Philippines Sovereign Wealth: Maharlika Investment Corporation says it’s aiming to deploy about ₱25B in 2026 (energy, agriculture, mining) after only ₱5.9B was put to work by end-2025, with a focus on “national resilience” projects. Vietnam Hospitality: Palladium Hotel Group opened its Asia-Pacific HQ in Ho Chi Minh City and plans to bring its BLESS Collection brand to Vietnam, including BLESS L’Ayla Ninh Van Bay (summer 2027) and BLESS Hotel Hanoi (2028). China Silk Road Tourism: An international expedition retracing Xuanzang’s Tang-era journey launched in Beijing, mapping a route from Xi’an and across Central Asia to India’s Nalanda. Korea Tourism Tech Push: Busan’s Haeundae has been named South Korea’s first “global tourism zone,” with AI tourist info centers and digital payments to help it run year-round. Travel Disruption Watch: American Airlines’ two major hubs, Chicago O’Hare and Washington Reagan National, faced ground stops and delays from severe weather and an air show. Airline Service Row: Fiji Airways’ economy meals were criticized in Fiji’s parliament, with MPs questioning catering cuts and high fares. Adventure & Events: Queensland locked in the Pacific Airshow on the Gold Coast through 2028, while Tasmania expanded its LGBTQIA+ tourism inclusion program into a national Rainbow Ready accreditation. Weather Alerts: Pakistan’s Punjab is on alert for heavy rain and possible flooding/landslides from Aug 17–21. Natural Disaster Impact: Tropical Storm Lala passed Hawaii but left flash flooding, mudslides, and major flight cancellations and delays.