by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Mon September 29, 2025
September saw quite a bit of news surrounding destinations here at home and abroad, from exciting new developments at Disney to new data supporting our understanding of the tourism downturn occurring in the United States.
Read on to see the biggest news from September, and be sure to click the links below if you’re interested in reading the full stories.
US Travel News
The LVCVA brought some glitz to Vancouver on a trade mission (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia)
September brought about some big news focusing around the United States and its tourism industry, with an update on tourism in Maui to declining tourism in Las Vegas.
Two years following the devastating Maui wildfires, we checked in with the beloved Hawaiian island to show you what’s been happening lately—there’s been some exciting updates!
One new development is Hawai’i Tourism Authority’s newly appointed chief administrative officer, David Uchiyama. He replaces Daniel Nāhoʻopiʻi, who left HTA in March.
Another destination, Las Vegas, is hoping discounted rates will bring more tourists to the city, which has experienced a downturn in tourism without the typical international traveler numbers that it typically sees each year. The city’s first-ever city-wide sale is offering discounts up to 50 percent off the best available rate for hotel stays.
Brand USA, the nation’s official destination marketing organization, has cut 15 percent of its workforce and has ended GoUSA TV, which provides destination ad placement on streaming sites like YouTube and Roku. The Big Beautiful Bill slashed its funding by 80 percent.
New data also shows the impact of trade wars and other policy decisions: international spending in the United States remains unpredictable month by month, with new research from the NTTO showing non-U.S. air arrivals dropping 4.9 percent this July, decreasing spending by 1 percent.
Statistics Canada data provides more information on the Canadian travel downturn in August: the number of returning Canadians by air from the U.S. dropped 25.4 percent. The number of those returning across the land border by car was even worse: 33.9 percent less. August was the eighth consecutive month that the U.S. saw decreases in Canadian visitation.
Entry Requirement News
Falmouth, Jamaica (Photo Credit: Irina Schmidt/Adobe Stock)
Entry requirements for some countries have changed lately, and if not, the busy cold-weather travel season will ensure a lot of first-time travelers will be wondering what they need to be aware of when traveling to a certain destination.
That’s why we’ve created helpful guides for those traveling to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Mexico this September: check them out for all the info you need before you go.
New Destination Campaigns
Robert Irwin stars in Chapter 2 of Tourism Australia's 'Come and say G'day' campaign. (Photo Credit: Tourism Australia)
Four destinations launched new campaigns to attract more visitors this September.
Visit Buffalo launched its first nationwide campaign this month, called “That’s Buffalo For You.” It focuses on showcasing to travelers what Buffalo, New York is like in short, two-word phrases.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s new campaign is all about community-centric tourism for digital platforms. “There’s Always More to Jamaica” spotlights eco tours, cultural heritage tours, craft workshops and more to dive deep into Jamaica’s communities.
Los Cabos in Mexico also launched its own campaign, focusing on the more personal side to travel. “Where the Land Ends, Your Story Begins” highlights the region’s breathtaking natural beauty and variety of travel experiences.
Lastly, but certainly not least, is Australia’s new “Come and say G’Day” campaign, which features beloved Australian icon and conservationist Robert Irwin.
Other Important Destination News
Rendering of Cinderella Castle's new color scheme (Photo Credit: Disney)
Disney’s Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney made several key announcements at the end of August, including a new color scheme for Cinderella Castle, new details on the Disney Destiny cruise ship and the opening date for what will be the highly anticipated World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris. Check out all the details here.
Mexico and Curacao both published new visitor totals in September. Mexico saw a 12.3 percent increase in tourism arrivals in July, while Curacao saw a four percent increase in overnight visitors this past August, with a seven percent overall increase in visitation.
Lastly, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority has created its first-ever travel advisor board, and is looking for advisors to fill the roles. Expertise in various advisor specialties are recommended. Those chosen will strengthen the destination’s connection with advisors and help with the destination’s tourism development.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
