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Paris night train to end amid France's budget cuts
Overnight train services from Paris to Berlin and Vienna will end in December, after France’s Ministry of Transport chose to withdraw subsidies for the route. These Nightjet routes will end on 14 December, according to French state-owned rail company SNCF Voyageurs, as the EU€5-10 million annual subsidy will be discontinued from 2026. The routes are operated by SNCF in partnership with Austrian Federal Railways and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn. “The Paris-Vienna/Berlin night train has an occupancy rate of 70% on average over 2024. This offer is not economically viable without state subsidies,” wrote SNCF. “Even in the context of very high traffic assumptions, the economic balance is not achievable,” it said, due to higher operating costs for night train services and because seats can only be sold for one journey per night. All domestic overnight trains in France also operate based on state subsidies, according to SNCF. Other Nightjet routes outside France, including Vienna-Brussels and Munich-Rome, will continue. A petition to restore France’s Nightjet routes has gathered more than 51,250 signatures. Organising group Yes to the Night Train has argued SNCF did not deliver on its promise of daily Nightjet services and f
Europe
England trials ticketless pay-as-you-go rail travel
England has begun trialling a ticketless train travel system that will allow passengers to pay as they go by monitoring their location, part of the United Kingdom’s plans to upgrade its rail network. Participating rail passengers in the East Midlands will use an app to track their location, which will automatically charge the appropriate fare based on their journey. These trials began on 1 September. “The railway ticketing system is far too complicated and long overdue an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century. Through these trials, we’re doing just that and making buying tickets more convenient, more accessible and more flexible,” said U.K. Rail Minister Peter Hendy. “By putting passenger experience at the heart of our decision making, we’re modernising fares and ticketing and making it simpler and easier for people to choose rail.” Up to 4,000 passengers can opt into these trials on routes between Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham, the UK’s Department for Transport said. Trials will also be expanded to rail services in Northern England later this month, including destinations like Leeds and Sheffield. Scotland also began trialling a similar system in Glasgow and the Strathclyde area in January. A potential
Europe
EU introduces new Entry Exit System for travellers
The European Union will be rolling out a new digital border control system in October that will replace the manual stamping of passports. The new “Entry/Exit System” (EES) will include automated registration for msot travellers outside of the EU. The initiative has been pushed back many times, as it is nationally scheduled to start in 2022, but is now set to be rolled out over a period of six months starting six months. While the system aims to eventually create shorter waiting times at passport control, the Australian government has warned it may initially create longer queues on the Smartraveller platform. EES will apply to any non-EU nationals who are admitted into the Schengen Zone for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The Schengen Zone is made up of 29 countries, including four non-EU countries. Australian travellers wishing to enter the zone will need to have their fingerprints and photo taken, and answer Schengen Border Code questions on their first visit to Europe. People will be able to do this at a self-service system if available at the location or, once it's up and running, use a mobile app. It will apply to anyone who is travelling for tourism, medical treatment, or business medical t
Europe
Direct UK-Germany trains could begin under new treaty
Direct trains between London and Berlin could be built under a new bilateral treaty between the United Kingdom and Germany. The two countries are forming a joint task force to plan a direct rail link, which the U.K.’s government said would boost tourism and enhance cross-border trade. The Kensington Treaty also includes commitments to bilateral investment and defence cooperation. “We’re pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent,” said U.K. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. “The economic potential is enormous. A direct rail link would support the creation of jobs and strengthen the vital trade links that underpin our economic relationship with Germany. British businesses will have better access to European markets, whilst German companies will find it easier to invest and operate in the U.K.” This direct rail link would act as a faster and more environmentally friendly alternative to air travel, said Alexander. The task force will determine these trains’ commercial and technical requirements, as well as safety standards and border security measures. The U.K. and Switzerland also signed a memorandum of understanding in May to ex
Europe
Croatia's foreign tourist revenue grows by 6% in Q1 2025
