Top Destination Travel News From March

March saw some incredible destination news, from new reports on the post-pandemic recovery to features that discuss interesting topics like the intersection of popular television shows and movies and their influence on travelers. Click the link provided in each slide to read the full story. Don't want to miss a beat? Register for our TravelPulse newsletter today. 

New data from the Hawaii Department of Business found that as of March, visitor spending is already higher than it was in 2019 and that visitor totals have nearly reached pre-pandemic totals, showing good signs for the state's recovery.

On March 1, Brazil Tourism launched a new tourism innovation development center, called Embratur Lab, to develop competition and sustainability within the industry.

New data from Passport Index reveals the year's most and least welcoming countries to visit in terms of border restrictions, requirements and visa wait times. The friendliest? A collection of 21 countries that include Cambodia, Malawi, the Maldives, Nigeria, Rwanda and others. The least friendly? The United States, which is known for excessively long visa wait times.

Europe is expected to implement its new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) sometime in 2024 after being pushed back three previous times. The program is expected to add a 7 Euro charge for all travelers entering from outside the European Union.

Prices for hotels in Asia and the Pacific have risen ten percent from last year as Chinese travelers can once again travel freely, leading the region towards a recovery.

The beloved and iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is expected to reopen to visitors in beginning sometime next year. While renovations will continue into 2025, this is a big step for the ancient cathedral, which hasn't seen visitors since the fire that partially destroyed it back in 2019.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization released new data that points towards the region exceeding the number of pre-pandemic visitors it received this year, in spite of inflation and rising prices.

Brazil's tourism agency exceeded its monthly visitor totals this past January by 100,000 from both 2019 and 2020, welcoming over 868,000 travelers to the country. This is a good sign for the country's tourism industry.

In March, announced that it expects an estimated 40 million international visitors this year alone, an increase of 2.7 from 2022.

The WTTC released a report showcasing how Germany's tourism industry has grown while simultaneously reducing its carbon footprint. It went from producing 10.3 percent of its overall greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 to 5.8 percent in 2021.

Nepal announced it is banning all solo travelers from hiking alone starting April 1, requiring anyone who wants to trek across the scenic, mountainous country to go with a group or a licensed guide.

The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) released its first international visitation forecast since the pandemic began, projecting that inbound travel will fully recover in 2025. It also expects the U.S. to welcome 97 million international travelers in 2027 in line with its growth strategy.

Travel advisors discuss how movies and shows like "The Sound of Music" and "The White Lotus" influence travelers to choose certain destinations over others in a fascinating new feature.

TIME Magazine's annual World's Greatest Places list for 2023 is full of interesting destinations, ranging from Jeju Island, South Korea to Bozeman, Montana and everywhere in between. Check out the full list here.

Victoria, British Columbia became the first city destination in the U.S. or Canada to be designated a Responsible Tourism Institute Biosphere region this March. How will that change traveling to the destination? Learn about it by reading the full story here.

New dining options, TRON-inspired rides and more take center stage with this exclusive update from Walt Disney World Orlando, provided by our editor Eric Bowman.

New flights, new tours and new interest showcases how South Korea continues growing in popularity as an emerging destination for American travelers.