Skip to content
KLEBER GROUP News
Taiwan Tourism – Continuation of Administration DACH
We are proud to continue managing PR and communications for the Taiwan Tourism Administration in the DACH market in 2026. Building on a successful launch last year, this partnership will further strengthen Taiwan’s positioning as a diverse and inspiring travel destination in Asia, with a focus on strategic media relations, trade engagement, and trend-driven travel storytelling.
KLEBER GROUP now present in Austria
We are proud to announce the opening of our presence in Vienna, completing our DACH coverage and strengthening our engagement in one of Europe’s most relevant tourism, luxury, and lifestyle markets.
Angola as Host Country at CMT Stuttgart
#TeamKleber activated Angola at CMT Stuttgart, Germany’s leading consumer travel trade show, where the destination took center stage as the official Host Country. With a strong on-site presence, the team brought “The Rhythm of Life” to life for visitors and industry professionals alike. Highlights included vibrant cultural performances, with captivating dancers introducing audiences to Kizomba, as well as daily screenings of the highly acclaimed documentary ANGOLA – The Soul of Africa at the Holiday Cinema, showcasing the country’s rich culture and tourism appeal.
Corps Touristique Award Ceremony at CMT Stuttgart
Congratulations to Angola Tourism for being one of three recipients of the CT Award 2026, presented at CMT Stuttgart. The award, “Connecting Cultures,” honors initiatives that promote sustainable tourism and meaningful international exchange. Cuatir Nature Reserve, a shining example of conservation and community-based tourism, was highlighted for its positive impact. It’s inspiring to see Angola’s vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and wildlife recognized on such a prominent stage.
KLEBER GROUP at the World Tourism Forum in Davos
Our CEO, Julia, attended the World Tourism Forum in Davos, connecting with industry stakeholders and exploring new opportunities. A highlight of the event was the announcement, together with the World Tourism Forum Institute (WTFI), of the Investment Summit Angola 2026, taking place in Luanda from 7–10 May 2026. It’s exciting to see the tourism potential of our client Angola Tourism, in close cooperation with us, shining on such an important global stage.
Angola’s Strong Debut at FITUR Spain
An intense and exciting week at FITUR for our Spain team! The week kicked off with the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Angola’s Tourism Minister Márcio de Jesus Daniel on 22 January, marking a strong institutional debut for the destination. Since then, the stand attracted great attention from tourism professionals, key opinion leaders, and the press, with a full agenda of meetings aimed at strengthening Angola’s visibility and positioning in the Spanish market. Strong institutional support, including the presence of the Angolan Embassy in Spain, underlined the collaborative effort behind this success. Adding extra momentum, FITUR also served as the stage for announcing Angola’s nomination as “Best International Destination” in the Viajes National Geographic Spain Readers’ Awards.
Luxury Insights
Trend Spotlight: 2026 Luxury Travel Shifts
In 2026, ultra-high-net-worth travellers are redefining luxury as privacy, calm, and freedom from crowds. As icons like Amalfi, Mykonos, and Kyoto become increasingly saturated, the elite are turning to refined alternatives such as Sardinia, Paros, Nikko, and Okinawa—destinations that offer the same cultural depth without the masses. The shift marks a move from “checklist tourism” to intentional, immersive journeys, where unreachability itself becomes the ultimate luxury.
Source: TRAVEL & TOUR WORLD
Beyond Marble: The New Meaning of Luxury
Luxury in hospitality is moving away from marble lobbies and golden taps toward wellbeing, longevity, and purpose. High-end travellers increasingly value branded residences and transformative experiences that enrich mind and body—often ranking these higher than the hotel’s location itself. The future of luxury is defined less by status and more by impact, meaning, and long-term lifestyle value.
Source: Hotel Inside
From Space to Longevity: The Future of Luxury Travel
The future of luxury travel moves far beyond classic destinations, embracing space travel alongside polar expeditions, underwater worlds, and deeply immersive environments as the next frontier of exclusivity. At the same time, longevity becomes central, as high-end travel increasingly integrates health optimization, regeneration, and life-extending experiences into the journey itself. Luxury is no longer defined by where one goes, but by how profoundly travel can transform body, mind, and lifespan.
