Europe

Spain orders closure of 65,000 holiday lets as overtourism protests continue

Spain has ordered 65,000 Airbnb properties to close due to licensing breaches after saying the country had too many holiday lets and not enough rental accommodation for local populations

'Many places struggle with overtourism, but our region is still relatively unexplored’

New Deal Europe’s co-founders Tine Murn and Robert Dee tell Rob Gill why they’re backing the Balkans

Industry welcomes new UK-EU agreements on e-gates and youth mobility

Tui said the new ’youth experience’ regime ’could open up hundreds of exciting seasonal overseas job opportunities with Tui for young Brits’

Watch: Could this be Florence’s finest crowd-free escape?

A 39-room Small Luxury Hotel of the World on the outskirts of Florence was once Salvador Dali’s retreat of choice. Now, Madeleine Barber finds out if it has what it takes to become your clients’ chosen haunt too

Are the old ones the best? How agents can impress clients by sticking with some European classics

How combining two grande dame hotels in Switzerland and Italy with some ’slow travel’ on the rails is a perfect luxury combination

Tui claims market share gain despite reluctance from some families to book

According to Tui, some families were slow to book summer breaks but that there has been an uplift following the May bank holiday – although with a noticeable switch to cheaper destinations

Value, culture and ‘destination dupes’: Advantage reveals the trends powering travel in 2025

Advantage Travel Partnership has highlighted the late booking trend among other issues in a state-of-the-nation update issued during its annual conference in Malta taking place this week

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions unveils debut European river programme

The newly built 120-passenger Connect ship will operate the cruises between Amsterdam and Brussels and Cologne and Basel

Agents forced to reassure 'anxious' clients about Spain after last summer's protests

Several travel agents have told TTG their clients had to be reassured about travelling to Spain this year, because of perceived anti-tourist sentiments

British Airways owner shrugs off Trump tariffs amid 'robust' demand for key routes

International Airlines Group (IAG) continues to enjoy ’robust demand’ for key transatlantic routes which continue to be ’a major area of strength’

Spreading the good word: what opportunities does faith-based tourism present for agents?

It’s seen as a niche market, but religious tourism benefits from a huge client base keen to visit the world’s sacred sites. Ilaria Grasso Macola explores the opportunities for agents

Why Domes Zeen Chania might just be Crete's coolest secret

Combining family-friendly sophistication with laid-back romantic appeal in an enviable location, meet the Cretan escape with enticing new developments for this summer

'Balkan Holidays lost its way relying on practices from decades ago'

While lamenting its demise, two experts in travel to the region have told TTG the collapse of Balkan Holidays came as a result of a failure to adapt its business model to changing times

Trafalgar to enter growing river cruise market with sailings on Rhine and Danube

The TTC Tour brand will launch two ships – Trafalgar Reverie and Trafalgar Verity – in spring 2026 with travel agents being given the first opportunity to book the cruises

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions to enter river cruise market

The initial agreement with Transcend Cruises will run through to at least 2028

Help us bring back resort reps and chalet hosts, industry leaders urge govt

A group of 67 travel industry leaders have written to the government urging it to lobby Brussels over the Brexit ban on posted workers overseas in forthcoming talks with the European Union

‘Destinations are reaching their limits, and we need to help,’ say top operators

Addressing Spain’s annual sustainability summit, Spain Talks, senior figures from Tui and easyJet holidays acknowledged the need to address overtourism in holiday hotspots by showcasing destinations at different times of year

Spain and Portugal scramble to restore travel links following mass power outage

Some 185 flights due to depart Portugal on Monday (28 April) were cancelled, and 205 from Spain, amid the blackout

Recap: Spain and Portugal hit by mass power outage – airports and rail services affected

Spain’s national railway company, Renfe, said the country’s ’entire national electricity grid was cut off’ shortly after midday on Monday (28 April)

A new dawn for river cruising – and AmaWaterways doesn’t plan on stopping there

The line has just launched two ships, including one on Colombia’s little travelled Magdalena River, and there’s more to come.

European ministers agree phased approach to new biometric border rules

The European Commission said the EES will be rolled out over a six-month period to avoid teething problems, but has not set a new date for the launch

UK and EU ready to make concessions to establish youth mobility framework

UK government no longer ruling out an agreement with EU on youth mobility

Operators target Balkan Holidays customers affected by UK closure

The specialist tour operator on Thursday (24 April) announced it was closing down its UK operation on Thursday after nearly 60 years

Jet2 finally puts new Jet2Weddings brand on sale through agents

Jet2Weddings was launched as a direct brand late last year and is now available to agents to offer their clients