TUI and National Geographic Expeditions expand collaboration on National Geographic Day Tours – with offers for every holidaymaker’s inner explorer

• National Geographic Day Tours now available online, at travel agencies and in destination, direct to travellers, independent of a holiday package

• Diverse range of one-day and half-day itineraries for beach holidays and city breaks inspired by National Geographic's spirit of exploration

• Unique experiences - from Lanzarote's volcanic vineyards and New York's "Little Caribbean", to Julius Cesar's Rome and Cancun's stunning cenotes

• All tours are operated by TUI, led by National Geographic-trained guides and adhere to GSTC criteria.

• TUI's Tours & Activities partners can add National Geographic Day Tours to their experiences offering

• New National Geographic Day Tours dedicated distribution platform launched, powered by TUI

National Geographic Day Tours, a collection of one-day and half-day itineraries inspired by National Geographic's spirit of exploration and adventure, are now available to book online, in travel agencies and in destination, and for the first time can be purchased directly by travellers, independent of any holiday package. Operated by TUI, ensuring a seamless and responsible travel experience, Day Tours are designed in collaboration with National Geographic Expeditions and incorporate unique elements and the captivating storytelling of National Geographic, with a focus on nature, science, conservation, education, culture, gastronomy and history. Many of the tours offer special access to areas closed to the general public, and feature subject matter experts, such as archaeologists, marine biologists, chefs, farmers, photographers, historians and scholars.

Over 40 new land experiences are now available in beach and city destinations, with further tours in development. Destinations operating National Geographic Day Tours include Barcelona, Cancun, Crete, Paphos, New York, Naples, Tenerife and many more. All National Geographic Day Tours are conducted in small groups, follow the strict criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and are led by National Geographic-trained guides. The launch of National Geographic Day Tours reinforces TUI's strategic focus on Tours & Activities as a key growth area for the business.

"National Geographic Day Tours are once-in-a-lifetime experiences, with something for everyone, whether you're a beach enthusiast or a city explorer. These are carefully crafted tours that tell stories of their destinations, honouring the National Geographic legacy and providing top quality, authentic, local experiences." says Peter Ulwahn, CEO of TUI Musement, the Tours & Activities division of TUI Group. "Developing and operating unique, differentiated products is a key part of TUI Musement's growth strategy and we are excited to continue this with National Geographic Expeditions."

Traveling with National Geographic Day Tours helps to support the work of the global community of National Geographic Explorers around the world since a portion of the proceeds from every tour goes to the global nonprofit National Geographic Society. These funds support National Geographic in its work to protect and illuminate our world through exploration, research, and education.

"National Geographic Day Tours immerse travelers in extraordinary locales and distinctive cultures, all of which are brought to life through the incredible knowledge and brilliant storytelling of National Geographic-trained guides. With new itineraries added to our ever-growing portfolio, the tours can be booked directly by travelers as they explore the world," said Nancy Schumacher, Venior vice President and General Manager, National Geographic Expeditions.

National Geographic Day Tours can be booked online at TUI experiences, TUI musement, and National Geografic Day Tours by TUI, a new online distribution platform developed and powered by TUI for National Geographic Day Tours. The experiences can also be purchased at TUI travel agents, via the TUI app and direct in destination via TUI reps. Furthermore, TUI's Tours & Activities partners, including leading OTAs, hotels, travel agents and airlines, can choose to add National Geographic Day Tours to their offering. The expanded launch follows this year's successful roll out of National Geographic Day Tours in the cruise industry, distributed to multiple cruise lines through TUI subsidiary Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services. The tours received very positive feedback from customers.

Strong booking trends for winter sun destinations and a growing portfolio of city break offerings will enable a significant number of TUI customers to immediately participate in one of the newly released National Geographic Day Tours, such as:

Barcelona, Spain: Homage to Miró

Discover the artworks of Miró and their interaction with the spaces created to house them by architect Josep Lluis Sert. Entering the Fundacio Miró before it opens to the general public, architectural and art restoration specialists present Miró's work - paintings, sculptures, murals, paper and lithographs, which were inspired by artists and poets Miró met throughout Europe, including Pablo Picasso. This tour was inspired by an article in National Geographic Magazine titled, "Homage to Catalonia - and Miró."

Cancun, Mexico: Unveiling the Importance of Reef Restoration

Delve into part of the National Geographic Pristine Seas project at the world's second-largest coral reef system and explore Cancun's coastal wonders during an exclusive and educational sailing and snorkelling tour with marine biologists and oceanographers, who identify bleached corals and explain reef restoration and sustainable marine practices.

Gran Canaria, Spain: The Mystery of the Guanches with an Archaeologist

Explore the La Fortaleza archaeological site and participate in private museum visits - with exclusive access to the archives room - led by an archaeologist, who will explain the traditions of the aboriginal Guanches, including a mummification technique so unique that a Guanche mummy was featured on a National Geographic Magazine front cover.

Naples, Italy: The History of Pasta

Join a local historian in the green hills of Gragnano, the global epicentre of dried pasta, and visit a reconstructed water mill - rarely open to the public - and a family-run pasta factory, learning their story and making fresh pasta, before enjoying a lunch made with ingredients sourced from the factory's garden. This tour was inspired by the National Geographic Magazine article, "The Twisted History of Pasta," which points to 13th century references to pasta dishes, including macaroni, ravioli and more.

New York: Hudson Yards, Where Sustainability Meets Urban Design

Explore the engineering behind this New York neighbourhood built above the railway yards in New York City and meet and talk with the design team, including the chief engineer. Visit areas not open to the general public, including a section of the roof with a private observation deck for views of the New York City skyline unique to this location. Inspiration for this tour is from a National Geographic Magazine article, "The New New York City Skyline" in which Hudson Yards is referenced.

Notes to Editors

View the experiences online now:

• TUI experiences
• Nat geo day tours by TUI
• TUI Musement

About TUI Group

TUI Group is a leading global tourism group and operates worldwide. The Group is headquartered in Germany. TUI shares are listed on the FTSE 250, an index of the London Stock Exchange, on the regulated market of the Hanover Stock Exchange and on the Open Market segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The TUI Group offers integrated services from a single source for its 21 million customers.

The entire tourism value chain is covered under one roof. This includes over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson and 16 cruise ships, from the MS Europa and the MS Europa 2 in the luxury class and expedition ships to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and cruise ships at Marella Cruises in Great Britain. The Group also includes leading tour operator brands and online marketing platforms across Europe, five airlines with more than 130 modern medium and long-haul aircraft and around 1,200 travel agencies. In addition to expanding its core business with hotels, cruises via successful joint ventures and activities in holiday destinations, TUI is increasingly focusing on the expansion of digital platforms. The Group is transforming itself into a digital company.

Global responsibility for sustainable economic, ecological and social action is at the core of our corporate culture. The TUI Care Foundation, initiated by TUI, focuses on the positive effects of tourism, on education and training and on strengthening environmental and social standards with projects in 25 countries. It thus supports holiday destinations in their development.

Stephen Denton