Geneva, Switzerland -- Years of negotiations culminated early Wednesday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how to tackle future pandemics, aimed at avoiding the mistakes made during the Covid-19 crisis. After more than three years of talks and one last marathon session, weary delegates at the...

WHO members on Saturday reached agreement over how to tackle future pandemics after three years of discussions, the co-chair of the negotiating body told AFP.

WTTC research shows that, having endured estimated losses of $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs in 2020 alone, travel and tourism has recovered and is set to reach new heights. The travel sector is expected to continue to grow, creating over 100 million new jobs, adds the author.

While Europe and Americas have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, the Middle East's growth outpaces all other regions, UN World Tourism Organization says.

Oregon's tourism strategy focuses on year-round visitation, sustainability, and regenerative travel, aiming to optimize economic impact while preserving natural beauty and cultural heritage, Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson tells TRENDS in an interview.

Bangkok, Thailand--Asian economies are not doing as well as they could and growth in the region is forecast to slow to 4.5 percent this year from 5.1 percent in 2023, Associated Press (AP) quoted a World Bank report as saying on Monday.Debt, trade barriers and policy uncertainties are dulling the...

Dubai, UAE - As China's outbound tourism steadily rebounds from the pandemic's impact, the Middle East is emerging as a preferred destination for Chinese travelers, alongside traditional hotspots like Thailand and Malaysia.Data from online travel agencies including Ctrip, Tongcheng, Tuniu, Mafengwo, and Zuzuche indicates a significant rise in Chinese tourists...

"Financial stability benefits the whole economy and reduces the risk that the central bank becomes reluctant to raise interest rates for fear of causing a financial meltdown," she added.

Its net profit fell five percent to 13.1 billion kroner ($1.24bn).

Its net profit shot up to US$1.82bn as demand booms.

Tehran, Iran - Iran on Monday announced a turnout of 41 percent in last week's elections for parliament and a key clerical body -- a record low since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to voting records.Conservatives were reported to have secured the bulk of seats in Friday's elections for the national...

Tehran, Iran - Iran began counting ballots on Saturday after a vote for parliament and a key clerical body, with local media estimating a low turnout and conservatives expected to dominate.Friday's elections were the first since widespread protests triggered by the September 2022 death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, 22,...

The engine maker swung to profit of $3bn from a loss of $1.64bn in 2022.

Its net profit dropped 13.2% to US$570 million.

Dubai, UAE-- In the month of May scores of airport developers, officials, and suppliers from around the world will troop into Dubai to participate in the world’s largest annual event dedicated to the airport industry. The 23rd edition of the three-day B2B event at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC),...

Overall, Israel's GDP grew by 2.0 percent in 2023, short of the 2.3 percent projection made by the Bank of Israel after the war's outbreak in October, the Central Bureau of Statistics figures showed.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia topped the UN Tourism’s ranking for the growth of international tourist arrivals in 2023 compared to 2019 among large destinations, achieving an increase of 56%, according to the World Tourism Barometer report released last month.The kingdom recorded a remarkable tourism recovery rate of 156%...

EDF cut its large debt by increasing nuclear production.

The drugmaker's revenues fell 41 percent to $14.2 billion.

Washington, US - US economic growth was stronger than expected in the final months of 2023, government data showed Thursday, offering a boost to President Joe Biden as he starts his reelection campaign.The world's biggest economy expanded at an annual rate of 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter, fueled by a...

The company also owns the Bloomingdale's store chain.

Shaken by the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO's 194 member states decided more than two years ago to start negotiating an international accord aimed at ensuring countries are better equipped to deal with the next health catastrophe, or to prevent it altogether. The plan was to seal the agreement at the...

"International tourism is expected to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with initial estimates pointing to 2.0 percent growth above 2019 levels," the Madrid-based agency said in a statement. Figures for last year showed that 1.3 billion tourists travelled abroad, 44 percent higher than in 2022 and 88 percent of...

Paris, France - World oil supply will continue to rise this year, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday, as it predicted that demand growth would continue a downward slide throughout 2024.The Paris-based IEA, which advises oil-consuming nations, said it expects increase in global oil demand to halve from 2.3 million...

The cooperation deal between the two will begin February 2025.

Its net profit fell 7.29% Y-o-Y in the three months to December.

