For the first time, starting from January 2009, Carnival will operate trips to South America which will offer long visits to destinations such as Brasil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile and Peru on board of the new Carnival Splendor, a ship with a weight of 113,300 tones.

In the 2007 Issue of the World’s Best Awards, an annual contest carried out by "Travel + Leisure" magazine, Llao Llao was selected as one of the 25 best hotels of Mexico, Central America and South America.

The Brasilian Minister of Defense announced that the international airport of Rio de Janeiro will connect flights between Brasil and North American and European countries. This decision is included in the new flights network introduced by the Brasilian government in order to decentralize the air transport in the country.

Rumbo Patagon, a company specialized in the development and sale of fly fishing programs in the region of Aysen, will built the Coyhaique River Lodge. The construction implies an investment of around US$ 1.5 million, and it will help to extend their service as a tourist operator since it will allow them offering ecotourism programs, accommodation services and food.

The government launched the Tourist Security System for foreign visitors, in order to guarantee their stay in the national territory and to promote more economic benefits. The Vice Minister of Tourism, after demanding a higher budget for tourist promotion, declared that the country has a great potential in this sector, therefore it should be accompanied by security policies.

In order to reduce environmental pollution, the Provincial Municipality of Cusco ordered to change three main streets of the Historical Downtown of the Imperial City into pedestrian ways. This project is aimed at avoiding the damages occurred due to the high pressure of car traffic and little earthquakes that usually are not perceived, but deteriorate the Inca, colonial and Republican architectonical heritage.

Starting from August 31, Hilton Hotel will be named Alba Caracas. From this date, the Simon Bolivar Center will start a promotion and relaunching week of the hotel, currently managed by the Venezuelan state. 6 million bolivares will be invested in the remodeling of the hotel, which will include a change of linen and dinner services with the name of Hilton hotel.

The “Hotel Plaza Colon” was recently inaugurated in the colonial city of Granada, in Nicaragua. This hotel is aimed at tourists who want to enjoy the peace and warmth of the city. 27 luxury rooms, with a total colonial decoration, offer tourists the opportunity to know the main tourist attractions of Nicaragua starting from the main city at a historical level and especially on a tourist level.

Interjet received permits for the route Cancun-Guatemala. Now the airline only expects that travel agencies trade this service, which will allow tourists to travel to one of the most tourist regions of Mexico and Guatemala.

In a recent trip to Chile, among other things, to revisit Santiago, Puerto Mont and Puerto Varas – where I hadn’t gone more than 12 years ago – and I traveled to Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine for the first time. I also visited hotels, not only to see those hotels recently remodeled, but especially to know some of the new businesses.

I was especially impressed by two new hotels: the flamboyant Melia Patagonia, in Puerto Varas, and the brand new Remota, in Puerto Natales. READ MORE