Source: fvw
Industry Stakeholders
Travel 2025: A Year of Transformation
2025 marks a turning point for the travel industry, driven by digital innovation, sustainability, and new customer expectations. Airlines, hotels, and destinations are reinventing their models to become more efficient, resilient, and guest-centric. The result: a more agile, future-ready travel ecosystem poised for long-term growth.
Source: fvw
Airline Year 2025: Five Striking Facts
2025 marked a record-breaking comeback for global aviation, with seat capacity peaking at nearly 20 million in a single day and ultra-dense routes running up to 200 flights daily. Asia dominated the world’s busiest corridors, while U.S. carriers led in total flight numbers. Hong Kong emerged as the fastest-growing hub worldwide, adding 24 new routes and massively expanding capacity thanks to its new runway system. Read more!
Source: Travel News
Trend Spotlight: Rail Experience Travel on the Rise
Rail experience travel saw strong growth in 2025, with tour operators reporting double-digit increases, including more than 50 % growth for some destinations and significant revenue gains for specialists like “Die Eisenbahn Erlebnisreise” and “Lernidee Erlebnisreisen”. Demand is being driven by interest in luxury and panoramic trains such as the Indian Pacific, Rovos Rail and Rocky Mountaineer as well as a younger clientele seeking comfortable, sustainable travel. Operators are responding with expanded worldwide programmes, new routes, and more premium offerings, suggesting continued optimism for the segment in 2026.
Source: Touristik Aktuell
Cruise Innovation 2026: The Next Generation at Sea
Cruise lines are entering 2026 with a strong pipeline of new ships that focus on sustainability, smart technology, and more differentiated onboard experiences. The article highlights how brands such as TUI Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line are investing in LNG propulsion, alternative fuels, and energy-efficient design, while redefining space, entertainment, and dining concepts. This new generation of ships marks a strategic shift toward greener operations and more immersive, lifestyle-driven cruising.
Source: fvw
Global Tourism 2025: A New Record
International tourism reached a new high in 2025, with around 1.52 billion people travelling abroad, marking a significant rebound despite higher prices and geopolitical uncertainties. Growth was driven especially by strong increases in arrivals to Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, though some destinations remain below pre-pandemic levels. The UN World Tourism Organization expects this positive trend to continue into 2026, supported by a generally stable global economy.
Source: tip
Search & Booking 2026: A Tech-Driven Transformation
Market researchers forecast a major upheaval in how travel is searched and booked in 2026, driven by artificial intelligence, digital identity and new booking pathways. “Agentic” AI is expected to become the central interface for planning and booking, potentially replacing classic search engines and enabling bookings via voice or calendar commands. At the same time, digital identity solutions and biometric verification are set to streamline border crossings and check-ins, while curated, personalised travel experiences continue to gain importance.
Source: HotelVor9
DACH Market Insights
Hofer Reisen: A Milestone in Austria’s Travel Market
In 2025, Hofer Reisen surpassed the milestone of nine million customers, further strengthening its position in the Austrian travel market. Growth was driven in particular by strong demand for package holidays, which recorded a significant year-on-year increase. The result highlights the operator’s rising relevance and points to continued momentum in 2026.
Source: Aviation.Direct
Austria’s Hotel Market 2026: Stability Under Pressure
Austria’s hotel industry is expected to see stable demand in 2026, but without significant growth momentum. Rising costs, particularly for energy and staffing, remain the sector’s biggest challenge, putting pressure on profitability despite solid occupancy levels. At the same time, changing traveller behaviour and a financially demanding winter season are forcing hotels to adapt their offers and operations more strategically.
Source: fvw
Winter Insider Campaign: Austria’s Creative Twist
Austria Tourism has launched a playful new winter campaign called Non Disclosure Austria (NDA), where prospective guests are invited to sign a humorous non-disclosure agreement before accessing over 120 insider winter travel tips. The campaign uses pixelated images and obscured content to spark curiosity and highlight lesser-known winter experiences, aiming to divert visitors away from overcrowded hotspots and support “balanced tourism.” Running through February 2026 in key European markets, the initiative combines influencer activations, out-of-home elements and digital engagement to showcase hidden winter gems.
