Australia Pauses Work and Holiday Visas for 24 Countries
Australia Pauses Work and Holiday Visas for 24 Countries
RudyBalasko/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/australia-pauses-work-and-holiday-visas-for-24-countries
And more of today's top travel news stories.
Today in travel, we have several stories that may have flown under your radar. Among them: earthquakes shut down one of Spain’s most popular tourist attractions; the West Palm Beach Airport code is now officially DJT; American Airlines is improving its cabins; and Australia is halting some tourist visas.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
Some or all of this article was crafted with help from AI. An editor reviewed and vetted this article before publishing.
PHOTO: JAKE-HOUGH/UNSPLASH
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American Airlines to Add Seatback Screens and Expand Premium Seating on Narrowbody Jets
American Airlines plans to bring seatback entertainment back to its narrowbody fleet as part of a major cabin overhaul. Beginning with new Airbus and Boeing aircraft delivered in 2028, every seat will feature a 4K screen with Bluetooth audio and USB-C fast charging. Existing narrowbody aircraft will receive the technology as they are refurbished, with American aiming to finish the fleetwide installation in the early 2030s.
The carrier is also substantially increasing the number of higher-end seats available on shorter-haul flights. Premium seating currently represents about 25% of seats on narrowbody departures, a figure American expects to raise to roughly 40% in the coming years. Airbus A319s and A320s are already being modified with an additional first class row, A321neos will receive more first class seats, and future Boeing 737 MAX 10s are slated to have 24. Most narrowbody aircraft will also gain additional main cabin extra seating.
American says another major onboard upgrade will arrive sooner: Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi is scheduled to begin appearing on its narrowbody aircraft in 2027.
PHOTO: DANIEL TOROK
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West Palm Beach Airport Code Officially Changes From PBI to DJT
Travelers flying through West Palm Beach will start seeing a new airport code on tickets, boarding passes, baggage tags, and flight displays. Effective August 18, 2026, the IATA code for President Donald J. Trump International Airport changes from PBI to DJT. Airlines and booking sites will use DJT going forward, although travelers can also search for flights using “West Palm Beach.”
The code change follows a state-mandated renaming of Palm Beach International Airport. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the legislation on March 30, and the new name formally took effect July 9. On that date, the airport’s FAA identifier changed to DJT and its international ICAO identifier became KDJT; the passenger-facing IATA change followed several weeks later.
Airport officials say the rebranding will not alter flights, routes, schedules, or other passenger services. The Palm Beach County Department of Airports initially estimated the transition at approximately $5.5 million, including new signs, branding, technology updates, and printed materials. Florida has appropriated $2.75 million toward the project, while airport officials say they will pursue additional eligible funding sources for the remaining costs. Local property taxes are not used to operate the airport.
PHOTO: EYEEM MOBILE GMBH/ISTOCK
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Border Infrastructure Work Temporarily Halted Inside Texas’s Big Bend National Park
Construction on a border-security project inside Big Bend National Park has been put on hold while federal officials reconsider the work following objections from conservation groups, area leaders, and politicians from both parties. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said he ordered construction suspended so he could visit the park, evaluate the plans firsthand, and meet with people affected by the project.
Crews had begun clearing areas of the park earlier in August for new access roads and other border infrastructure, prompting demonstrations as well as lawsuits seeking to stop the work. Critics have raised concerns about potential effects on Big Bend’s landscape and wildlife, while Texas Sen. John Cornyn has called for federal officials to consult with local communities before moving ahead.
CBP says its plans for the park, located about 250 miles southeast of El Paso, involve vehicle barriers, surveillance equipment, and roads rather than the 30-foot-high border wall constructed in some other areas. Although on-the-ground construction is paused, agency planning and assessments are continuing while the project is reviewed.
PHOTO: AFRICANPIX/ISTOCK
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Australia Pauses Work and Holiday Visa Applications From 24 Countries
Australia has stopped accepting new first-time Work and Holiday visa applications from citizens of 24 countries, a sweeping pause affecting most nations participating in the capped subclass 462 program. The list includes Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, Spain, and Thailand, among others. Applicants from affected countries cannot lodge a new application while their country’s allocation remains paused.
