Philippines Tourism Budget: A Senate hearing on the 2027 DOT budget urged faster fixes for airport accessibility and smarter use of e-gates to make foreign travel smoother, plus a broader competitiveness push beyond promotion. Travel Tax Transition: Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority officials asked lawmakers for a transition period before abolishing the travel tax, saying it funds most tourism infrastructure projects. UK Visitor Levy Debate: A new op-ed argues England’s proposed overnight visitor levy could help sustainability and local communities if designed well—while warning implementation is politically and economically tricky. Aviation Disruptions: Bangkok’s floods stranded hundreds of South Korean tourists at Suvarnabhumi, while Sicily’s Mount Etna eruption shut down Catania Airport for days. Connectivity & Policy: Tanzania requires inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors entering mainland, and Qatar published its full visa-on-arrival categories. Industry Moves: flydubai joins the inaugural Syria Travel Show to boost connectivity, and Aeroméxico temporarily suspends Tulum airport operations citing low demand. Tourism Growth & Work: Egypt’s deputy PM called tourism an integrated growth engine, and Indonesia showcased a push for more sustainable maritime tourism at Monaco. Local Tourism Pressure: St Maarten’s minister is tightening taxi and bus permit compliance ahead of peak season.