Source: ahgz.at
Switzerland Kicks Off 2026 with Winter Highlights
January 2026 opened with an impressive variety of experiences across Switzerland, from atmospheric winter festivals and spectacular top-level sports to cultural and light events in the cities. Highlights ranged from the Stuckli Balloon Fiesta and World Cup ski races in Adelboden and Wengen to immersive exhibitions, light festivals, and major stage productions. Together, these events showcased Switzerland’s diversity and set a dynamic tone for the year ahead.
Source: Travel News
Shopping Tourism from Switzerland Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels
A newly published study shows that shopping tourism by Swiss residents reached CHF 9.2 billion in 2025, exceeding pre-coronavirus crisis levels despite recent duty-free limits. This indicates that cross-border shopping remains an important driver of outbound travel and consumer spending behaviour, especially in neighbouring EU countries. Travel and tourism providers can leverage this trend by offering combined travel-and-shopping packages, particularly in regions near the Swiss borders.
Source: unisg.ch
Swiss Travellers Plan More Outbound Trips in 2026
Swiss residents are planning an average of 2.2 trips abroad per person in 2026, up from 1.9 the previous year, signalling sustained appetite for international travel. City breaks slightly outperform beach holidays, while active and experience-driven trips remain highly relevant. Younger travellers in particular plan to travel more frequently, even amid economic uncertainty.
Source: Swissinfo
DRV Forecast 2026: Travel Spending on the Rise
The German Travel Association (DRV) expects travel spending in 2026 to increase, driven by continued strong demand and consumers’ willingness to invest in travel experiences. After robust growth in long-haul and short-haul travel in recent years, higher expenditures are anticipated despite ongoing economic uncertainties. This outlook points to a resilient travel market with solid momentum as Germans plan their trips for the year ahead.
Source: fvw
German Tourism 2025: On Track for a Record Year
Germany’s domestic tourism market stayed on a strong growth trajectory in 2025, with increasing overnight stays and rising demand across key segments. Popular destinations, especially regional and nature-focused locations, benefited from this upswing, contributing to robust overall performance. The outlook suggests continued strength into 2026 as travel interest remains high and consumer confidence supports further expansion.
Source: fvw
Germany Tourism 2025: Overnight Stays on Record Track
Germany’s tourism sector stayed on a record trajectory in 2025, with 465.5 million overnight stays recorded from January to November—slightly above the previous year’s high. Domestic guests drove the growth with more nights booked, while foreign overnight stays declined modestly. The continued positive trend indicates strong demand for travel within Germany heading into 2026.
Source: ReiseVor9
Spanish Market Insights
Luxury and Premium Tourism Prove More Resilient to Inflation: Less volume, more value
Premium spanish travellers show greater resilience to inflation but are also increasingly demanding when it comes to personalisation, quality, and sustainability. This is driving investment into higher-end products and positioning value-driven tourism as a strategic pathway for Spain to reduce its reliance on mass, price-sensitive tourism.
Source: HOSTELTUR
Spain Reaches Record Tourism Figures in 2025: Higher spending outpaces visitor growth
Spain welcomed 97 million international travellers in 2025, generating a record €135 billion in tourism spending. Expenditure grew faster than arrivals, reinforcing the shift towards higher value per visitor in a more mature tourism market.
Source: AgentTravel
FITUR 2026 Confirms Its Global Tourism Leadership: Strong international turnout and major economic impact
FITUR 2026 closed in Madrid with over 255,000 visitors and an estimated €505 million economic impact. With more than 10,000 companies from 161 countries, the event reinforced its position as one of the world’s leading tourism trade fairs and a key platform for global industry networking.
Source: AgentTravel
UK Market Insights
Tanzania Popularity Increases With Tour Operators, Despite Challenges
Following a year of difficult challenges (post-election violence, airline bans, mandatory travel insurance and over-crowding during the Migration), exclusive UK trade research shows the trade is still hugely supportive of the destination, aided by Government actions.
