March 19, 2019 View in browser

South Asian destination weddings, driven by demand from affluent immigrant communities in the U.S. and Canada, are a highly prized business segment for a growing number of resorts and travel advisors. Larger in size and involving longer stays than most other destination weddings, their revenue potential stands out in what is already a profitable niche.

They also come with more complexity than most other destination weddings do, requiring cultural knowledge and the ability to handle a wide range of logistics. Skift talked about the challenges with travel advisors who have made South Asian destination weddings a rewarding specialty.

Another story looks at the evolution of the adventure travel market, no longer exclusively the realm of budget-minded backpackers. Now its appeal is much wider, drawing the growing ranks of fit and healthy retirees as well as millennials seeking authentic experiences.

For more coverage of pertinent issues, click here.

Any suggestions for the coverage you would like to see are welcome. Feel free to contact me at mbl@skift.com.

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FEATURED STORIES
Travel Advisors Find South Asian Destination Weddings Very Lucrative But Tough

South Asian destination weddings are a lucrative and growing travel niche, fueled by demand from affluent Indian immigrant communities in North America. However, travel advisors need to be prepared for complex challenges.


Adventure Travel Specialists Take Customers Beyond the Beach

Adventure travel is a booming niche that many agencies would be wise to take on. Given the trends for retirees to live longer and healthier lives and for millennials to search for unique experiences, this segment of the travel market is just getting started.


Mexico's Mystifying Tourism Move Leaves Competitors Ready to Pounce

Mexico's new government has priorities for tourism, but that doesn't include a tourist board. Will other destinations seize the opportunity? Will travel advisors book away from Mexico?

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Ireland's Tourism Success Is Under Threat by Brexit: A Skift Deep Dive

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, months, and years, Brexit has brought back some unpleasant memories and risks damaging the very united tourism that the north and the south in Ireland have worked so hard to build.


Bogotá's Potential in Wellness Tourism Starts With an Amazonian Nut

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The Ethiopian Boeing 737 Max Crash Leads to One of the Strangest Weeks Ever in Aviation

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Lufthansa Now Drives More Than Half Its Bookings Directly

It appears as though Lufthansa's attempt to divert bookings away from global distribution systems is having some success.


Southwest May Bear Biggest Brunt After FAA Grounding of Boeing Max Jets

U.S. airlines downplayed the significance of the FAA's decision to ground the Boeing 737 Max, mostly saying they have enough slack in their fleets to take care of most customers. American and United probably will be OK, but it's hard to believe this will be business as usual for Southwest.

Skift Travel Advisor Editor Maria Lenhart [mbl@skift.com] curates the Skift Travel Advisor Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Tuesday. Have a story idea? Or a juicy news tip? Want to share a memo? Send her an email.

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