Border & trade diplomacy: The Philippines and Chile marked 80 years of ties in Santiago, with talks focused on deepening cooperation on trade, investment, maritime issues and tourism as their CEPA deal nears finalization. Digital travel access: South Africa rolled out an Electronic Travel Authorization system at OR Tambo, aiming to speed up entry for eligible travelers while tightening border control. Medical tourism policy shift: Argentina will start charging foreign non-residents for public healthcare from Aug. 12, targeting “free medical tourism” and expected to cut visitor numbers. Cruise costs: Mexico doubled its cruise passenger fee for foreigners to $10, with further scheduled increases through 2028. Tourism demand & routes: Guatemala is seeing a surge in arrivals, with new and expanded U.S. airline routes boosting access; New Zealand arrivals: overseas visitor numbers rose 9% in the June year, led by record arrivals from Australia. Safety & environment: Greece wildfires forced hundreds of tourists to flee by boat from northern beaches; Japan is adding bear deterrents as sightings continue. Nightlife tourism: Seoul is pushing “Hipjiro” as a safer, more multilingual model for after-dark tourism. Tourism governance: Kenya MPs seek public input on major tourism reforms, including merging overlapping agencies into the Kenya Tourism Board. Travel hygiene tips: New reports warn hotel tubs and carpets can be surprisingly unhygienic, while Rick Steves cautions against risky duty-free buys. US immigration crackdown: The State Department created a unit to target “birth tourism,” revoking 600+ visas.