Tourism Marketing & Partnerships: Tourism Malaysia signed an MoU with Foodie Media to boost Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 promotion, leaning hard into culinary and digital content reach. Cross-Border Trade: Malaysia’s Kedah and Thailand’s Trang chambers launched B2B matching to keep transit tourists from skipping stops, especially for halal-friendly travel. Visa & Border Controls: The US State Department says it has revoked 750+ visas since launching a birth tourism prevention task force, targeting facilitators who market “guaranteed citizenship” schemes. Overtourism & Local Impact: Highland Council’s proposed £5-a-night tourist tax faces pushback ahead of a crunch meeting, with critics warning it could hit residents and strain plans without clear benefits. Safety Alerts: Death Valley saw a French tourist die after his car got stuck in mud during extreme heat, underscoring how fast conditions can turn dangerous. Destination Development: Herefordshire’s visitor economy push is tied to a BID ballot, while Chiang Mai unveiled a longevity-and-wellness strategy aiming to position the city as a global wellness hub. Travel Business & Growth: BWH Hotels expands its Aiden boutique brand with new openings across the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Air Connectivity: Korean Air will add a daily Seoul–Hiroshima route from Dec 23, 2026, giving direct access to Hiroshima’s top sites.