Insyte Weekly: Uno plans to innovate, Amazon & Xbox strike a partnership, and SPAR tackles the cost of living crisis and more

Trends such as ‘Accessibility for All’ and ‘overtourism’ refuse to disappear. Here’s a breakdown of some of the week’s top stories.

Media & Entertainment

Fast Company reported that Mattel is making its card games, such as Uno, accessible to players with colour blindness by incorporating symbols alongside colours to distinguish them. The company aims for 80% of its global games portfolio to be colour-blind accessible by the end of the year and 90% by the end of 2025. This includes adding patterns to differentiate pieces in games like Blokus and updating Dos, Phase 10, Skip-Bo, and Ker Plunk. Mattel's collaboration with ColorADD, a group specializing in design solutions for colour blindness, supports this initiative. Instruction sheets will feature information for colour-blind players, and accessible games will display a multicoloured eye icon on the packaging. This move will enable many of the estimated 300 million people worldwide with colour blindness to enjoy these games.

Amazon announced its partnership with Xbox that will bring Xbox games to Amazon Fire TV devices, allowing users to play popular titles without a console. Starting in July, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can access hundreds of cloud-enabled games via the Xbox app on select Fire TV devices. This integration makes console-quality gaming accessible with just a Fire TV Stick and a Bluetooth controller, enabling players to enjoy games like Starfield, Fallout 4, and Forza Horizon 5. The setup is simple: users need a Fire TV Stick 4K Max or Fire TV Stick 4K, the Xbox app, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, and a compatible controller. This portable gaming solution offers the flexibility to move the setup between rooms or take it on the go. Additionally, the launch coincides with the release of the Fallout TV series on Prime Video, providing fans with a comprehensive experience. This initiative reflects Amazon's commitment to enhancing entertainment options and making cloud gaming more accessible.

Tourism

The crackdown on overtourism is relentless. An article by Euronews cited how authorities in Barcelona have banned short-term tourism rentals. As stated in the article, Barcelona City Council announced a plan to ban apartment rentals to tourists over the next five years to improve housing availability for local residents. This initiative aims to eliminate the city's 10,000 tourist flat licenses, prioritizing residential use amidst a national housing crisis, particularly severe in touristic cities like Barcelona. This move aligns with a global trend of cities addressing the impacts of mass tourism on local life. Barcelona had already halted the issuance of new tourist flat licenses since 2014, freezing the number at 9,600 units. Mayor Jaume Collboni emphasized that this measure is a significant step in addressing the housing issue, particularly for young people, while Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet noted that the five-year period before the licenses expire would serve as compensation for landlords.

According to Akemi Takiruma, Japan is also experiencing its own case of overtourism. As Japan experiences a surge in overseas tourists, complaints about overcrowding and poor behaviour have led some to propose higher prices for foreigners to manage the influx without losing income. In May, foreign tourist arrivals reached 3.04 million, a 9.6% increase from 2019, driven by a weak yen. However, locals are increasingly frustrated by crowded attractions and transportation. As cited in the article, Himeji's mayor suggested charging foreign tourists six times more than locals to visit Himeji Castle. Similar measures are being considered for Osaka Castle. Kyoto has banned tourists from parts of its historical Gion district, and Fujikawaguchiko has erected barriers to prevent photo-taking of Mt. Fuji. Yamanashi prefecture has limited climbers on Mt. Fuji to address overcrowding and waste. Despite these measures, hotel prices in Japan hit a near three-decade high in March due to the influx of tourists during the cherry blossom season.

Not getting enough sleep? Maybe sleep tourism is for you. According to Charlotte Gupta, "Sleep tourism," a growing trend within the $800 billion global wellness tourism industry, offers vacations focused on rest and relaxation to address chronic sleep deprivation. Luxurious sleep retreats and hotel sleep suites are emerging worldwide to help tourists achieve better sleep. In Australia, over a third of adults fail to get the recommended 7–9 hours of sleep, costing the economy A$45 billion annually and leading to significant health issues. While these sleep-focused vacations can help individuals feel more rested by providing optimized sleep environments and eliminating daily stressors, the benefits may not last once the vacation ends.

Retail

As reported by Apparel Resources, Shopify has unveiled significant updates designed to enhance the platform's user experience for businesses of all sizes. Key updates include the launch of Shopify POS Terminal, a new hardware solution to streamline in-store transactions, complementing the existing Shopify POS Go mobile device for comprehensive sales support. The update also introduces new marketing features such as Buy X Get Y Discounts and Combined Discounts to provide more personalized customer experiences. Additionally, Shopify is integrating advanced AI capabilities across its platform, including enhanced Shopify Magic for automated product tagging, an improved Media Editor for image creation, and upgraded Suggested Replies for customer support, all aimed at boosting operational efficiency and reducing costs for merchants.

As reported by Brent Lindeque, The SPAR Group has launched a groundbreaking 'R1 Billion in Savings' promotion in a bid to relieve the cost of living crisis in South Africa. Until 22 July, SPAR Rewards customers can enjoy significant discounts on various essentials, including SPAR Macaroni, SPAR Extra Shelf Life Milk, and SPAR IQF Chicken Portions. This initiative addresses the urgent need for financial relief, as highlighted by the FinScope Consumer South Africa 2023 report, which shows groceries account for 30.4% of monthly expenses and 40% of adults rely on credit for food. Mpudi Maubane, National PR Manager at SPAR, emphasizes the promotion's aim to provide substantial savings and support amid rising costs. According to a Kantar study, grocery promotions can save shoppers up to 20-30%, potentially translating to significant savings for South African families. The promotion's special prices are clearly marked in stores, and SPAR Rewards cardholders can access these discounts by swiping their card at checkout.

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