Scale and visitor numbers

The 2024 result was driven by 114.4 million visits, a new record that surpasses even the pre‑pandemic high of 113.2 million set in 2019. Day‑trippers and overnight guests both contributed, with the state welcoming about 49.5 million overnight stays in 2023 alone, an increase over the prior year and a strong base for the 2024 surge. Overnight visitors, who spend roughly three times more per trip than day‑tripper visitors, are key to the jump in economic impact, driving revenue for hotels, restaurants, local attractions, and Main‑Street‑level spending.

Underlying drivers of the “boom”

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism attributes the surge to broad‑based demand for outdoor and community‑led experiences, including lakeside recreation, hiking, fishing, fall‑leaf‑viewing, winter‑sports destinations, city‑food‑and‑culture districts, and smaller‑town festivals. The state’s relatively affordable lodging and dining costs compared with many coastal and snow‑belt destinations have also helped keep Wisconsin attractive even as prices rose elsewhere, while year‑round itineraries and a “value‑packed” messaging campaign have encouraged visitors to stay longer and return more often. Marketing efforts under the “Travel Wisconsin” banner—emphasizing authentic local culture, craft‑beer routes, farm‑to‑table food, and community‑owned events—have further pushed the state into the top tier of “road‑trip‑friendly” Midwest destinations.

Fiscal and community benefits

Beyond headline numbers, the tourism surge is generating a record $1.7 billion in state and local revenue, money that flows back into public services and infrastructure as well as into local businesses and jobs. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism and its partners argue that tourism’s economic ripple effect is felt far beyond the hotel and restaurant cash register, supporting everything from retail, transportation, and event‑services jobs to town‑center revitalization and rural‑small‑business resilience.

Key Points

• Wisconsin tourism generated a record‑high $25.8 billion in economic impact in 2024, the third straight record year, up from about $25 billion in 2023.
• The state hosted a record 114.4 million visits, exceeding 2019 levels, with over 49.5 million overnight stays helping to push per‑trip spending higher.
• The “Badger Boom” is fueled by outdoor‑recreation demand, affordable travel value, and a strong local‑experience narrative promoted under the Travel Wisconsin brand.
• The sector also contributed a record $1.7 billion in state and local revenue, underscoring tourism’s role as a central pillar of Wisconsin’s broader economy.

Bottom Line: Wisconsin’s tourism “Badger Boom” reflects a combination of pent‑up leisure demand, value‑driven pricing, and a hyper‑local‑experience marketing strategy, turning the state into a high‑return, high‑volume destination that punches above its weight in the national tourism landscape.

Standout properties and regional wins

Among the honours, several Anantara resorts secured leading spots in their categories:

• Anantara Desaru Coast Resort and Villas – #1 Best Malaysian Resort
• Anantara Layan Phuket Resort – #2 Best Thailand Resort
• Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas – #3 Best Maldives Resort
• Anantara Ubud Bali Resort – #4 Best Boutique Resort

Collectively, these placements underscore that Anantara’s experiential model—deeply location‑driven design, curated local‑culture activities, and luxury‑with‑context stays—resonates strongly across key beach‑and‑jungle‑destination hubs in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. The brand’s presence in Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, and Bali signals a deliberate focus on high‑yield leisure corridors where travellers actively seek more than just a beachfront room, but holistic, destination‑anchored experiences.

Brand‑level significance for Minor Hotels

The ranking also feeds into Minor Hotels’ broader narrative of Anantara as a flagship luxury‑experience brand, following earlier accolades such as its appearance in the Top 25 Best Hotel Brands in the World (No. 8) at the 2025 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. For Minor, the DestinAsian recognition reinforces that its portfolio is being awarded not just for individual properties, but for a consistent brand philosophy that blends comfort, authenticity, and deep‑local immersion across geographies.

Key Points

• Anantara Hotels & Resorts has been ranked #5 Best Brand for Leisure in the 19th DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards, with 10 Anantara properties recognised across five Asia‑Pacific destinations.
• Standout resorts include Anantara Desaru Coast (No. 1 Malaysia), Anantara Layan Phuket (No. 2 Thailand), Anantara Kihavah Maldives (No. 3 Maldives), and Anantara Ubud Bali (No. 4 Boutique Resorts).
• The results highlight Anantara’s strength in experiential, place‑based leisure and high‑value resort markets, dovetailing with Minor Hotels’ strategy of positioning Anantara as a leading global luxury‑experience label.

Bottom Line: Anantara’s endorsement as a top‑five leisure brand in DestinAsian’s industry‑respected reader survey reinforces that Minor Hotels’ location‑centric, experience‑rich playbook is resonating with discerning travelers across Asia, helping the brand hold its own against established global luxury flags while growing its footprint in premium resort corridors.

The new projects will spread across Jaipur, Jawai, Udaipur, Pushkar, and Coorg, targeting the growing demand for premium leisure stays, destination weddings, and branded‑resort investments. Fine Acers is also introducing the Dolce by Wyndham brand to India with upcoming resorts in Goa and Udaipur, scheduled to open around 2030, under a sale‑and‑leaseback model that lets private investors buy room‑units in return for guaranteed yields and professional management. This model allows the company to inject capital into development while giving buyers a route into professionally run, income‑generating hospitality assets in high‑demand leisure belts.

