ITB Global Travel Collection 2026

The future of travel

PASSPORT POWER RANKINGS: WHAT TO WATCH Mobility means opportunity #1 Singapore: visa-free access to 193 destinations Japan & South Korea: 190 destinations US/UK mobility slide: continued downward trend Top 10 most powerful passports (2025): 1.Singapore 2.Japan, South Korea 3.Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain 4.Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden 5.Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland 6.United Kingdom

Above: Brands like Zoku are focused on providing social spaces Left: Sports fans continue to plan trips around fixtures

7.Czech Republic, Poland 8.United Arab Emirates 9.Hungary, Malta 10.Canada, United States

Cortina d’Ampezzo (February 6-22) delivered a 24% increase in searches to northern Italy, while the Six Nations Rugby Championship is boosting interest across host cities in England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, with searches up a combined 14%. Later in the year, the FIFA Men’s World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico (June 11 to July 19), is generating early momentum, with searches to Mexico already up 15% and Canada up 14%. Further spikes are expected around the Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, the Rugby League World Cup in Australia, and the UEFA Europa League Final in Istanbul. For destinations and airlines, sports tourism delivers predictable peaks, high ancillary spend and repeat visitation when inventory and pricing are aligned with the sporting calendar. Gen Z goes global, spends big THE GENERATION DOMINATING OUTBOUND DEMAND Gen Z is emerging as the highest-spending

Top 10 least powerful passports (2025): Afghanistan; Syria; Iraq; Pakistan; Yemen; Somalia; Palestinian Territories; Nepal; North Korea; Bangladesh.

Sources: IATA; Henley & Partners; Globetrender

Stadium chasers WHEN FIXTURES BECOME FLIGHT TRIGGERS Major sporting events continue to drive travel demand, with fans planning trips around sporting fixtures. The market is projected to grow from US$707 billion in 2025 to $2,090 billion by 2032 (Fortune Business Insights). eDreams ODIGEO search data for 2026 shows clear spikes tied to global tournaments and finals. The Winter Olympics in Milan and

engagement mirrors this shift, with community led travel content and connection-focused themes gaining traction across platforms. Hotels are responding with coworking lobbies, shared dining tables and hosted interest-led activities. Brands such as Selina, Zoku and Generator exemplify this trend, positioning accommodation as a social platform rather than simply a place to sleep. For the industry, connection has become a sellable feature , but only when it feels natural, low-pressure and optional.

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