IATA’s Director-General Willie Walsh said that international travel is 5.5% below pre-pandemic levels, but that gap is narrowing fast. "And domestic markets have been above their pre-pandemic levels continuously since April." According to Walsh, international travel is moving ever closer to surpassing the 2019 peak year.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, "In December... the level of vitality in the manufacturing sector somewhat declined." In recent months, Beijing has announced a slew of targeted measures as well as a sizeable issuance of sovereign bonds to boost infrastructure spending and rev up economic activity.

Geneva, Switzerland - The head of the WHO said on Tuesday the world needs to properly prepare for future pandemics after finally ending three years of Covid "crisis, pain and loss."In his end-of-year message, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 2023 had marked a turning point in fighting major...

London, United Kingdom - On a busy north London street, plumber Ben Hume-Wright zipped through the heavy rush-hour traffic to his next job by bike.Trades such as his used to rely on vans but many are now choosing to do more business using two or sometimes three wheels.Since switching his Ford...

Reeling from a calamitous drop in advertisement revenues and public trust, news media organizations are reworking strategies to create "niche" content.

Reeling from a calamitous drop in advertisement revenues and public trust, news media organizations are reworking strategies to create "niche" content.

Beijing, China - President Xi Jinping said that China's economic recovery is at a "critical stage", state broadcaster CCTV reported Friday, as sluggish domestic activity and property sector woes drag on a post-pandemic rebound."At present, the country's economic recovery is still at a critical stage," Xi said at a meeting of...

"Some 4.7 billion people are expected to travel in 2024, an historic high that exceeds the pre-pandemic level of 4.5 billion recorded in 2019," IATA said in its traditional review of industry trends as the year draws to a close.

Hong Kong, China - Gold prices soared to a record high above $2,100 on Monday as traders grow increasingly confident the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in the new year.The precious metal struck $2,135.39 in early Asian trade, topping the previous all-time high set in 2020, during the pandemic.Traders have...

Billions of dollars are being invested into ventures to grow food in the GCC to make the arid, hot region self-sufficient, in a sector vulnerable to the vagaries of war, climate and disease.

"Once we've reached about 120 million (passengers a year), which is what we think our total capacity at DXB (Dubai International) is at the absolute maximum with everything optimized, we are going to need a new airport," Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said.

Dubai, UAE--Dubai Airports is expecting annual passenger traffic at Dubai International (DXB) to touch 86.8 million – surpassing 2019 traffic, propelled by strong growth throughout the first three quarters of the year and anticipation of an exceptional surge in guest numbers in the final quarter.DXB commenced the second half of...

38 million passengers travelled with the group's airlines in the third quarter.

The oil giant had posted a net loss of $2.2bn the previous year.

Turnover increased nearly seven percent to 8.7 billion euros.

The carmaker's net profit plunged 7% to US$3.9bn in Q3.

Dubai, UAE-- CEOs from around the world consider geopolitics and political uncertainty as the greatest risk to the growth of their business — be it navigating a company’s presence in a conflict zone or attempting to navigate disrupted supply chains and manage price fluctuations. The conclusion emerged from a survey...

Von der Leyen said the proposed AI group should be similar to the UN's IPCC panel, whose reports establish scientific consensus on climate change. "I believe we need a similar body for AI –- on the risks and its benefits for humanity. Yes, with scientists, but also tech companies and...

Geneva, Switzerland - The de-globalization of international trade is far from being a reality, but "the first signs of fragmentation" are appearing, the WTO warned on Tuesday, concerned of the effects of the phenomenon on growth and development.The idea of "de-globalization" has gained traction since the war in Ukraine and pandemic-related...

Irish-born Joyce has been in charge for close to 15 years, often delivering bumper profits for shareholders and safeguarding the airline's dominant -- critics say monopolistic -- market position. But Qantas' reputation and Joyce's have been battered since the pandemic -- which brought job losses and soaring flight prices despite a...

But the toy giant's market share grew as sales rose slightly.

The airline's annual profit climbs up to US$1.1 billion.

Surpassing pre-pandemic levels, more than 40 million passenger visits were recorded at Dubai international airport in the first half of the year, a 50 percent jump. According to its operator, the airport, busiest for international passengers before Covid-19, the passenger traffic went well past the number recorded in the first...

Business travel spending hit $23bn in 2022, nearing pre-pandemic levels as post-pandemic business trips get longer, supported by UAE's digital nomad and freelancer programs.