Tourism Policy & Funding: Virginia tourism hit a record $36.2B in visitor spending, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger citing four straight years of growth and rising local tax benefits. Cruise & Destination Growth: The U.S. Virgin Islands ranked among the Caribbean’s fastest-growing cruise spots, with 493,397 cruise passenger arrivals in Q1 2026 (+29.3%). City Tourism & Infrastructure: Ocean City, Maryland approved buying nearly 198 acres for a sports complex, aiming to extend tourism beyond peak season and support year-round jobs. Air Travel Safety: Reports say an Air India captain’s confirmatory drug test came back positive for marijuana after an incident involving a sudden altitude change over Odisha. Border Tech & Travel Ease: South Africa’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation is set to speed entry while boosting border security and identity checks. Marketing & Demand: Trabzon, Turkey is seeing a tourism lift after Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor, with interest spreading beyond Egypt. Accessibility & Planning: A new study ranks Pensacola Beach as the top U.S. accessible “coolcation” town for travelers with mobility needs. Business Events Boost: Montreal is on track for a record season as business events and festivals drive U.S. and international travel gains. Tourism Management Debate: Shetland hospitality leaders warn visitor growth must be managed now to avoid future over-tourism and housing strain. Travel Tech & AI Monetization: Alibaba and ByteDance rolled out paid versions of AI services tied to hotel bookings in China, signaling a push toward monetizing AI travel tools.