Tourism Safety Alert (Europe): An American tourist died after being struck by lightning while hiking Mount Etna in Sicily, with authorities noting he was in an off-limits area as storms and volcanic activity made conditions hazardous. Wildfire Watch (Europe): Rain helped partially contain Belgium’s biggest recorded wildfire in the High Fens, slowing spread toward Germany as cooler, more humid weather supported ground crews. EU Tourism Policy: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia urged the European Commission to boost connectivity and resilience for tourism in eastern border regions still struggling with war-driven uncertainty. Travel Disruption (Croatia–Italy): Jadrolinija cancelled the Dubrovnik–Bari ferry after engine failure on its Dalmacija ship, hitting peak August travel and Ferragosto plans. Destination Spotlight (U.S.): Lake Powell hit its lowest level ever, raising alarms for millions who depend on the Colorado River for water, power and recreation. Tourism Business (U.S.): Sacramento’s Visit Sacramento reported nearly $5B in visitor spending and highlighted long-term festival and events deals to keep growth going. Religious Tourism (UAE): Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre logged 3.13M guests in H1 2026, underscoring its role as both worship hub and cultural destination.