Interior modernizes U.S. national park passes with digital access
The Department of the Interior announced a major overhaul of national park access, including fully digital America the Beautiful passes and updated annual pass artwork. The changes, set to begin Jan. 1, 2026, also expand motorcycle access and introduce a resident-focused fee structure with higher costs for nonresidents. The agency said the new revenue will go back into park maintenance, visitor facilities and services.
Canada updates traveller immunization guidance for mpox and rabies
Canada’s Immunization of travellers chapter was partially updated in June 2026, with new guidance on mpox vaccines reflecting shifting global epidemiology. The chapter also notes pending updates tied to newer national guidance on rabies and Ebola. Health professionals are still being told to use pre-travel consultations to review itineraries, risks and routine vaccination status.
Thailand to revoke 60-day visa exemption, cut visa-on-arrival access
Thailand has approved changes to its visa exemption and visa on arrival schemes, including scrapping the 60-day visa exemption for all 93 eligible countries and territories. The revised framework reduces the 30-day visa exemption list and introduces a new 15-day category for three countries or territories, while visa on arrival eligibility drops sharply. The changes will take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, on a date yet to be announced.
Tourist taxes rise in Spain, Greece and Portugal in 2026
Travel budgets are facing higher tourist taxes in 2026 as several popular European destinations raise or introduce fees. Barcelona, Venice, Norway, Iceland and Edinburgh are among the places changing what visitors may have to pay, while Greece and Portugal continue to charge by destination and season. Some of the biggest costs fall on overnight stays, cruise passengers and even hikers in specific protected areas.
easyJet adds three new UK winter routes with Kosovo return and ‘Capital of Christmas’ link
easyJet has announced three new winter routes from UK airports, including the relaunch of direct flights to Pristina in Kosovo. The airline will also introduce a Bristol–Strasbourg link and a new domestic connection between Belfast International and Aberdeen. One-way fares start under £20, with flight-only and package holiday options now on sale via easyJet and easyJet holidays.
Extreme Weather Is Redrawing the Map of International Travel Risk
Harvard Global Support Services is warning that increasingly intense extreme weather and natural disasters are reshaping international travel risk and disrupting academic trips abroad. The guidance highlights how climate-driven events like heatwaves, hurricanes, floods and wildfires can derail research, conferences and fieldwork while triggering cascading impacts on health, infrastructure and social stability. Travelers are urged to build weather risk into their planning, from monitoring air quality and grid reliability to preparing for sudden disasters with practical contingency measures.
5 Countries That Tightened Visa Rules For Indian Travellers In 2026
Five popular destinations have revised their visa policies for Indian passport holders in 2026, affecting visa-free stays, visa-on-arrival access and pre-departure formalities. Thailand has shortened the length of visa-free visits, while Cape Verde, Bolivia, Iran and Nicaragua have all withdrawn visa-on-arrival or visa-free entry and now require advance clearance. Indian travellers heading to these countries need to factor in online applications and prior approvals before confirming their plans.
Interior Department Overhauls National Park Passes With Digital Access, Resident Pricing
The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced the most significant modernization of national park access in decades, centered on new digital America the Beautiful passes and resident-focused pricing.[2] Launching January 1, 2026, the changes include higher fees for nonresidents at popular parks, expanded motorcycle access, and refreshed patriotic pass designs.[2] Revenue from the revised fee structure will be reinvested directly into national park facilities, maintenance, and services.[2]
Canada updates global travel health notices as Ebola and dengue risks evolve
The Public Health Agency of Canada has refreshed its list of travel health notices, highlighting evolving risks from Ebola, dengue, chikungunya and other infectious diseases. Notices range from routine health precautions to advisories against non-essential travel, depending on the level of risk identified. Canadian travellers are urged to check country-specific Travel Advice and Advisories both when planning and shortly before departure, as health conditions can shift between booking and travel dates.
KAYAK leans on flexible search tools to surface cheaper flights
KAYAK is putting flexible search and comparison tools at the center of its pitch to travelers hunting for cheaper airfare. The platform highlights features such as a color‑coded Price Calendar, nearby‑airport searches and smart filters to help users quickly identify lower fares. It is also promoting email price alerts and flexible‑date searches for people willing to adjust their travel plans to capture better deals.
GOL, Qatar Airways And Others Open Key Long-Haul Links In July 2026
A wave of new airline routes in July 2026 is reshaping long-haul connectivity across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. GOL Linhas Aéreas is entering the long-haul market with nonstop flights between Rio de Janeiro and New York, while Qatar Airways adds a Doha–Bogotá–Caracas link tying South America to the Middle East. Additional launches from Air Canada, China Eastern, Air China, Jazeera Airways and Flydubai strengthen transatlantic and intra-Asian networks.
EU digital border system now fully operational after phased rollout
The European Commission says the EU’s new Entry/Exit System became operational on 12 October 2025 and was fully operational at external border crossing points from 10 April 2026. The system applies to non-EU travellers on short stays and replaces manual passport stamping with electronic records. It records passport details, biometric data and entry or exit data, with only fast verification needed on later crossings.