Source: Tanzania Tourism UK
Low-cost UK airlines set to expand into Long Haul, not just Short Haul.
Reflecting growing popularity and consumer demand, Wizz Air is the latest ‘low-cost’ carrier to explore opportunities with their move into USA flights from the UK.
Source: TravelGossip
TTG predicts higher spend on holidays this year but mostly driven by anticipated increased costs.
More than a third of PwC/TTG’s high-income research respondents intend to spend more on travel this year (though a similar proportion were expecting to spend the same and one in 10 were ‘unsure’ ). But those anticipating a higher spend largely feel this is because holidays will be more expensive this year.
Source: ttgmedia
Africa Market Insights
AirlinePros Unveils “FlyingCarpet.travel” Platform in Cape Town
Launched at an international assembly in Cape Town, this new digital portal uses AI (the “Genie AI trip planner”) to connect global travel advisors directly with niche South African SMEs and community-owned lodges, aiming to bypass traditional gatekeepers and keep more revenue within local communities.
Source: ATTA Travel
G20 Presidency Leaves R1 Billion Tourism Investment Pipeline
Early January reports indicate that South Africa’s G20 hosting has secured over R1 billion in future tourism infrastructure projects. The “halo effect” is expected to boost MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) arrivals throughout 2026.
Source: Hospitality.co.za
Angola Designates First Ramsar Wetland to Protect Okavango Source Waters
Angola officially designated Lisima Lya Mwono as its first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. This move is a major trade signal to the high-end safari market, as it protects the critical water sources for the Okavango Delta, paving the way for transboundary tourism cooperation with Namibia and Botswana.
Source: ATTA Travel
Polish Market Insights
Poland’s Winter Break 2026: Egypt Dominates, Malta Surges in Popularity
A new analysis by Fly.pl shows that Polish travelers planning their winter holidays in 2026 are overwhelmingly choosing warm-weather destinations, with Egypt accounting for 53% of all bookings. Malta ranked second with over 10%, followed by Spain (8.1%), Cyprus (3.9%), and Turkey (3.5%). The report also indicates that demand peaked in December 2025 (30% of inquiries/bookings) and early January 2026 (20%), while the first reservations were made as early as March 2025. Travelers most often select week-long stays in 4-star all-inclusive hotels, with an average trip cost of PLN 7,546 (approx. EUR 1,750). Exotic destinations (including UAE, Oman, Thailand, Vietnam, Kenya, Zanzibar) represented 10.8% of bookings for mid-January to end-February travel.
Source: WaszaTurystyka
Poland’s “Instagram Holiday” Trend Is Reshaping Travel Planning
A new My Luxoria study (Jan 2026) shows Polish travelers increasingly choose destinations based on their visual, social-media appeal. 58% say attractive vacation photos influence their decision, with the effect strongest among 25–44-year-olds (64%) and higher-income groups (over 65% among those earning PLN 9,000+ / month (approx. EUR 2,100+)). At the same time, the report notes a shift in how Poles define the purpose of vacation: beyond value-for-money, silence, privacy, and regeneration are gaining importance. Nature, avoiding crowds, and a true mental reset are becoming as essential as the destination’s attractiveness.
Source: Rynek Turystyczny
Malta Becomes a Major Hit Among Polish Travelers (2025–2026)
A new update shared by eSky Group highlights Malta’s rapidly growing popularity among Polish travelers. In 2025, Malta became the 2nd most chosen destination among eSky users, with the number of customers flying to the island rising by +112% year-on-year, and by +1283% compared to 2023. The data also shows that nearly 20% of all eSky bookings in 2025 were trips to Malta, with top cities including Qawra, Mellieha, and Sliema. The strongest demand is currently driven by winter city breaks, when travelers can enjoy temperatures up to 20°C and fewer crowds.
Source: ALL INCLUSIVE
Stay Connected with KLEBER GROUP!
Want even more travel inspiration and insider updates? Follow social media channels for exclusive stories, expert tips, and a front-row seat to the latest industry buzz:
👉 LinkedIn
📸 Instagram
👍 Facebook
Picture rights: ©iStock – ©ozgurdonmaz