Of the 29 countries covered by the subclass 462 system, only five are not currently designated as paused. Applications remain open for San Marino and Türkiye, while prospective travelers from China, India, and Vietnam participate through a ballot process. The change does not apply to the separate subclass 417 Working Holiday visa program, which covers countries including Canada, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
The government has not publicly identified a specific reason for the unusually broad suspension. Home Affairs says country caps can generally be paused to control the flow of applications, when allocations are nearing their annual limits, or to support broader migration settings. The department has also said forthcoming reforms to the Working Holiday Maker program are intended to better manage demand and distribute visas more fairly.
Immigration specialists and tourism representatives told ABC that the uncertainty could force prospective travelers to postpone or change their plans. Industry representatives are also concerned about the effects in regional Australia, where working holiday makers contribute to tourism spending and provide flexible labor, particularly in horticulture and other seasonal industries.
U.S. travelers are not affected by the suspension. Although Americans also use the subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa, the United States is not subject to an annual application cap.
PHOTO: S.BORISOV/SHUTTERSTOCK
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Earthquakes in Granada Prompt Restrictions at the Alhambra and Local Closures
A new round of earthquakes rattled Granada on Tuesday, bringing fresh restrictions to one of Spain’s most heavily visited landmarks just days after a stronger quake struck the historic city. Officials limited access to portions of the Alhambra after three tremors measuring above magnitude 4 shook the surrounding province. The palace and fortress complex had also been temporarily closed following a magnitude-5 earthquake on Saturday.
Tuesday’s strongest tremor measured magnitude 4.7 and was centered near Gójar, roughly six miles south of Granada. The shallow quake damaged several buildings, leaving cracks in walls, loosening sections of facades, and sending masonry onto streets. Regional official Antonio Sanz said three people suffered minor injuries, with one minor taken to a hospital. Two somewhat weaker earthquakes followed near Granada’s southern outskirts.
Authorities introduced additional precautions across the area while inspections continued. Granada province closed museums, government buildings, and sports facilities while leaving primary health centers operating. Metro trains were ordered to travel at no more than 30 kph, and local news reports showed several hotels being evacuated following the tremors.
The Giant Dinner Party in One of America’s Most Charming Towns
Sherman Chu
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/california/the-monterey-bay-area/places/carmel-by-the-sea/experiences/news/inside-carmel-californias-dreamy-culinary-week
Step inside a Nancy Meyers fantasy during this quaint California getaway’s most delicious week.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is the kind of place that has you planning a return visit before you’ve even left. The storybook cottages, art galleries, white sand beaches, and some of the U.S.’s most idyllic streets are reason enough to look at real estate listings while meandering downtown, because maybe there’s a way to relocate and live your best Nancy Meyers life. And somehow, during Carmel Culinary Week, the town gets even better. (Surprising, I know.)
For a few delicious days, Carmel transforms into one giant dinner party. Restaurants spill into the streets, local wineries pour some of their favorite vintages, and long tables fill with hundreds of your new best friends, while chefs from beloved spots Aubergine, Jeju Kitchen, Stationæry, Cultura, Little Napoli, La Bicyclette, and Chez Noir come together to showcase what makes this quaint village such a standout epicurean destination.
What I loved most is how the festival naturally spills into the rest of town. Between long-table dinners like La Dolce Vita on Dolores Street and Soirée by the Sea at La Playa Hotel, there’s plenty of time to wander into tasting rooms like Galante Vineyards, Domaine Messier, and Scheid Vineyards or browse a gallery you hadn’t planned on visiting. It’s easy to lose track of time over “just one more” glass of wine or by walking down to Carmel Beach to dip your feet in the Pacific before dinner.
The only real mistake I made was assuming a weekend would be enough. Hot tip: Definitely add another day to your itinerary.
