TSA’s No-Shoes Policy, Middle East War, New Tourist Tax in Japan and Latest Destination News From March

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Tue March 31, 2026

The war in the Middle East. Overtourism around the world. New tourism taxes and the U.S. travel industry.

All of these topics were extremely important this past month, with new updates, travel warnings, and important information relevant to both travel industry professionals and travelers. Check out the stories below to read a bit about what’s been going on around the world lately, and click the links provided to read the full stories if they’re relevant to you.

Overtourism & Entry Requirements

Toji Temple in Kyoto, Japan during sakura season.

Two destinations have announced new measures to combat the negative impact of overtourism this month.

In Japan, the popular city of Kyoto is implementing a new overnight tourist tax for hotel and other lodging guests. Depending on the cost of the nightly stay, travelers might pay up to $64 extra per night. The city hopes to more than double its tourist tax income this year to support its cultural restoration projects.

The popular Spanish city of Palma on the island of Mallorca is now limiting the number of cruise ships that can dock in the city’s port. During the high season, the number of daily cruise passengers has been reduced from 8,500 to 7,500, to take effect in 2027. This also limits the number of cruise ships that can dock per day to three, with only one carrying a limit of 5,000 passengers, to prioritize smaller ships with fewer passengers.

Lastly, the Caribbean island of Grenada launched a new online Embarkation/Disembarkation Card platform that should streamline entry to the island. Travelers can complete their ED Card a day before they travel to ensure easy entry.

The War in the Middle East

We can’t talk about recent destination news without discussing the war in the Middle East and its impact on travel in the region. As it stands, thousands of travelers, if not more, remain stranded in the conflict zone as they wait and try to make it home.

The country of Israel is trying to aid stranded travelers as much as possible, encouraging them to contact the Israel Ministry of Tourism, which is chartering buses and arranging transportation across secure borders so travelers can reach functioning airports, specifically the Taba border crossing into Egypt. It’s also arranging accommodations for those who remain.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is also assisting those stranded and is encouraging travelers to shelter in place unless they have a plan to leave the country, which is increasingly under attack by Iranian air strikes.

It’s not just Israel that the war is impacting, however. Saudi Arabia’s travel advisory was updated early this month to reflect the increased danger in the region, advising travelers to reconsider visiting Saudi Arabia and to fill out the State Department’s crisis form if they’re currently stranded in the country.

American Travel

Cherry trees blooming in Queens, New York City, New York.

We’ve had both good and bad news for the American travel industry in March.

The more negative news is that the most recent National Travel and Tourism Office data for the full year of 2025 shows a 5.5 percent decline in international visitation to the United States, with some international markets declining significantly. Canadian visitation, once the strongest market, plummeted by 20.9 percent year over year.

Additionally, the Trump Administration this month expanded the list of countries required to post $15,000 visa bonds for travelers seeking to visit the United States, increasing the total to 50. Many of these countries are participating in the FIFA World Cup this summer, raising fears of reduced attendance due to more restrictive travel requirements.

A buried watchdog report conducted during a classified inspector audit found “serious concerns about vulnerabilities in TSA screening procedures” regarding DHS’s decision to allow travelers to keep their shoes on at security checkpoints. The DHS has not commented on the report, and the TSA did issue a management decision as required following review of the report within 90 days, as auditors say is required by law.

On to the more positive news.

The American Indigenous Tourism Association is an official partner of Route 66’s 100th birthday celebration this year, and it’s highlighting the route’s Indigenous story with a new guidebook and several other exciting resources—be sure to check out the original story to see how you can learn more.

While the U.S. saw a decline in international visitation, new data from the New York City Tourism + Conventions’ Annual Meeting found that 2025 was still a banner year, despite a 3.2 percent drop in international visitation. The city’s tourism industry generated approximately $85 billion for its economy last year, welcoming over 65 million visitors.

Lastly, our beloved national parks have a new ranking. In 2025, the most-visited national parks included Great Smoky Mountains National Park at number one, Zion National Park in second place and Yellowstone National Park. Check out the full story to read the full list.

Other Important Destination News

Aerial view of Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

In other important news about destinations, the Caribbean country of Turks and Caicos released new data on its 2025 tourism year, welcoming over 640,000 overseas visitors, including from the United States. Cruise tourism grew 30 percent year-over-year, representing a strong segment and signaling good signs for the future.

Additionally, the United States Department of State downgraded the travel advisory for Venezuela from Level 4 to Level 3, no longer telling travelers not to visit the country, but instead to reconsider if possible. The change coincides with news that American Airlines is set to become the first American air carrier to receive government approval to resume nonstop flights between Venezuela and the United States.

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