Elsewhere, tourists are flocking back to Japan after the country finally reopened fully to international visitors last month.

UK train travellers are facing more disruption as union members vote to hold more strikes over the next six months, while London has been named as one of the world’s top 10 safest cities for tourists.

Here are the headlines that the travel industry woke up to on Thursday (17 November).

Travel firms brace for impact of autumn statement

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to announce a range of tax rises and spending cuts during his autumn statement on Thursday (17 November), including an expected update on how energy costs will be capped for travel businesses and consumers next year. (Various)

Foreign visitors flock to Japan after tourism reopening

International visitors to Japan increased to nearly 500,000 in October after the country fully reopened to overseas visitors for the first time following more than two years of Covid-19 restrictions. This figure was more than double the number of foreign arrivals in September. (Reuters)

Train strikes could continue for another six months

UK rail passengers could face another six months of strikes following a vote by thousands of rail workers to continue taking industrial action over the next six months. Members of the RMT union voted overwhelmingly in favour of further action, although no new strike days have been announced yet. (BBC News)

London makes list of top 10 safest cities in world

London has been named one of the top 10 safest cities in the world for travellers in a new survey. Reykjavik in Iceland was top of the list, followed by Copenhagen and the Canadian city of Montreal, with London ranked in ninth place. Each city is ranked on a range of safety and security criteria. (The Independent)

Subscription services could be the future of travel

Travel companies are increasingly looking to use a subscription model as a way for consumers to pay for their services. The model is already being introduced by companies such as US carrier Frontier Airlines and TripAdvisor. (Daily Telegraph)

French voice anger at rise of ‘franglais’ tourist signs

A French cultural organisation has filed 10 complaints over tourism adverts in the country which use English words and phrases. These include a tourist billboard on the Mediterranean coast and a sculpture saying #ILoveNice, which honours the victims of a major terrorist attack in the city. (The Times)