Travel Insights Overview

• Central Asian countries have been relaxing visa requirements – adding e-visas, allowing visa-free travel for more nationalities, or simplifying visa application processes – making it easier for international travelers to visit compared to 1 to 2 decades ago. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan in particular are seeing a significant growth in interest, driven by visa facilitation, Silk Road heritage routes, and travelers seeking alternatives to crowded hotspots.

• Southeast Asia continues to see compounding growth in the number of international travelers. Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are frequently included on travel bucket-lists. Growing infrastructure, international flight connectivity, and repeat and word-of-mouth demand also reinforce their position as top destinations. Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives also saw notable YoY increases in the number of international visitors with +15%, +30%, and +10% respectively.

International fares are currently flat YoY, a reversal from earlier in 2026 when fares were trending down. Overall fare indices remain elevated versus pre-pandemic levels. However, reduced demand on some routes, such as between the US and Europe, has created pockets of value. Airlines may have excess inventory and flexible travelers could find quality deals.

Wellness and “slow travel” are becoming increasingly common, pushed more mainstream by Millennials and Gen Z as part of the broader digital nomad/remote-work cohort. Spa services topped rankings of leading travel experiences in 2025 along with the “glowcation”. Travel that prioritizes longer stays in fewer places, “slow travel”, is seen as an alternative to “checklist tourism”. It also overlaps with sustainability-minded travelers due to less transit and a lower carbon footprint per travel day.

Major events are now a primary driver for international travel. 65% of the top-searched 2026 travel dates align with major global events, led this year by the FIFA World Cup.

AI is entering the planning funnel as more travelers are using AI tools for inspiration, itinerary-building, and price comparison, particularly younger and digitally native travelers, bypassing traditional search filters.

• China group tours remain a large share of China outbound travel even as travelers from China are shifting more towards independent, experience-driven travel. The Chinese government approves which countries Chinese travel agencies can sell group tours to, and the government increased that number from 60 to 138 countries in August 2023. Top destinations for non-group travel are Southeast Asia, Japan, and the UAE.

• India is now the fastest-growing outbound market, growing at almost double China's pace. However, Air India announced one of the broadest schedule pullbacks since the Tata Group took over in 2022, with international flight frequencies cut by approximately 27% and domestic operations scaled back by up to 22% for June to August 2026, citing continued airspace restrictions and record-high jet fuel prices, amid broader financial struggles. Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Etihad, British Airways, SAS, Air Astana, Wizz Air, and other airlines still have plans to expand service throughout India in 2026 despite temporary cancellations due to rising jet fuel costs.

• Saudi travelers spend heavily on international trips, while the UAE continues to be a major connecting hub and destination. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is a broad national reform and economic diversification program launched under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016 aimed at reducing the country's dependence on oil revenue and transforming its economy and society more broadly. It spans many sectors, but tourism is one of its most visible pillars.This is a major shift for a country that has historically been largely closed to leisure tourists in practice and due to social restrictions that limited tourism appeal.

• Intra-regional travel is becoming self-sustaining: intra-Southeast Asia travel now accounts for 45% of arrivals into Southeast Asia (up from 37% in 2019). There is also notable and growing intra-African, intra-Middle East, and intra-Latin American & Caribbean travel.

• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System; EU) was expected to launch in Q4 2026, but the EU has delayed the rollout to 2027 following technical problems with the prerequisite Entry/Exit System (EES). No new date has been set, and the European Commission has committed to announcing the confirmed launch date several months in advance. The confirmed application fee is €20 per traveler (travelers under 18 and over 70 are fee-exempt but must still apply). Once required, travelers from the 60 visa-exempt countriesETIAS visa-exempt countries✕AmericasAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaBahamasBarbadosBrazilCanadaChileColombiaCosta RicaDominicaEl SalvadorGrenadaGuatemalaHondurasMexicoNicaraguaPanamaParaguayPeruSaint Kitts & NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent & the GrenadinesTrinidad & TobagoUnited StatesUruguayEurope (non-Schengen)AlbaniaBosnia & HerzegovinaGeorgiaKosovoMoldovaMontenegroNorth MacedoniaSerbiaUkraineUnited KingdomAsia-PacificAustraliaBruneiHong Kong (BN(O))JapanMacaoMalaysiaNew ZealandSingaporeSouth KoreaTaiwanTimor-LesteMiddle East & AfricaIsraelMauritiusSeychellesPacific IslandsKiribatiMarshall IslandsMicronesiaNauruPalauSamoaSolomon IslandsTongaTuvaluVanuatuSource: European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). List subject to change prior to launch. will need to apply before visiting any of the 30 participating Schengen countries; once approved, ETIAS is valid for up to 3 years.
• The UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is in full effect as of February 25, 2026; the fee was raised from £16 to £20 on April 8, 2026. The UK ETA is a digital travel permission required before visiting the UK, even for short trips, for nationals who would otherwise be visa-exempt, and is valid for 2 years or until the holder’s passport expires. It was first launched in October 2023 for Qatari nationals, then expanded to GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Jordan) in February 2024. Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and approximately 45 other non-European countries were added from January 8, 2025. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals were the last group, added from April 2, 2025.
• Thailand reduced its visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days for travelers from 54 countriesThailand 30-day visa-exempt countries✕EuropeAustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGeorgiaGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyKyrgyzstanLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomAmericasCanadaUnited StatesAsia-PacificAustraliaBhutanBruneiFijiIndonesiaIsraelJapanMalaysiaNew ZealandPhilippinesSingaporeSouth AfricaTaiwanMiddle EastBahrainJordanKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesSource: Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing, May 19, 2026. Final list subject to confirmation upon Royal Gazette publication., following a Cabinet decision on May 19, 2026, that affects the 93 countries previously covered by the 60-day scheme. As of this briefing, the new rules have not yet taken effect as they become enforceable 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, which has not been confirmed. Travelers currently in Thailand under a 60-day entry stamp retain their full permitted stay. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also reinstate a cap of 2 visa-free entries per year via land borders, a rule that predates the 2024 expansion. A one-time 30-day extension remains available at Thai immigration offices for approximately 1,900 THB (~$55), applicable to the 54 countries in the 30-day tier; nationals of the Maldives, Seychelles, and Mauritius fall under a new 15-day exemption category and are not eligible to extend. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) remains mandatory for all visitors and must be completed online within 72 hours before arrival.
• Venice increased the number of days under its visitor entry-fee program to 60 days for 2026 (up from 54 in 2025). These days were pre-announced and run from April 3, 2026 to July 26, 2026, covering most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, plus a handful of additional days during spring holidays. See the official Venice access fee portal for the full calendar of dates.
• Barcelona almost doubled its overnight tourist tax effective April 1, 2026 which applies to hotels and short-term rentals. Barcelona also plans to ban short-term holiday apartment rentals entirely by 2028.
• India restored tourist visas for Chinese citizens in July 2025 for the first time in five years.

• The US significantly expanded entry restrictions effective January 1, 2026. A Presidential Proclamation fully or partially suspended entry and visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries, though travelers who already held valid visas as of the effective date are generally still permitted to travel and use those visas, subject to standard inspection by US Customs and Border Protection. The US Department of State announced a visa processing freeze on January 14, 2026, pausing immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries pending a review of public-benefits eligibility criteria. The US State Department has also nearly tripled the number of countries whose travelers may be required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for US entry, building on a 2025 pilot program.
• Enhanced screening now applies more broadly at US ports of entry. New biometric screening requirements, including photography and fingerprinting, apply at all US entry and exit points. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) applicants must now compile five years of social media account history as part of the application. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) remain exempt from the travel ban itself but face enhanced screening and biometric data collection at every border crossing.

The US and Canada have both implemented border measures affecting travelers who have been to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of intended arrival.

• Under a CDC Title 42 order, first issued May 18, 2026 and renewed July 13, 2026 for an additional 30 days, non-US citizens who have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days are barred from entering the US. The order was expanded May 22 to also apply to lawful permanent residents (green card holders). US citizens and nationals may still enter but must reroute their flights to one of four designated airports for enhanced CDC screening: Washington Dulles (IAD), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), or JFK. Travelers without symptoms are subject to 21-day health monitoring after arrival. Visa services at US embassies in DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan have been temporarily suspended.
• Effective May 27, 2026 through August 28, 2026, immigration documents including previously approved visas and eTAs for residents of DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan have been suspended. Those individuals cannot travel to Canada during this period. Effective May 30, 2026 through August 29, 2026, any traveler who has been to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents, is required to undergo a health assessment on arrival. Travelers without symptoms must quarantine for 21 days; those with symptoms will be transferred to a medical facility for isolation and assessment.