Fine Acers’ expansion strategy reflects a broader push toward iconic, branded resorts in culturally rich destinations, aligning with rising domestic and international demand for high‑end leisure travel and wedding tourism. By layering strong architectural identity, global brand standards, and investor‑friendly structures, the group is positioning itself as a bridge between luxury hospitality and real‑estate‑style investment in the Indian market.

Key Points

• Fine Acers plans five new luxury properties by 2029, adding about 700 keys across Indian tourist destinations.
• The group targets 1,500 rooms across seven properties, partnering with Wyndham and launching Dolce by Wyndham resorts in Goa and Udaipur.
• It uses a sale‑and‑leaseback model that lets investors buy resort units while earning fixed returns and yields.

Bottom Line: Fine Acers’ five‑property push by 2029 transforms it from a regional resort operator into a national‑scale branded‑hospitality player, blending luxury leisure, franchise partnerships, and investor‑centric models to capture India’s growing premium‑tourism and second‑home‑cum‑investment appetite.

This leap reflects a broader pivot from chasing sheer visitor numbers to maximizing the value each traveler brings. Affluent tourists are splurging on high‑end shopping along the Champs‑Élysées, multi‑course gastronomy experiences, and premium stays in Paris, the French Riviera, Provence, and the Loire Valley, while regional initiatives push visitors into the countryside and lesser‑known historic towns to ease pressure on overcrowded hotspots. Policy tools such as higher city‑level accommodation taxes and sustainability‑driven marketing have helped lift average spend per visitor and spread benefits across the country, even as arrivals remain close to a record pace.

France’s lead over the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Greece signals a new era where revenue per tourist matters as much as headcount. The UK still posts strong growth and high hotel rates in cities like London, Edinburgh, and Manchester, while Spain and others push package‑tour volumes; yet France’s blend of world‑class culture, iconic landmarks, and deliberate “value‑over‑volume” strategy has given it a narrow edge in 2025. With the government eyeing €100 billion in annual tourism revenue by 2030, the challenge is to balance this high‑value momentum with sustainability, resident well‑being, and the dangers of overtourism in its most iconic regions.

Key Points

• France surpassed the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, and other leading European nations in tourism revenue in 2025.
• The country welcomed 102 million international visitors and earned roughly €77.5 billion, up about 9% over 2024 and 37% over 2019.
• Luxury travel, cultural tourism, and higher visitor spending per trip are core drivers of the surge.
• Accommodation taxes and regional sustainability campaigns help redistribute visitors and amplify revenue.

Bottom Line: France’s 2025 tourism bonanza cements it as Europe’s economic powerhouse of travel, outpacing the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Greece by blending luxury appeal, cultural magnetism, and smart policy—while setting the stage for a high‑value, more sustainable decade to come.

This isthmus gem—where Panama City’s skyline pierces tropical skies above Casco Viejo’s colonial balconies dripping with bougainvillea, Bocas del Toro’s Caribbean islands sparkle with coral reefs and barefoot beach bars, Chiriquí highlands mist over coffee plantations and cloud forest zip-lines, and the Panama Canal’s massive ships glide through Gaillard Cut locks watched by awestruck crowds—transforms from transit hub to sought-after destination, blending indigenous Emberá river lodges with Pacific surf breaks and duty-free shopping sprees.

European heavyweights drive the boom: France favors canal tours and indigenous experiences, Spain connects through colonial history ties, Italy seeks culinary parallels in ceviche and sancocho feasts, Germany explores Darién jungle treks, Netherlands taps eco-adventure niches, and UK discovers bohemian beach vibes—filling boutique hotels from Pearl Islands resorts to highland fincas while boosting year-round cruise calendars.

Key Points

• France surges in canal, cultural visits.

• Spain leverages colonial heritage links.

• Italy discovers Pacific culinary gems.

• Germany embraces Darién eco-treks.

• UK explores Caribbean island escapes.

Bottom Line: Panama’s European-powered ascent blends canal majesty, island idylls, jungle mysteries, and colonial charm—welcoming French, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, and British travelers to isthmus magic that fuels economic fire and global allure through endless tropical adventures.

This vibrant land of ancient Mayan ruins and endless azure waves—where Riviera Maya’s cenotes shimmer like hidden jewels, Baja’s desert meets golden sands, Costa Mujeres’ quiet beaches lure couples, and Monterrey’s skyline rises bold—transforms into ultra-luxe haven, blending overwater bungalows, spa sanctuaries, and tequila sunsets amid palm-fringed infinity pools and cultural day trips.

The boom spotlights coastal dominance: Park Hyatt Cancún crafts immersive culinary escapes, JW Marriott Costa Mujeres blends all-inclusive indulgence with lush gardens, W Costa Mujeres amps adults-only nightlife, while Aman Baja promises pavilion privacy and Kimpton Monterrey towers as Latin America’s tallest—elevating Mexico’s tourism with sustainable designs and local flavor fusions.

