1. Chinese tourists spur growth of mobile pay overseas

75% of supermarkets and convenience stores and 71% of duty-free and luxury stores in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand now accept Chinese mobile payment, according to a Nielsen survey. More Chinese tourists now use mobile pay than cash, with AliPay and WeChat Pay growing in prevalence.

Source: www.cnbc.com

2. Blue Monday booking boom expected

With 5.2 million people expected to book a holiday in January, the Civil Aviation Authority is anticipating an increase in bookings today – as travellers look for a remedy for Blue Monday gloom. According to research conducted by the regulator’s Atol protection scheme, cost remains the top factor determining booking holidays, yet 69% of respondents admit to not always seeking financial protection when making holiday plans.

Source: www.travelweekly.co.uk

3. Brazil to drop visas for US tourists

Brazilian government and tourism officials are working towards boosting visits from its largest international market, the US, with the announcement that the country will ditch visa requirements for American visitors. The plan is part of a government strategy to double Brazil’s international arrivals to 12 million annual visitors by 2022.

Source: www.travelpulse.com

4. ‘Sensory tourism’ experiences predicted to boost Scotland’s travel industry

New research published by VisitScotland has predicted sensory tourism experiences such as staying in open-air hotels, eco-yoga holidays and wildlife watching to cope with illness as major draws for travellers in 2019. Wellness tourism was identified as the most significant new “movement”, with Scotland’s wellness industry well placed to meet the demand with 14,000 businesses already bringing an estimated £11bn to the economy.

Source: www.scotsman.com

5. Marriot has trained 500,000 staff to recognise human trafficking

Following the launch of its human trafficking awareness programme in January 2017, Marriot has reached a milestone 500,000 staff that have undergone the mandatory training. On-property staff in both managed and franchised properties receive education in how to recognise signs of human trafficking and how to respond if they do. Since launch, the training has directly resulted in young people being removed from dangerous situations.

Source: www.hospitalitynet.org

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