Hotel as a base camp: Rethinking hotel design for today’s traveler
Hilton Garden Inn Ocean City Oceanfront. Photo by: Dragonfly Image Partners
https://hotelsmag.com/news/hotel-as-a-base-camp-rethinking-hotel-design-for-todays-traveler/
Today’s travelers aren’t planning to camp out in their suites ordering room service; they want to get out and explore the destination they came to see. This is the central paradox of the hotelier’s task: create interior comfort and amenities that encourage guests to linger, while building in the access points that let them leave just as easily. Today’s travelers are looking for wellness experiences, outdoor adventure, and social connection. The hotels that understand this are designing outward in response, positioning themselves as a curator of place, connecting guests to local culture and community.
Wellness Beyond the Gym
The wellness industry is thriving as consumers look to actively support their wellbeing through travel. Research from Booking.com highlights this trend, noting that as many as 60% of travelers are interested in longevity retreats. For those interested in preserving their fitness routine on vacation, the windowless treadmill room may fall short. As an alternative, hoteliers can develop creative ways of getting their guests to sweat outside the property, whether that’s a partnership with a gym down the street or a curated playlist of running routes around the neighborhood. Setting guests up with a discount at the bike rental across the road solves a mental hurdle, gets them moving, and supports local business.
The Landscape is the Amenity
The National Park Service set new records in 2025, recording more than 323 million recreational visits. Whether chasing cherry blossoms or cliff jumping, the great outdoors is still a primary driver of travel, and hotel designers should use every opportunity to immerse guests more fully in the landscapes that define a place. For an oceanside resort, private balconies let visitors soak in the view, and a sprawling porch becomes an outdoor living room, extending an invitation to relax, connect and truly experience the place they came to see. Guests want to feel the breeze on their skin, hear the crashing of the waves, smell the salt in the air. Hotels can feed this motivation further by offering guided beach walks, coordinating shuttle services to nearby hiking trails, or providing gear rentals directly to guests.
The Case for Connection
To be successful, hoteliers need to truly understand the next generation of travelers. Raised on screens, educated during lockdown and ushered into a remote workforce, the latest generation is seeking human connection above all. A 2025 survey found that 69% of Gen Z travelers are more likely to book a hotel if it offers opportunities to meet new people. Part of meeting this need is designing intentional social spaces like pool tables and bars, where guests can naturally mingle and forge new connections. Hoteliers can take this a step further by coordinating offsite activities, workshops and outings, which get guests outside while helping them bond with one another, building a sense of community that ties back to the hotel itself. Other options include a communal bulletin board, where locals and guests can post about upcoming hikes or meet-ups.
Shopping Small
In the age of Amazon domination, shopping from authentic, local businesses has a renewed appeal, and the stats back it up: 73% of global travelers aim to support local small businesses while visiting new destinations. Hoteliers should look for ways to engage the businesses around them. If a hotel sits next door to an award-winning cafe, the smarter move isn’t competing with it, but partnering with it, offering guests 10% off their morning latte. Gift shops can carry locally made products and displays by local artists can point guests toward where to see more of their work, strengthening the connection to place and encouraging further exploration of local businesses.
Hyatt Place National Harbor. Photo by: Dragonfly Image Partners
Visible Sustainability
With a renewed appreciation for nature comes a renewed focus on reducing harm. Expedia Group’s 2026 travel study found that 91% of Gen Z travelers factored environmental or social impact into their trip planning this past year. This generation of travelers wants proof that a hotel is doing right by the environment, and a recycling bin won’t cut it. Hoteliers are responding by sharing real data: the output of the solar panels on the roof, the volume processed by an internal composting system, or the gallons saved through a water reclamation system. A map of the surrounding trails becomes an opportunity to show guests how the hotel contributes to their upkeep. Partnerships with local businesses need to be chosen with the same care, aligning culturally and ethically with the hotel’s own values.
Designing for Departure
Hotels today need to carefully balance two seemingly conflicting goals: crafting bespoke spaces that encourage guests to linger and making it easy (and fun) for them to leave. Travelers face decision fatigue when faced with too many options and too little context, leaving a real opportunity for hoteliers to show up as a curator of place. The hotels succeeding today are providing both a place to stay and a place to depart.
Story contributed by David Shove-Brown, co-founder and partner at //3877 Design.
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