Pandemic Fears, Reopening Tourist Sites and More: Top Destination News From May

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Thu May 28, 2026

There’s been a lot of news about destinations, from a new rule change in Thailand to fears of another pandemic as the CDC implements travel restrictions due to the Ebola outbreak in Africa.

We’ve curated the top headlines you should know from May and summarized them here for you to read. If you’re curious to learn more, click the blue links to read the full stories.

Inside the Travel Industry

Travelers planning long trips to Thailand might soon have less time to visit, according to a new proposal we covered earlier in May. Thailand’s foreign minister plans to cut its maximum stay period in half for visa-free travelers from 93 countries, from 60 days to 30 days.

Jamaica is planning to invest some serious cash into its tourism economy. It’s expected to grow its number of hotel and resort rooms on the island by 15,000 to 20,000 in the next 10-15 years, an investment of approximately $5 billion into the small but popular Caribbean island’s tourism.

Antigua and Barbuda shared its first quarter tourism results recently. It recorded a 6.7% year-over-year growth in visitation, and nearly 22% growth in cruise arrivals. Read the full story to get the scoop on how the destination is growing and expanding its tourism industry.

Tourist Sites Reopen

Two major tourist sites have reopened for travelers to visit once more.

The first is King Ludwig II’s Venus Grotto in Linderhof Palace. Travelers who love opera and musical history will adore being able to take a tour of the grotto, which is considered an architectural marvel.

The second tourist site to reopen in May is the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. Closed after a devastating wildfire last year, it’ll be reopened under a reduced capacity plan. The North Rim attracts about 10% of all the park-goers who visit the national park, and, due to the fires, has significantly less human infrastructure.

Top United States Travel News

There’s been a lot of news surrounding the United States this past month.

The first is a new forecast for what the U.S. travel industry will be like this year. Conducted by the U.S. Travel Association, the data provides insight into what the nation can expect for international visitation, travel spending and more. The big takeaway?

While 2026 is expected to be more positive than 2025, in large part due to major events, it’s still nowhere near pre-pandemic totals, and global uncertainty could easily shift this positive growth.

A report from the National Travel & Tourism Organization found that the trend of travelers from other countries skipping out on the U.S. continues this year. Data from April found a 14% drop in overseas visitor arrivals compared to last year.

We also received a report on Orlando’s travel industry in 2025. Visit Orlando reported welcoming over 76.7 million visitors last year, the highest number recorded for the city. The major destination, home to big theme parks, identified domestic travelers as the main reason for this growth, as its international market dropped last year.

One positive: the Trump Administration announced it’ll be suspending its expensive visa bond program for those attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Travelers from 50 countries were required to pay upwards of $15,000 in bonds prior to entering the U.S., which they would get back once they left the country. Now, the program won’t be enforced for those who hold tickets to the World Cup.

Lastly is some concerning news. As Ebola spreads across three countries in Africa, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a month-long ban on travelers entering the United States from these countries, or who have visited the impacted countries within 21 days prior to arrival in the U.S. The ban does not, however, impact American citizens or residents.

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