Report
An on-the-ground accounting of consequences — what a disaster, a policy, or a shift in conditions actually did, measured and documented rather than summarized.
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Feb- 2026 -24 FebruaryCompass
Palau: Digital entry form with QR code now mandatory for all arrivals
All travelers, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, must now complete the mandatory Palau Entry Form online within 72 hours of their flight's departure. This is a recent and strictly enforced…
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24 FebruaryLife & Health
Japan’s departure tax triples in July 2026 — adds $55 per family
Japan's international departure tax, currently set at ¥1,000, will triple to ¥3,000 starting July 1, 2026. This increase applies to all travelers departing Japan on international flights. This change represents…
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24 FebruaryLife & Health
Bhutan implements 5% GST on all tour packages effective January 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, Bhutan introduced a mandatory 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on all tourism-related services, including hotels, private guides, and transport. This replaces the previous fragmented sales…
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24 FebruaryLife & Health
Tuvalu: Inaugural national cultural festival in May 2026 — high demand expected
Tuvalu will host its first-ever national cultural festival in the capital, Funafuti, in May 2026. This five-day event is designed to showcase and preserve traditions from all eight inhabited islands.…
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24 FebruaryLife & Health
Indonesia volcano alerts updated February 2026 — check exclusion zones
As of February 12, 2026, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to within several kilometers of multiple volcanoes in Indonesia, including Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, Mount…
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24 FebruaryLife & Health
Israel: Mandatory ETA-IL travel authorization required for 2026 travel — adds $8 USD per application
Effective for travel in 2026, Israel now requires a mandatory Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) for visitors from visa-exempt countries, including the United States and Canada. This is a new pre-screening…
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24 FebruaryLife & Health
China: Australian government warns of new embassy phone scams
In a January 2026 update, the Australian government's Smartraveller service issued a specific warning about phone scams targeting travelers in China. Scammers are impersonating the Australian Embassy's official phone number…
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24 FebruaryLife & Health
Kiribati entry simplified — health form scrapped as of January 2026
As of January 1, 2026, Kiribati has discontinued its online health declaration form. This pandemic-era requirement is no longer necessary for entry, streamlining the arrival process for all international travelers.…
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23 FebruaryEarth
Malaysia: Tourism tax of RM10 (approx. $2-3 USD) per night now consistently enforced
Foreign tourists should budget for Malaysia's mandatory Tourism Tax (TTx) of RM10 (approx. $2-3 USD) per room, per night. As of 2026, collection rules are more consistently enforced across all…
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23 FebruaryEarth
Afghanistan: U.S. and Canada maintain highest “Do Not Travel” warnings for 2026
The U.S. Department of State and Global Affairs Canada continue to advise citizens to avoid all travel to Afghanistan. Warnings, reiterated in February 2026, cite terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and…