Tourism continues to grow in Croatia continues to grow with figures showing a solid increase in foreign visitors spending money in the first half of the year. Data released by the Croatian National Bank (HNB) revealed that revenue from foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2025 amounted to 865.5 million euros. This marks a 6.65% rise compared to the same quarter last year, with an additional 54 million euros earned. Croatia’s minister of tourism and sport, Tonči Glavina said this continued the nation's strong financial growth. Glavina said that since 2019, Croatia has seen an almost 80% increase in revenue from foreign tourists in the first quarter. “This reflects the growing importance of the pre-season and the resilience of Croatian tourism in changing global conditions,” Glavina said. Tourism traffic has also been encouraging, according to Glavina, with a 4% improvement since the same time last year. In the first half of the year, Croatia reached 7.5 million tourist arrivals, boosting the country’s competitiveness as a tourism destination. “All indicators – from physical to financial performance and transport statistics – are positive. We recorded over 260,000 more arrivals and over a million more ove

Europe
Train of thought: First spa on rails in England, Wales
Debuting in July 2025, the Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Train in the United Kingdom, introduces a new level of slow luxury through a partnership with renowned British wellbeing brand, Wildsmith. This collaboration brings Wildsmith’s nature-inspired treatments to a U.K. train for the first time, offering guests a unique Wellness Suite designed to harmonise body and mind. The train's developers promise a serene escape, with curated treatments exclusive to the journey, aiming to ensure a deeply relaxing experience. The Wellness Suite, housed in one of the train's 10 ornate carriages, will be the first of its kind on a train in England and Wales. The Suite will feature five bespoke treatments focusing on mindfulness, grounding techniques, and personalised reflection, inspired by the scenic views outside the train's windows. The innovative design and bespoke services aim to redefine luxury travel, creating an immersive and transformative journey for all passengers. Hendrik Huebner, General Manager of the Britannic Explorer, emphasises that wellbeing is at the heart of the Britannic Explorer experience. Huebner, comments: "Our collaboration with Wildsmith is a commitment to offering our guests more than just a jour
Europe
Greek government approves 1.2bn euro tourism investment
Greece’s government has approved three major tourism investments worth more than €1.2 billion (A$2.04 billion). Following a meeting of the Interministerial Committee for Strategic Investments, led by Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos, the projects have been fast-tracked under the government’s streamlined procedures. These investments are expected to enhance Greece’s tourism offerings, attract affluent visitors, and generate new job opportunities and overall foster economic growth and sustainability to Mediterranean tourism. The meeting also included ministers for Energy, Culture Minister, State and Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, underscoring the government's combined commitment to advancing high-end tourism development. Hydra Rock Real Estate Property S.A. is set to invest €474 million in a sustainable luxury tourist resort in Ermionida in the Peloponnese which will offer high-end accommodations designed with environmental stewardship in mind. GH Hotel and Tourism S.A.is also going to invest €224 million to build a luxury eco-resort and upscale holiday homes on Megalonisos, Petalioi, near Evia. The eco-resort will be targeting high-net-worth individuals with the development featuring luxu
Europe
Hungary to open tourism bank as guest numbers boom
Hungary will open a specialised tourism bank this year, part of the government’s plans to further boost tourism in the country. The tourism bank will launch in the second half of 2025, said Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy. It will provide financial support to tourism-related businesses and fund tourism infrastructure projects. Hungary signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding with Bulgaria last week to promote tourism between the two countries. “The Memorandum focuses on the exchange of information and experience in the field of tourism, including statistics and national strategies,” according to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Tourism. The Hungarian Tourism Agency will also begin a support program for three- and four-star hotels in Budapest, with the goal of upgrading hospitality standards and modernising hotel facilities. Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport plans to begin new direct flights from Hungary to the United States, Canada, the Gulf nations, and Southeast Asia. The airport is also being renovated to add a new terminal, with the aim of accommodating 20 million passengers each year by 2030. Hungary’s government, in partnership with Vinci Airports, purchased Liszt Ferenc Airport in 2024. Hu
Europe
UK aims to hook inbound travellers with film tourism
VisitBritain, the United Kingdom’s national tourism agency, has launched a campaign to target film-interested tourists in regions like Australia and Europe. The campaign, known as “Starring Great Britain”, showcases U.K. filming locations for movie and television franchises such as Spider-Man, Mission: Impossible, and Game of Thrones. Its first video was directed by Academy Award-winning British director Tom Hooper. “Many of the moments that took your breath away in the cinema were filmed in the United Kingdom. Stunning scenery, amazing cityscapes and great cinematic talent have combined over the years in a truly exceptional way,” said U.K. Tourism Minister Chris Bryant. “We want visitors from home and abroad to experience them first-hand by immersing themselves in the scenery and locations made famous thanks to film and TV.” The U.K.’s tourism industry contributed UK£280 billion (A$558.46 billion) to the country’s economy in 2024, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), and employs more than 4.1 million people. A study by VisitBritain found in July that nine in 10 prospective visitors to the U.K. would be interested in visiting film or TV locations. The campaign will target the U.K.’s largest and mo