Travel & Food news · 18 October 2026
Europe's Most-Visited Cities Move to Cap Tourism to Protect Housing
Belgium, Portugal, France, and Italy have introduced sweeping regulations limiting short-term tourist rentals in major cities, responding to housing-affordability crises and mass protests over spiralling rents.
Egypt's Mediterranean North Coast Emerges as a Major New Summer Destination
Charter flights into El Alamein airport surged 540% in a year as Egypt's North Coast undergoes a dramatic tourism and construction boom, with 300,000 visitors expected in 2026 and a 170-million-square-metre resort city rising at Ras El Hekma.
China Issues Urgent Travel Warning for Thailand After String of Tourist Kidnappings
China's embassy in Bangkok issued a formal safety advisory on 18 October warning Chinese nationals — especially influencers and entertainers — about criminal networks luring visitors to scam compounds along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Debut Award-Winning Chef Menus on Asia and Pacific Flights
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have unveiled new inflight dining menus for international Suites passengers featuring James Beard Award-winning chefs, with destination-inspired dishes on Tokyo, Seoul, and trans-Pacific routes.
Qatar Airways Cuts Winter 2026–27 Flights by 5.7%, Slashing US and European Routes
Qatar Airways has filed a revised winter schedule reducing total departures from 41,178 to 38,825, with New York, Los Angeles, and Washington among the hardest-hit routes and eleven destinations suspended entirely.