by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Thu July 30, 2026
There have been some major headlines this past July about destinations around the world, from Saint Lucia’s increased travel advisory to a new outbreak in Costa Rica and the U.S.’s plummeting passport power.
Continue below to see the biggest destination news of the month, and be sure to read the full stories if they’re relevant to you.
US Passport Power Plummets
One of the biggest destination news stories in July is the power of the United States passport dropping more than any other G7 country in the history of the passport ranking system. The U.S. passport has declined over the past five years, now sitting in twelfth place.
Why? A major part is mobility, a key factor in the assessment. The U.S. passport dropped 31 places from 10th in 2021 to 41st in 2026. This means that American travelers now have to go through extra hoops to visit once visa-free countries.
Travel Advisory Changes
Turks and Caicos (Photo Credit: Experience Turks and Caicos Islands)
There have been several key travel advisory changes in July.
The U.S. State Department updated its advisory for Turks and Caicos. While it remains a Level 2 advisory, urging travelers to exercise increased caution while visiting, it was updated with new information for those traveling with firearms and ammunition. As a British Overseas Territory, the Caribbean destination keeps strict rules against traveling with such weapons.
The State Department also raised its travel advisory for Saint Lucia, moving it from a Level 1 to a Level 2 advisory due to the risk of petty crime, violent crime and aggressive vendors.
Lastly, those heading to Costa Rica should be aware of a new CDC travel advisory for a mosquito-borne illness called chikungunya. An outbreak occurred in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, prompting health officials to encourage travelers to contact their doctors for a vaccine and practice mosquito bite mitigation methods.
Changing Entry Visas and Requirements
The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan at sunset, Cairo Citadel, Egypt. (Photo Credit: Anton Petrus / Adobe Stock)
There have been four big headlines around changing entry requirements and visa rules for Americans this month, so be sure to check them out below.
The first is the Saudi Package Visa program, which allows qualified travel and tourism providers to package visa entry requirements into hotel, land and air packages to Saudi Arabia. It’s expected to simplify the travel planning process for eligible travelers.
Costa Rica is hoping to slash wait times for those arriving in and departing from the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. New eGates will allow travelers to scan their passports and use facial recognition software to confirm identity. The entire process should take significantly less time for travelers.
South Africa changed its entry and departure rules this month, now requiring a Customs Online Traveller Declaration form, which can be filled out online or through an app. Travelers, including children and South African citizens, are required to fill it out, after which they will receive a QR code to scan at the airport. Transit travelers are not required to fill it out.
Egypt also announced a new digital entry visa system required for Americans, which rolls out at Cairo airport beginning August 1. Travelers will be given a QR code to use at the airport, like many visa entry systems, but they should also note they’ll be required to pay $36 for their visas.
International Travel Soars Globally
A new report published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that member and partner states broke international arrival records in 2025, with 847 million travelers visiting these countries last year. Read more data about how these countries performed here.
Turks and Caicos experienced a 6% increase in overnight tourism arrivals in the first half of the year, with exciting new openings slated for the year. Learn more about what might be helping the Caribbean destination increase its visitor numbers here.
Record Sargassum Year
It’s a record Sargassum year from Florida to Mexico, and it got so bad in July that the Riviera Maya Hotel Association asked the local government to declare a state of emergency to help fund sargassum mitigation and clearing efforts. During the first six months of the year, researchers estimated the Caribbean held over 5 million metric tons of the algae, double that of last year.
New Attractions
Port Zante in Basseterre town, St. Kitts And Nevis. (Photo Credit: Mikolaj Niemczewski / Adobe Stock)
Some destinations announced exciting new attractions or tourist developments, including a new cruise port terminal in St. Kitts.
Saudi Arabia shared renderings of the AlUla Manara astronomy center, an otherworldly attraction in which the night sky takes center stage, located in the world’s third-largest Dark Sky Park.
St. Kitts, meanwhile, is hoping to expand and enhance the cruise visitor experience, breaking ground on a new Port Zante cruise terminal in Basseterre. Two P&O cruise ships are scheduled to christen the terminal in 2027.
Lastly, some much-needed good news for Americans: a survey from the U.S. Travel Association found that 81% of Americans enjoyed watching international visitors attending the FIFA World Cup enjoy their time in the United States, with 86% reporting feeling joyful about the experience. 81% of Americans also believe it’s important that international visitors have a positive experience while visiting.
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