As global conflicts once again unsettle travellers and test consumer confidence, the value of a trusted travel agent has never been clearer.

In moments like these, when travellers look for reassurance and a calming voice, it’s the trade that steps up to interpret fast-moving advice, take latenight calls and guide people through disruption.

After navigating a global pandemic, airspace closures and inconsistent regulations in recent years, agents have become adept at steadying the ship amid choppy waters. Now, as tensions in the Middle East threaten to reshape consumer sentiment, we catch up with several experts for their take on the future of travel to the region (p. 7).

Yet it’s just as important to consider the here and now as it is to look to the future. Our 2026 River Special, produced in partnership with VIVA Cruises, examines how the fast-growing challenger brand is reshaping the world of waterway holidays. You can hear directly from the line’s CEO and co-founder on page 42 of your March/April issue.