Tourism Trade & Investment: Asonahores says its 38th Tourism Trade Show 2026 runs Sept. 2–4 at BlueMall Punta Cana, with 300+ exhibitors and support from Mitur and major banks including Banreservas, Banco BHD and Popular. Sports Tourism Boost: Santo Domingo 2026 Games are set to bring about 6,500 arrivals starting July 17, with AILA as the main entry point and coordinated migration, customs and security across agencies. Public-Private Health Funding: VP Raquel Peña met HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Washington to expand a 5-year US$60.8M health cooperation plan (DR: US$14.1M) focused on prevention, research and outbreak response. Air Connectivity: Cathay Pacific will add Santo Domingo to its Madrid code-share network, while Frontier expands Puerto Rico routes—signals continued regional demand that can spill into DR travel. Global Markets & Policy: A new Freedom and Prosperity Index warns rule-of-law erosion is accelerating since 2020, a risk factor for long-run growth. Cruise Pressure Point: Royal Caribbean is extending its pause of Labadee calls through June 2027, reshuffling Caribbean itineraries that compete with DR destinations. Business & Finance: Remittances to the DR topped US$6.2B in the first half of 2026, and Customs collected RD$129.2B in the same period. Real Estate: FEDE Real Estate’s Fede Busquets highlights Las Terrenas’ continued investor pull as the sector positions for new opportunities.