In contributing with three of them, Latin America was the big winner of the international competition to choose the new Seven Wonders of the World: the Inca citadel of Machupicchu, in Peru, the Kukulcan Pyramid in the Maya ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. The other four new Wonders of the World chosen were the Jordanian city of Petra, the Great Wall of China, the Roman Coliseum and the Taj Mahal, in India.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide announced its expansion in Latin America with twelve new hotel projects in Mexico, Central and South America. This growth follows Starwood’s expansion strategy, which includes international markets and the gaining of business in some of the region’s more interesting emerging markets.

Argentina and the United States signed an amendment of the Aviation - Transport Services Agreement which is valid between both countries. This measure will allow the increase of their flight frequencies.

The ratification of the increasing of the foreseen frequencies in the bilateral agreements between Argentina and the United States, will allow American airlines to fly between Ezeiza and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport as from August 28. Thus, the airline would have five daily flights – the others are two to Miami, one to Dallas and another to New York – between both countries.

Air France will carry out a direct flight Paris-Buenos Aires, with a subsequent stopover in Santiago of Chile as from October. This service will offer 40 extra seats for passengers who want to travel to Buenos Aires.

TAM acquired 22 new large carrier A350 XWB Airbus, for US$ 5.400 million. The aircrafts, models 800 and 900, will be delivered between 2013 and 2018. The agreement also considers the option to buy another 10 aircraft of such model. TAM also signed four options to buy A330 aircrafts, which will be delivered between 2010 and 2011.

The company’s General Manager in Chile announced that in November, Air France will increase its direct flights to Santiago and Paris from five to seven. He explained that the figures that they have up to 2006 confirm that having a direct flight to Paris is profitable.

A bill of law suggests a new International Departure Tax that could generate between US$ 5 to US$ 7 million, the Deputy Minister of Tourism announced. This tax would replace ISAE tax and would be included in the price of the ticket, for national passengers as well as for foreigners leaving the country. 70% of the tax collection will be destined to tourist promotion and the amount could be around US$ 5 and US$20. A specialist, who worked in a similar process in Peru, has been contracted for a short-term consultancy to determine the amount of such cost.

Government gave green light for the construction of the road that will link Potosi with Uyuni. The works will begin on July 11 and is considered fundamental to promote tourism in that western region of the country. The Salar de Uyuni, which is considered “the white desert”, is located in this locality. The Salar de Uyuni is in the first place among the 25 world’s wonders and natural historical attractions, according to the British magazine Rough Rides.

LAB has 180 days to resume its operations before losing its flight license after the government granted extra days, extending the period when it was intended to expire.

Machupicchu was elected, last Saturday, as one of the new Seven Wonders of the Modern World, in a ceremony which took place in the Da Luz stadium of the city of Lisbon (Portugal). The Inca citadel was placed among the 21 finalist monuments previously selected by the New7Wonders Foundation that organized the competition with the aim of replacing the former list of the wonders of the world. The distinction was received by the district Mayor of Machupicchu.

The chain of San Agustin Hotels informed that the construction of the second lot of the El Chaco La Puntilla (Paracas) tourist project will begin between October and December. The project is conceived as an apart hotel, with hotel and accommodation features where joint family rooms will be constructed, in such a way that groups of more than ten people can occupy only two rooms and not the four that they would usually occupy.

The First Constitutional Court suspended the granting of the permit to the MV Discovery cruiser to enter Galapagos, after it granted an appeal to the Executive Director of the Ecological Action Corporation, against the Minister of Environment.

As from July 15, Aeropostal will suspend its flights to Aruba. The motive is that the route does not offer the sufficient benefits to cover the operative maintenance and the payment of the leasing of the MD-80 aircrafts fleet.

Delta will put into operation the Panama-New York flight as from December 13 with a Boeing 737-800 with a capacity for 150 passengers. This flight will depart from the Tocumen International Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Volaris, the third low-cost airline in Mexico, ordered 14 A-319 aircrafts from Airbus, with which its aircraft order of this model reaches 30 units.

The acquisition of a hotel especially designed for golf lovers has been announced. The Golf Suites, hotel boutique situated in Bavaro, Punta Cana, proposes a new lodging alternative, which contributes to the diversification of the tourist proposal of the country’s western region.

The Amhsa Marina Hotels and Resorts hotel chain announced the complete redesigning of its Casa Marina Beach & Reef Hotel, in Sosua, Puerto Plata, with the objective of converting it into one of the country’s most complete beach hotels. The redesigning will include the renewal of all the hotel furniture, including the rooms, to update it according to modern trends. The redesigning process is scheduled to conclude at the end of 2008.