News

Belgium Showcases KU Leuven’s 600-Year Cultural Legacy

As 2025 approaches, the charming city of Leuven in Belgium is preparing for a historic moment that could transform its presence on the global travel stage. Known for its academic legacy but often overshadowed by nearby tourist hubs like Brussels and Bruges, Leuven is ready to claim its rightful place in the spotlight. The reason? The 600th anniversary of KU Leuven, one of Europe’s oldest universities—a milestone that not only honors centuries of learning but also promises to reshape travel trends and revitalize cultural tourism. This celebration isn’t just about the past. It reflects how places rooted in intellectual heritage are becoming more attractive to today’s travelers—especially those seeking experiences that combine history, knowledge, and culture. With a full calendar of events planned, from exhibitions to performances, Leuven is positioning itself as a destination where tradition meets innovation. In anticipation of a significant rise in tourism during 2025, Leuven is taking deliberate steps to ensure its growth is environmentally sustainable. City planners have placed a strong focus on creating a tourism model that respects the local environment and enhances the quality of life for both residents and visitors.

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China–India Resume E-Visas, Boosting Tourism Hopes

India has officially restarted issuing tourist e-visas for Chinese citizens after a five-year suspension, in a move that could drive the recovery of Indian tourism. This was stated by the Indian Embassy in Beijing on July 24, 2025, and is being seen as an opportunity for travel agencies, heritage sites and spiritual hubs to recover from the slump experienced due to drastic fall in Chinese tourists after the pandemic and border frictions in 2020. Chinese tourism has not featured significantly on India’s tourism records for years and the revival is expected to provide new impetus to the sector and create the facilitative conditions for an even-stronger relationship between the two countries. India has officially resumed issuing tourist e-visas to Chinese nationals after a five-year hiatus, marking a significant moment in the country’s tourism recovery. The Indian Embassy in Beijing announced the reopening of the visa system on July 24, 2025, bringing much-needed optimism to the tourism industry. This move is seen as a boost for travel agencies, heritage sites, spiritual hubs, and the broader Indian tourism ecosystem. It signals the revival of cultural exchanges and the return of Chinese tourists, who have been largely absent since the pandemic and the ongoing border tensions in 2020. The suspension of Chinese tourist visas in 2020 was a response to both the global pandemic and escalating geopolitical tensions along India’s borders with China. While many other nationalities saw their travel restrictions gradually lifted, Chinese travellers remained excluded. This decision led to a significant drop in the number of Chinese visitors to India, with arrivals plummeting from 3.4 lakh in 2019 to just over 30,000 in 2023.

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Golden Visa Demand Surges in Greece, Portugal & Malta

In a world where investment-backed residency (IBR) programs have surged in popularity, several countries have emerged as frontrunners, offering rich opportunities for wealthy individuals seeking new homes and business prospects in Europe. Among the top choices, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, and Malta dominate the landscape with their highly sought-after Golden Visa schemes. These programs, offering a path to residency (and in some cases citizenship) through significant investments, have become a central point of attraction for affluent individuals looking to secure global mobility and a higher quality of life. The latest trends and expert analysis highlight the rising interest in these programs, while new political proposals from the UK and US struggle to gain traction. As political leaders in the UK and US introduce new Golden Visa-like schemes, established European programs remain the clear preference for wealthy global citizens. In particular, Greece’s Golden Visa stands out as the most affordable and accessible entry into the EU, despite increasing competition from countries like Portugal, Malta, and Spain. With their unique offerings, including access to non-dom tax regimes, Mediterranean lifestyles, and thriving real estate markets, these countries continue to attract the highest demand. This report delves into the dynamics shaping the Golden Visa landscape, exploring why countries like Greece, Portugal, and others are thriving, while the UK and US face challenges. Greece and Portugal Lead the Way in Golden Visa Popularity European Golden Visa programs have experienced significant growth in recent years. As political and economic factors continue to shape global investment patterns, many investors are increasingly looking to Europe for opportunities. Among the leading countries in the Golden Visa market, Greece and Portugal remain top destinations for wealthy investors.

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Italy’s Ancora Cortina Joins Virtuoso’s Luxury Network

Ancora Cortina, based in the Dolomites in Italy, has raised its profile after joining the world’s greatest luxury travel network, Virtuoso. This premium affiliation links the hotel with more than 20,000 luxury travel advisors that have intimate connections with their clients throughout the world. By becoming a member of Virtuoso, Ancora Cortina establishes itself as one of the finest luxury resorts in the world with its commitment to highly personalized hospitality and rare products tailored to the world’s most discerning, upscale travelers. This inclusion in the Virtuoso network marks a significant milestone for Ancora Cortina, placing it among some of the most exclusive names in luxury travel. By joining Virtuoso, the hotel not only gains global exposure but also becomes part of an elite network recognized for its commitment to providing the finest experiences in travel. Nestled in the iconic town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Ancora Cortina seamlessly blends modern luxury with timeless Alpine charm. The hotel features an array of world-class amenities, including an opulent spa, gourmet dining that highlights local Italian cuisine, and unique experiences that make it the ideal retreat for affluent travelers seeking relaxation and adventure in the Dolomites.

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Eos X Space Acquires Space Perspective to Expand Balloon Tourism

Eos X Space, the aerospace company located in Spain, has acquired its American competitor Space Perspective, breathing new life into the peaceful vision of tourist trips to the fringe of space via balloon transportation. This monumental buyout could transform the future of high-altitude tourism, allowing individuals to behold Earth’s curvature without requiring a rocket. Space Perspective, founded in Florida, was once viewed as pioneering this nascent form of space travel. The enterprise’s flagship undertaking involved Spaceship Neptune, a lavishly appointed capsule intended to drift serenely into the stratosphere carried by a gargantuan balloon. A single seat aboard one of these excursions carried a steep price of $125,000. In September of 2024, they carried out a successful test voyage using a capsule called Excelsior, which attained an elevation of nearly 100,000 feet or 30,480 meters. This demonstration validated their technological capabilities, yet just months later, difficulties arose that troubled the company.

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Qatar’s Al Mansour Asia to Transform Cambodia’s Tourism

In a major boost for Cambodia’s tourism industry, Qatar-based investment company AI Mansour Asia has announced it is set to heavily invest in the country, particularly in its infrastructure. It intends to make over the landscape of Cambodian tourism by developing the country’s central infrastructure such as hotels, entertainment spots, islands and airports. The investments – made by Cambodia Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Fahd Al Dosari, the advisor to Sheikh Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani – are expected to cater for Cambodia’s mushrooming need for tourism services, and to turn it into a regional tourism hotspot in Southeast Asia. Backed by the financial muscle of AI Mansour Asia, Cambodia appears to be on course to benefit from a next wave of modern tourism infrastructure that complements the government’s vision for sustainable tourism growth. The unveiling of the investment initiative underscores the warmer relations between Qatar and Cambodia that have developed over the last few years. Earlier, QCs met with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen and discussed bilateral relations with the AI Mansour Asia delegation in Phnom Penh, where he reaffirmed Cambodia’s efforts to enhance relations with the world by building relations based on such expeditions. He emphasized the economic value of tourism to Cambodia, especially amidst the rapid rebound of the industry from the pandemic.

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