journeys that are difficult to package in conventional OTA formats.

While Roamio is currently focused on Africa, its underlying model reflects broader shifts in travel technology toward personalization, AI-driven planning, and direct connections between travelers and on-the-ground experts. By reframing discovery and booking around intent rather than inventory, Tripesa is positioning Roamio as a potential alternative to legacy platforms, particularly in destinations where small and medium-size operators form the backbone of the tourism economy.