European ETF provider HANetf and Texas-headquartered investment manager US Global Investors have launched “Europe’s first actively managed travel ETF”, aiming to capture long-term opportunities in tourism.
The offering, US Global Investors Travel Ucits ETF (ticker: Trip), is based on Smart Beta 2.0 strategy. According to Investopedia: “Smart beta is a way of investing that combines the benefits of passive investing and the advantages of active investing strategies. It derives from the capital asset pricing model to define the relationship between risk and return. In this model, beta is a measure of volatility or systemic risk of a security compared with the broader market.”
The fund is managed by Frank Holmes, CEO and CIO of U.S. Global Investors. The ETF is designed to offer investors targeted exposure to companies within the global travel ecosystem —ranging from airlines and hotels to cruise lines, airports and travel service providers.
Unlike traditional passive ETFs, the fund takes an active approach, recalibrating its holdings quarterly based on a rule-based strategy that focuses on price momentum, fundamental shifts and valuation opportunities, shared the provider.
“The travel industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation,” said Holmes. “With trends like remote work, digital nomadism, and sustainable tourism on the rise, we see this as a prime moment to introduce a strategy that captures the next chapter of travel growth.”
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The fund also aligns with growing demand for experience-driven travel, wellness tourism and culturally immersive journeys. It aims to invest in companies best positioned to benefit from these high-margin segments, which are reshaping the post-pandemic travel experience.
Total assets under management for active ETFs in Europe rose by 68% in 2024, with an additional 11% growth recorded in Q1 2025.
Frank Holmes, CEO and chief investment officer of US Global Investors and pioneer of Smart Beta 2.0, commented: “Trip represents a new era in thematic investing, capturing a permanent transformation in global travel dynamics. Since the pandemic, travel has transitioned from cyclical patterns to sustained, secular growth, driven by remote work, digital nomadism, and a shift towards experience over possessions.”
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Hector McNeil, co-founder and co-CEO of HANetf, commented: “We are delighted to introduce a new active strategy to European investors. The travel industry has evolved significantly post-pandemic, with the rise of digital nomads and remote workers, new forms of tourism, and service providers making travel more accessible than ever. Frank Holmes’ expertise in capital markets, and U.S. Global Investors’ active management approach, is well-positioned to navigate this dynamic industry and identify innovative companies shaping the future of travel.”