Key Points

• Amanvari debuts Baja East Cape peace.
• Park Hyatt Cancún elevates beach cuisine.
• JW Marriott Costa Mujeres goes all-inclusive.
• W Costa Mujeres rocks adults-only vibes.
• Kimpton Monterrey crowns urban luxury.

Bottom Line: Mexico’s 2026 coastal gems fuse cenote swims, tequila sunrises, and Mayan magic—beckoning jet-setters to palm-shaded pools and cultural shores, redefining luxury escapes amid endless turquoise horizons.

This Asian aviation jewel—where Changi Airport’s orchid gardens and koi ponds welcome travelers, cabin crews deliver warm towels and gourmet meals at 35,000 feet, and routes span kangaroo hops to Riviera landings—transforms from pandemic survivor to demand dynamo, blending legendary service with expanded frequencies amid bustling lounges and gleaming widebodies.

The momentum signals broader skies revival: frequency hikes to Bangkok, Tokyo, and Auckland meet business-leisure blends, filling hotels from Sydney harbors to Paris arrondissements, as SIA’s load factors climb and networks grow, spotlighting hospitality’s comeback with packed resorts and city stays.

Key Points

• Passenger traffic surges year-over-year.

• Capacity boosts on key Asia routes.

• Premium cabins draw business crowds.

• Network expands to meet peak demand.

• Fuels global hotel occupancy rise.

Bottom Line: Singapore Airlines’ sky-high demand fuses cabin elegance, airport orchids, and jet-set journeys—inviting global nomads to seamless wings and welcoming shores, powering tourism’s vibrant revival through 2026 and beyond.

This vast sunburnt continent—where Sydney’s harbor sparkles under Opera House sails, Great Barrier Reef corals dance in turquoise depths, Uluru glows red at dawn amid Aboriginal stories, and Melbourne’s laneways hum with coffee aromas and street art—reimagines itself from pandemic recovery to vibrant powerhouse, weaving outback adventures with coastal luxe amid eucalyptus breezes and wave-crashing shores.

The plan spotlights three phases: recovery through workforce boosts and marketing pushes, consolidation via business upgrades and data insights, and acceleration with tech innovations and infrastructure—targeting regional wins, sustainable practices, and diversified markets from Asia’s urbanites to Europe’s nature seekers.

Key Points

• Industry-led with government support.
• Rebuilds post-pandemic visitor spend.
• Boosts regional tourism hotspots.
• Modernizes businesses with tech tools.
• Targets sustainable long-term growth.

Bottom Line: Australia’s Thrive 2030 fuses reef sunrises, outback barbecues, and harbor fireworks—inviting global wanderers to endless beaches, ancient cultures, and urban buzz, securing the world’s most dynamic visitor economy for decades ahead.

This Iberian powerhouse—where Barcelona’s Gaudí masterpieces mingle with Madrid’s tapas alleys, Costa del Sol beaches shimmer under olive groves, Basque Country pintxos bars hum with laughter, Valencia’s paella fires glow amid historic markets, and Seville’s orange-blossom streets lead to Alcázar gardens—evolves into investor gold, blending historic paradores with sleek urban retreats amid fiesta-filled plazas, vineyard vistas, seaside promenades alive with evening strolls, and hidden cortijos offering rural luxury.

The allure fuels a transaction frenzy: Southern Europe’s prime status shines with Spain leading Italy and Portugal, driven by steady visitor flows, prime seasonality, scarce new builds, savvy operators like family offices snapping up premium pads in beachside hotspots and city gems, plus rising appetite for boutique stays, wellness havens, and eco-lodges tucked into national parks.

Key Points

• Tops European investor surveys.
• Strong demand, limited supply.
• National groups lead buying spree.
• Southern coasts draw prime deals.
• Year-round cities boost returns.
   

Bottom Line: Spain’s 2026 hotel rush fuses paella sunsets, Gothic grandeur, and beachside sangria—luring savvy investors and wanderlust souls to timeless coasts and vibrant plazas, ensuring golden returns amid Mediterranean magic.

This sprawling Southwest hub—where saguaro cacti frame fiery sunsets, Scottsdale resorts glow with poolside glamour, and downtown streets pulse with craft breweries and Southwestern spice—transforms from winter escape to global playground, blending Native heritage markets with sleek convention halls amid red-rock horizons.

The momentum spotlights Phoenix’s rivalry edge: expanded Sky Harbor flights connect seamlessly, luxury hotels rise near Camelback Mountain trails, major events fill arenas, and cruise day-trippers explore Sonoran vibes—sustaining hospitality booms while spotlighting sustainable desert trails and cultural festivals for diverse travelers from leisure seekers to business crowds.

Key Points

• Airlines ramp up nonstop desert routes.
• Hospitality jobs surge in resorts, hotels.
• Cruise lines boost day-trip adventures.
• Major events pack convention centers.
• Year-round sun draws global crowds.

Bottom Line: Phoenix’s tourism charge blends cactus sunrises, spicy taco trails, and mountain thrills—inviting city explorers and nature lovers to vibrant energy and endless horizons, securing its spot as America’s sizzling desert tourism contender.