Tourism & Cost Pressure: Albania’s Vjosa-Narta lagoon luxury resort faces EU scrutiny as Brussels warns candidate countries must fully meet environmental law, after protests and calls to suspend work. Currency & Travel Demand: Thailand’s baht is weakening amid Middle East tensions, with analysts watching how it may affect foreign visitor affordability. Policy & Payments: Indonesia is expanding QRIS cross-border payments to Saudi Arabia and India to ease transactions for travelers, including umrah and hajj visitors. Tourism Strategy: Thailand’s TAT is pushing “Value over Volume,” spotlighting wellness, sustainability, and higher-spending travel segments. Regional Growth Moves: Bangkok and Tokyo are swapping reciprocal tourism ads across transit networks and digital platforms. Air Connectivity: A new Pekanbaru–Melaka flight route is expected to boost arrivals and tourism cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia. US Crackdown on “Birth Tourism”: The State Department says it dismantled overseas networks and revoked hundreds of visas tied to schemes aimed at obtaining US citizenship for children. Local Tourism Economics: Airbnb hosts in Bratislava report strong occupancy but weak net returns after fees, taxes, and costs. Visitor Safety & Access: Greece is restricting Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach access until October 2026 due to rockfall risk and heavy crowds. Festival Spotlight: The US Virgin Islands announced a star-studded St. John Celebration lineup led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin.