TRAVEL ADVENTURES . . . TASTING ZURICH NEW DESTINATIONS: New Culinary Spots in the Neighborhood |
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Restaurant HubertaNewly opened restaurant Huberta welcomes guests with seasonal cuisine, fine wines and a relaxed atmosphere. Run by chefs Nina Wild and Mirjam Eberle, it has all the ingredients to become your new favorite neighborhood spot. Open Tuesday to Saturday. | | © Reto Schlatter / Zürich Tourismus Café & Bar PhiloAt Philo Café & Bar, guests enjoy all-day brunch, homemade cakes, freshly brewed coffee, regional lunch dishes and a good glass of wine in the evening. A perfect spot for any time of the day – this new meeting place in Zurich District 6 is open daily. | | | Discover Zurich with the AI GuideLooking for hidden gems in Zurich? With the new AI Local Guides from Zürich Tourism, discovering the city has never been easier or more personal. The AI guides draw on local expert knowledge to provide personalized tips. | | | Since February, the guides have been available to visitors and locals. They were developed in collaboration with other tourism organizations and the Swiss start-up Holoai AG. | | © Joel Hunn/ Zürich Tourismus | | | Travel@Zurich.com ♦ ♦ ♦ 
New Viking Ptah Viking Announces Float Out of Newest Nile River Ships Set to Debut in Fall 2026, the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet Touch Water for the First Time Viking® today announced its two newest ships for the Nile River—the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet—have been “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ships have touched water. Set to debut in September and November 2026, respectively, the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships in Egypt and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. “Egypt is truly a phenomenal destination, distinguished by its remarkable history, enduring culture and the singular power of the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “With the float out of our two newest ships, we look forward to further expanding our elegant fleet on the Nile and welcoming more curious travelers to experience this extraordinary region in the years to come.” The traditional float out ceremonies for the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo and are significant because they mark each ship’s transition into the final stage of construction. The ships will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out. Viking’s Growing Egypt Fleet The state-of-the-art Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet are the newest sister ships in Viking’s Egypt fleet, which also includes the Viking Osiris, the Viking Aton, the Viking Sobek, the Viking Hathor, the Viking Amun and the Viking Thoth. Owned and operated by Viking, each ship hosts 82 guests in 41 staterooms and features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a space-saving square bow, an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace and elegant Scandinavian design. Together, they represent the most modern sister ships sailing the Nile River. Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary During the 12-day, Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Accompanied by a Viking Egyptologist, guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak and begin an eight-day roundtrip voyage on the Nile River. The sailing features a visit to the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, as well as the opportunity to visit a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city. About Viking Viking (NYSE: VIK) is a global leader in experiential travel with a fleet of more than 100 ships, exploring 21 rivers, five oceans and all seven continents. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences For The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans five years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is also rated a “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure—no other travel company has simultaneously received such honors by both publications. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. ♦ ♦ ♦ SOUTHWEST ANNOUNCES NEW SEATING CHANGES FOR 2026 
The airline has operated under an open-seating policy, sometimes referred to as a cattle call, for nearly 55 years. Gone are the days of waking up early to check in and secure a good boarding group. Instead, like every other airline, customers will be assigned a seat number. Equally significant, it will add seats with extra legroom and charge more for them. The open-seating policy, while divisive, was a core part of the airline’s identity. When Southwest announced the news of its pending elimination in July 2024, the airline said it had conducted “extensive research” before making the change and found that 80% of Southwest customers and 86% of potential customers prefer assigned seating. ♦♦♦ A New Era of Travel to Europe: Digital Borders with EES and ETIAS |
|  | Frankfurt/Main: International Airport (Fraport) © Fraport AG | | Traveling to Europe is entering a new digital age. With the full rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES), border crossings are becoming more efficient, secure and streamlined for international visitors — with Germany playing a key role as one of Europe’s main travel hubs.
Since April 10, 2026, EES is fully operational at the external borders of 29 European countries, replacing traditional passport stamps with a digital system that automatically records the entry and exit of non-EU travelers.
As a major gateway to Europe, Germany is an important point of arrival for international visitors. At key entry points such as Frankfurt Airport (FRA) — one of the continent’s busiest international hubs — as well as Munich (MUC) and Berlin Brandenburg (BER), travelers with biometric passports can use self-service kiosks to scan their documents and provide biometric data in advance, helping to reduce waiting times before a brief check at the border control counter. Those unable to use the kiosks can complete the process directly with a border officer.
The introduction of EES is part of a broader effort to modernize Europe’s border infrastructure while maintaining high security standards. In Germany, this is supported by well-developed infrastructure and a strong focus on efficiency, contributing to a smoother arrival experience.
Data protection remains a key priority, with all traveler information processed in line with strict EU regulations and accessible only to authorized officials.
While EES is already reshaping border crossings, another important step is on the horizon.
Starting in the last quarter of 2026, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will introduce a new requirement for visitors from visa-exempt countries. Around 1.4 billion travelers from 59 countries and territories will need to obtain a travel authorization before entering 30 European countries for short stays — including Germany.
At this stage, no action is required. The European Union will announce the exact launch date several months in advance.
Once introduced, ETIAS will be linked to the traveler’s passport and will be valid for up to three years. Applications will be completed online, with most approvals expected within minutes.
Together, EES and ETIAS mark a significant step toward a more connected and streamlined travel experience. As a key gateway to Europe, Germany continues to combine efficient border management with modern infrastructure, reinforcing its position as an accessible and forward-looking destination for international visitors.
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| | The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) works on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to represent Germany as a tourist destination and is funded by the Ministry in accordance with a decision taken by the German Bundestag. Working closely with the German travel industry and private-sector partners and trade associations, the GNTB develops strategies and marketing campaigns to promote Germany’s positive image abroad as a travel destination and to encourage tourists to visit the country.
The GNTB’s primary strategic areas of action are:
- Conducting targeted market research and analysis of market-specific customer demand in relation to various aspects of travel in the context of sustainability and culture among those with values-based lifestyles.
-Supporting the travel industry, which is dominated by small and medium-sized businesses, through relationship management and the sharing of knowledge.
- Raising awareness of the Destination Germany brand and enhancing the brand profile with a focus on sustainability and climate change mitigation.
Focus on sustainability and digitalisation
The GNTB promotes forward-looking tourism in line with the objectives of the German government. The focus here is on sustainability and digitalisation.
To make inbound tourism more sustainable and competitive, our organisation follows a three-pillar strategy that combines the sharing of knowledge with external partners and a supporting communications strategy with our internal sustainability initiative. The GNTB positions Germany as a sustainable and inclusive destination in the international travel market.
The GNTB is a pioneer when it comes to using immersive technologies (virtual, augmented and mixed reality), voice assistants and other conversational interfaces, and artificial intelligence applications such as chatbots. To ensure that tourism offerings are visible on AI-based marketing platforms, the GNTB coordinates the German tourism industry’s open-data/knowledge graph project.
The GNTB has 21 foreign agencies that it manages from its head office in Frankfurt. | |
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