Changes in the global economy will have the biggest impact on business travelers in the next decade, according to new research out from Barclaycard Business. The research reveals that long haul air and rail services will see the most growth with business travel to global destinations expected to increase. Distance traveled per month will increase to approximately 700 miles per person, compared to 609 miles currently. In addition business people will on average spend an extra night away from home each month, up from 4.1 nights in 2005/6 to 5.2 nights in 2015.

Buoyed by growth of Macau´s gaming industry, casino revenues in Asia are being tipped to increase by 20 percent to $13 billion this year. This was estimated as per a report by Las Vegas-based consultant Globalysis. “The casino business is taking off in Asia, with several governments in the region eager to attract more tourists and earn receipts from gambling, the report said, adding that the boom is likely to attract further investment from US-listed casino companies. Some of the biggest names in the gaming industry, such as Wynn Resorts Ltd, Las Vegas Sands Corp, MGM Mirage and Harrah´s Entertainment Inc hope to generate about 20 percent of their revenue growth from Asia in the next decade,” Globalysis said according to media.

The global meetings industry is expected to grow for a third consecutive year, signaling economic and corporate prosperity, as well as a financial boost for hotels, airlines and convention centers, according to FutureWatch 2006, an annual research report from Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and American Express. According to FutureWatch 2006, several key indicators including the total number of meetings planned and expenditures per meeting/event are expected to increase in 2006.

China will become the world´s biggest inbound tourism nation by 2019, one year earlier than the World Tourism Organization (WTO) forecast, a senior official has predicted. “China´s inbound visitors will grow by eight per cent in next five years and foreign currency income will increase at an annual rate of 12 percent. Thus, China will receive some 137 million inbound travelers by 2019,” said director-general of China National Tourism Administration, Shao Qiwei.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has drafted a report proposing some regulations regarding space tourism. Among the rules is a set of guidelines to prevent terrorists from gaining access to the space ships in order to use them as weapons. Many of the other regulations are similar to those regarding regular commercial flights, including safety advice precluding the flights.

In yet another report indicating consolidation in low-cost airline market in Europe, a publication has reported that Europe´s budget airlines market has grown to its maximum size, with no more growth possible. According to CNBC European Business, with too many operators and too many seats available, no-frills airlines can only expect to gain more market share at the expense of others´ failure. According to iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk, CNBC European Business, in its latest issue, says the over-heated, ruthlessly competitive air travel industry is littered with collapses.