Tourexpi
The committee brings together travelers with limited
mobility, visual, hearing or cognitive impairments to help improve products and
services for passengers with both visible and invisible disabilities. Members
will share experiences and recommendations to support ongoing development
across the entire travel chain.
Broad representation and expert support
The initiative is supported by the North
Rhine-Westphalia State Disability Council (LBR), whose 20 representatives cover
a wide range of disabilities. Paralympic athletes Johanna Recktenwald and Nico
Dreimüller are also contributing their experience and expertise.
Focus on inclusion, awareness and practical
improvements
Lufthansa Group CCO Dieter Vranckx emphasized the aim
of creating a more independent and accessible travel experience: the advisory
group will play a key role in identifying needs and shaping solutions. LBR
Managing Director Ann-Christin Rauch called the cooperation a milestone, noting
its potential to raise wider awareness for inclusion and participation.
Lufthansa will meet regularly with committee members
to gather feedback and refine its accessibility strategy. Recent website
updates already offer clearer information, simplified navigation and improved
guidance for travelers with disabilities.
Making invisible disabilities visible
With most disabilities worldwide being non-visible,
the Lufthansa Group is rolling out the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
initiative across all its airlines. The program enables passengers with
invisible impairments to discreetly signal their needs using a sunflower
symbol. Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and SWISS are already participating;
Lufthansa will follow later this year, with full Group-wide implementation
expected by the end of 2026.
Image
Credit: © Lufthansa Group
The most interesting news
Read the News

Global cruise market forecast to nearly double by 2034
Passenger growth, fleet expansion and rising demand for premium and experiential travel are expected to drive the market to $38.5 billion
Read the News

Hotel Indigo reaches 200 hotels as global expansion accelerates
IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle brand has doubled its footprint since 2019 and has another 134 properties in the development pipeline
Read the News

Emirates launches first daily Dubai-Helsinki service
The new year-round route gives Finland its only direct connection to the UAE and opens new one-stop links to Asia, Africa, the Indian Ocean and Australasia
Read the News

Türkiye’s underwater heritage reveals ancient Mediterranean trade routes
More than 430 shipwrecks have been documented along the Mediterranean coast, while new excavations and museum projects are bringing thousands of years of maritime history to a wider audience
Read the News

WTTC and ICC join forces to strengthen tourism SMEs worldwide
New partnership targets regulatory, financial, digital and mobility barriers affecting small and medium-sized businesses across global Travel & Tourism
Read the News

Eurowings expands Middle East network with new Baghdad flights
New services from Berlin and Düsseldorf will complement connections to Dubai, Jeddah, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil and Amman in the 2026/27 winter schedule
Read the News

Costa Rica launches interactive map of natural and cultural heritage
Free bilingual platform combines tourism, biodiversity, marine science, history and geography in a digital exploration tool
Read the News

TUI Blue puts holistic wellness at the centre of Asian escapes
TUI Blue Berawa in Bali and TUI Blue Angkor Grace in Cambodia combine yoga, recovery, healthy cuisine and local wellbeing traditions with a relaxed resort experience
Read the News

SpongeBob musical to debut at sea on Royal Caribbean’s Hero
Broadway-inspired production will headline the entertainment programme when the new Icon Class ship begins Caribbean cruises from Miami in August 2027
Read the News

Thailand links Middle East travel trade with 80 tourism businesses
Forty representatives from the UAE and Saudi Arabia met Thai suppliers after a six-day product discovery programme in Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok
Read the News

Phuket Vegetarian Festival brings Hokkien traditions to the streets
The nine-day celebration from 10 to 18 October combines shrine ceremonies, processions and centuries-old rituals across Phuket City
Read the News

RIU repositions Riu Touareg as family resort after major renovation
The 1,181-room resort on Boa Vista has reopened with redesigned accommodation, expanded dining and a new focus on families
Read the News

Holland America Line to add Arcadia as 12th ship in 2029
The Vista Class vessel will transfer from P&O Cruises, adding capacity for more than 2,000 guests and supporting Holland America’s fleet modernization program
Read the News

Spain welcomes 12.3 million international tourists in August
International visitor spending exceeded €17.8 billion during the month, while arrivals rose 9.2% and destinations outside Spain’s main tourism regions recorded particularly strong expenditure growth
Read the News

Southeast Asian travellers look beyond China’s traditional gateways
Traveloka data shows bookings to China’s emerging city destinations growing more than twice as fast as demand for Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen
Read the News

Tempo by Hilton to make German debut at Munich Airport Arena
The 199-room lifestyle hotel is scheduled to open in 2029 as part of the new MUNICH ARENA entertainment campus near Munich Airport
Read the News

Lufthansa Group expands Japan network to 50 weekly flights
Lufthansa will return to Nagoya and add daily Frankfurt–Tokyo Narita services as the group significantly increases Japan capacity for Summer 2027
Read the News

Silversea adds 103 voyages for 2028-2029 season
The new collection spans 56 countries and introduces culinary sailings, 29 new ports and a 75-night circumnavigation of South America
Read the News

Hyatt Centric Sapporo opens as new base for exploring Hokkaido
The 216-room property is the Hyatt Centric brand’s first hotel in Hokkaido, combining a central Sapporo location with a strong focus on regional design and cuisine
Read the News

Oktoberfest draws growing interest from Asian travellers
Agoda data shows strong search growth from China, India and Japan, while visitors increasingly combine Munich with other German destinations
Read the News

Indonesia targets Australian travellers with quality tourism strategy
Bali, Lombok, Labuan Bajo and Borobudur anchor a campaign designed to encourage longer stays, higher-value travel and deeper local experiences