• The US State Department maintains Israel and the West Bank at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, citing terrorism and civil unrest; Gaza remains Level 4: Do Not Travel. The advisory also designates Do Not Travel zones within specific border areas. The UK FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) advises against all travel to Gaza and specific West Bank governorates (Tulkarm, Jenin, and Tubas, except Route 90), and against travel to areas near the Lebanon border and the Golan Heights.
• Ben Gurion Airport is operating, and cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem see routine tourism, but the security situation can shift with little warning. In the West Bank, tourist destinations such as Bethlehem, Jericho, and Ramallah are generally considered safe for visitors and remain open, though travelers should expect checkpoint delays, carry their passport and Israeli-issued entry slip at all times, and avoid areas near checkpoints on Fridays when protests are more common. Consular support in Gaza is essentially unavailable, and the West Bank barrier and checkpoint network mean access can close or reroute without warning during periods of unrest. Authorities advise visitors to know the location of the nearest bomb shelter, download a real-time alert app, avoid demonstrations and crowds, and enroll in their home country's traveler registration program before traveling to the area.

Authorities advise that travelers with any itinerary touching the broader Middle East region should monitor government travel advisories (such as the US State Department or your home country's equivalent) in real time before departure, and verify refund and travel insurance terms immediately, as many travel insurance policies specifically exclude support during active conflicts.

• Current status: The US-Israel war with Iran began February 28, 2026. The 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed June 18 has effectively collapsed: the ceasefire came under serious strain in late June, and by July 10 the US-Iran truce was declared over, with Iran declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed after the IRGC attacked commercial vessels transiting the strait. The US reimposed a naval blockade against Iran effective July 14. The US State Department maintains Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. The conflict has entered a higher-intensity phase than the pre-July ceasefire period, though still below the peak seen earlier in 2026.
• Airspace & flights: Gulf airspace remained open as of July 14, but the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a new Conflict Zone Information Bulletin recommending that air operators avoid the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and the waters of the Gulf of Oman within Omani airspace, in effect through at least July 29 and subject to extension. Regional impacts have been significant: Middle East tourist arrivals are down approximately 14% and regional air passenger traffic down roughly 46.6% YoY since the ceasefire collapse. Given how quickly carrier decisions are shifting — some airlines have suspended, resumed, and re-suspended service to the same city within the span of a single week — travelers with any Middle East connections or routings should treat any published suspension list as provisional and confirm flight status directly with their airline.

• Travelers with existing Cuba bookings should verify status immediately. Even where flights technically exist via third countries, the on-the-ground infrastructure situation means Cuba is not currently functioning as a standard leisure destination. Travel insurance terms for Cuba-specific disruptions should be reviewed carefully before any booking is made.
• Cuba's power grid has suffered five complete nationwide collapses in 2026 alone — three within a single ten-day stretch in early-to-mid July, most recently on July 15 — on top of earlier collapses in 2024 and 2025, bringing the total to roughly ten nationwide blackouts since late 2024. Outages are frequently running 15–30 hours a day in Havana and as long as 87 consecutive hours in some provinces. Grocery shortages, hospital backlogs, and near-total hotel occupancy collapse (below 22%) are part of the current reality.

