Fiji tourism tax will apply only to new bookings from Sept. 1
Fiji says its 5% Tourism Services Tax will apply only to qualifying new bookings from September 1, protecting existing reservations from the levy.
Tourism
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U.S. Plans Review That Could Revoke Up to 200,000 Visitor Visas
A proposed State Department review could affect up to 200,000 business and tourism visa holders who later sought asylum, but no mass revocation is final.
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July Tourism Data Show U.S. Inbound Travel Below Expectations
Preliminary July data show weaker foreign air arrivals and overnight visitors, putting the U.S. tourism outlook below the growth expected for 2026.
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Federal judge extends Big Bend construction pause through Sept. 15
A federal court agreement pauses new ground-disturbing border construction near Big Bend through Sept. 15, while a separate Santa Elena access restriction remains.
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South Africa Sets Three-Year Plan to Prepare Tourism Infrastructure Projects
South Africa has formalized a three-year plan to prepare tourism infrastructure for investors as arrivals rise, while Parliament warns delivery risks remain.
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DOT’s June Air-Travel Data Shows Uneven Summer Reliability
DOT data show 73.1% of reported domestic operations arrived on time in June, while cancellations, baggage problems and carrier results varied widely.
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South Africa records 991,696 overnight tourists in July
South Africa recorded 991,696 overnight international tourists in July, up 12.5% year over year, as regional African travel remained the main source of growth.
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Nashville summer events show different effects on hotels, crowds and spending
Alan Jackson’s June 27 Nissan Stadium finale coincided with Nashville’s strongest downtown hotel occupancy among three major summer events, while CMA Fest led reported visitor spending and Let Freedom Sing drew the largest reported crowd estimate.
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Kentucky State Fair opens Aug. 20 with America250 programming
The Kentucky State Fair runs Aug. 20-30 in Louisville, with an America250 exhibition, themed competitions, concerts and practical details on tickets, parking and family costs.
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National-park fee rules put tour operators on the hook
A $100 nonresident fee applies at 11 major parks, requiring tour operators to count passengers, manage named passes and prepay charges before arrival.
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Texas GATORFEST 2026 canceled in Anahuac
Texas GATORFEST 2026 has been canceled, removing the decades-old community tradition and economic driver from Anahuac’s 2026 event calendar.
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Buffalo Outer Harbor cruise terminal construction set for August
Construction is scheduled to begin in August on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor cruise terminal, with the project targeting cruise operations in Western New York by 2028.
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U.S. makes visa-bond program permanent for travelers from 50 countries, raising maximum to $20,000
The State Department has made permanent a pilot requiring some business and tourist visa applicants from 50 countries, mainly in Africa, to post a bond of up to $20,000.
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Record sargassum surge closes beaches along Mexico’s Caribbean coast on July 28
A record wave of brown sargassum washed onto Mexico’s Caribbean coast on July 28, forcing beach closures in major tourist destinations and adding pressure to hotels, restaurants and shops.
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2026 U.S. tourism forecast faces a mixed summer test
A federal forecast projects more international visitors in 2026, but domestic travel is shifting closer to home while hotels and parks report mixed demand.
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Japan Raises Departure Tax to ¥3,000 as Tourism Pressure Builds
Japan’s departure tax rose to ¥3,000 on July 1 as record visitor numbers test whether new tourism revenue can ease pressure on crowded destinations.
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Edinburgh’s 5% visitor levy begins, adding cost to overnight stays
Edinburgh’s 5% visitor levy now applies to eligible overnight stays, capped at five nights, as the city prepares for its August festival season.
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World Cup Hotel Gains Were Real but Uneven Across U.S. Cities
The 2026 World Cup filled stadiums and lifted hotel rates, but final data show uneven occupancy, displaced group travel and no uniform U.S. hotel boom.
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Wildfire damage is forcing Minnesota’s Boundary Waters region to confront a lost summer economy
The Boundary Waters is reopening in phases, but wildfire damage, canceled permits and lost peak-season business continue to strain northeastern Minnesota.
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College Park faces lawsuit over June council meeting held in Savannah
A Fulton County lawsuit challenges College Park’s June 28 council meeting in Savannah, where members approved a new tourism-marketing organization subject to a contract while residents disputed the meeting’s public access.
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Okefenokee becomes Georgia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. What changes now?
UNESCO’s July 25, 2026 inscription puts Georgia’s Okefenokee in a global conservation spotlight, but ownership, federal management and everyday refuge rules remain in place.
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New Hampshire projects $2.6 billion in summer visitor spending for 2026
New Hampshire officials project about 4.8 million summer visitors in 2026 and approximately $2.6 billion in spending, a forecast they say is consistent with summer 2025.