Mauritius in the spotlight at ATM 2026: Emirates kicked off Arabian Travel Market with seven new or renewed tourism deals, including a renewed agreement with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, as the airline pushes joint marketing and familiarisation trips; Emirates says it runs three daily flights to Mauritius and reports rising arrivals from Middle Eastern markets. Winter travel momentum: Emirates also says it has closed its northern summer season ahead of expectations, carrying over 8.6 million passengers in July–August and entering winter with strong bookings, with demand ahead of last year in markets such as South Africa, Brazil, India, Portugal, Egypt, Ghana, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Visa rules that affect travellers: Thailand’s new entry system starts today, ending the 60-day visa exemption and replacing it with 30-day and 15-day schemes (Mauritius and Seychelles get 15 days), plus tighter limits at land borders. Mauritius football ties: CAF confirmed next-round fixtures, with Durban City drawn against Port Louis-based opponents in the Confederation Cup, while other South African clubs learned their Champions League and Confederation Cup rivals. Local policy debate: A Q&A on Mauritius’ proposed National Crime Agency focuses on whether constitutional status alone can protect independence, and what safeguards are needed to prevent political interference.