• Russia is not legally off-limits to most foreign travelers, including US citizens — no US or Russian law bars the trip, and no country is currently known to formally ban its citizens from traveling there. Instead, most Western governments — including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia — advise against all travel, with the US State Department maintaining a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory. US citizens are not eligible for Russia's e-visa and must apply for a traditional consular visa in advance, though Americans can uniquely obtain a 3-year multiple-entry tourist visa. There are no direct flights between Russia and the US, UK, Canada, or most of the EU; travelers typically connect through hubs such as Istanbul, Dubai, or Doha.
• Financial access is severely limited and foreign Visa and Mastercard cards have not functioned in Russia since March 2022. Travelers must bring sufficient cash in euros or USD to exchange on arrival, or arrange a Russian MIR or Chinese UnionPay card. Western payment apps and major social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, WhatsApp) are blocked; a VPN is required to access them, though Russian law restricts VPN use.
• Dual nationals face elevated risk because Russia does not recognize dual nationality. Travelers who also hold Russian citizenship are treated solely as Russian citizens while in Russia, meaning their other country's consular protection is effectively unavailable. Dual nationals have reportedly been prevented from leaving Russia and, in some cases, conscripted into the military. Anyone holding Russian citizenship alongside another nationality should seek specialized legal advice before considering travel to Russia.
• The conflict with Ukraine remains active and border regions — Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, and Rostov — have experienced regular attacks. Drone strikes have reached Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan. Major tourist cities continue to operate day-to-day, but no part of Russia is entirely removed from the conflict's reach. Travelers should register with their home country's embassy before departure and monitor official government travel advisories in real time.

Venezuela remains in a nationwide state of emergency and recovery period following the twin earthquakes on June 24, 2026. Search-and-rescue has largely transitioned to recovery operations.

• Scale of the event: The 7.5 mainshock is the largest recorded earthquake to strike Venezuela in more than 125 years. Buildings collapsed in Caracas and surrounding areas, especially in the hard-hit coastal state of La Guaira. The quakes were felt as far as Colombia's Caribbean coast, northern Brazil, and Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire.
• Airport status: Simón Bolívar International Airport remains closed to regular commercial traffic; one runway has been repaired for military and humanitarian flights only. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced plans (July 7) to use an alternate runway to resume commercial service "as soon as possible," but aviation analysts estimate full normal operations could take several months. American Airlines has suspended Caracas service; United's planned August Houston–Caracas launch is now in limbo.
• Economic impact: The UN estimates $6.7 billion in damage (~6% of Venezuela's GDP); other estimates run higher. Hundreds of thousands remain in temporary shelters.

• France's confirmed hottest day on record was June 23, 2026, with a peak of 44.3°C at Pissos. That heatwave eased by around July 1, but a third heat dome built back over Western Europe from July 4–5 and remains active as of mid-July, pushing southern France back into the low-to-mid 40s°C. Spain hit 45.1°C in the June 2026 peak and is back near 44–45°C for July.
• Italy issued its highest-level red warnings (Level 3) for 16 cities including Rome, Milan, Florence, Turin, and Verona as the June 2026 heatwave peaked; heat-stressed electrical cables caused blackouts in Turin. The July 2026 heat dome has pushed temperatures back into the upper 30s to low 40s°C across northern and central Italy. The Italian Ministry publishes daily updates at salute.gov.it.
• The UK broke its June temperature record on June 26, 2026 (38°C at Santon Downham, Suffolk, beating the 35.6°C set in 1976), then entered a third heatwave beginning July 4. The UK Health Security Agency extended heat-health alerts through July 12, and a reading of 35.5°C at Wisley, Surrey on July 9 marked the UK's eighth day above 34°C in 2026, a new national record for most such days in a single year.
• At least 13 European countries broke temperature records during the 2026 heatwaves, including Germany, Hungary, and Poland, which set national records during the June peak: Germany reached a national record of 41.7°C on June 28, Hungary set a new national heat record of 42.0°C on June 30, and Poland broke a record set in 1921 when temperatures reached 40.5°C on June 28.

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) forecasts a below-normal season in the Atlantic, with a 55% probability of below-normal activity, 35% near-normal, and 10% above-normal. The agency is predicting 8–14 named storms total, of which 3–6 are expected to become hurricanes and 1–3 to reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher). The primary driver is a developing El Niño pattern expected to intensify and increase wind shear across the Atlantic, suppressing tropical development. Travelers to the Caribbean, Gulf Coast, southeastern US, and Central America between June and November should monitor national hurricane centers like the National Hurricane Center at hurricanes.gov and other appropriate weather resources, and have contingency plans. Many travel insurance policies have specific terms around hurricane-related disruptions, which should also be reviewed when making travel plans and before departure.