The thousands of Chileans, Brasilians, Europeans and North Americans, among other foreigners, who arrive every month to visit Argentina, have become the third source of the country’s income.

The Minister of Tourism will offer up to 20 liters of fuel, dinners for two people and guided visits for free to local and international tourists that register in any hotel in the country during the second two weeks of February, when the influx of visitors decreases.

By July, TAM expects to sign an agreement with one of the three world aviation alliances: Star alliance, Oneworld or Skyteam.

The country is leader in tourist growth in the American continent with a growth of 12% during 2007. Furthermore, during January of this year the tourist activity increased by 10% due to the 400,000 tourists that entered the country, coming mainly from Brasil and Argentina. Valparaiso and Viña del Mar are the most visited areas.

Aerolineas Sudamericanas began the countdown to fly Bolivian skies as a commercial airline after having complied with all the requirements and thoroughly following the instructions and specifications established in the corresponding laws and regulations.

A pyramidal center which belongs to the Vicus culture was discovered in the settlement of Laynes, Morropon province, by workers who were carrying out cleaning duties in the area. The news mobilized archaeologists from the National Culture Institute of Piura, and after a visit to the area, the existence of a religious center or cemetery of the higher hierarchy of the Vicus culture was confirmed.

Air Comet, Lan and Iberia offered to increase their frequencies towards Ecuador as well as selling handicrafts produced by Ecuadorian women during their flights and the exhibition of the Ministry of Tourism’s promotional material.

Easyfly will purchase 5 aircraft from British Aerospace. With this fleet it hopes to open the service to 10 destinations, having requested to Aerocivil the incorporation of a new operation center in the Enrique Olaya Herrera airport of Medellin.

Central America substantially increased the air connections with Europe during 2007. This favored a considerable increase in the arrival of European tourists who choose the region as tourist destination, as confirmed by sources of the Agencia de Promocion Turistica de Centroamerica (Central American Tourist Promotion Agency).

Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. announced its plans to open a Le Meridien hotel in Panama City. The company signed a franchise agreement with Bern Hotels & Resorts Panama for the management of the first Le Meridien hotel in Panama, programmed to open in mid 2009.

As from June 1st, the airline will open a new route from Mexico City to Edmonton, in Canada. As from this date, it will also begin flights to Calgary, also in Canada. Thus, Mexicana will have seven flights between the capital and the Canadian province of Alberta, three to Edmonton and four to Calgary each week.

According to the ILO, the Dominican Republic ended 2007 with the best outcome in the whole of the Caribbean. The island was placed as the country with “greatest potential in tourist matters within the Caribbean area.”

The Cuban Minister of Tourism announced the opening of the International Tourism Fair, Havana 2008 to the international market. This will take place in the Morro-La Cabaña historic tourist complex between May 5th and 9th. The new edition of the fair will be dedicated to the integration between culture and tourism.

I still remember when I made my first visit to the jungle. It was about 20 years ago to Iquitos. After nearly 3 hours in a motorboat we arrived at the hostel. It was rustic, very rustic. There was no electricity. The refrigerator ran on kerosene. The water, from the river… the food was delicious, but very limited by what the environment near the hostel offered, and very simple. It was almost like camping, or barely a step towards something like comfort (or towards less discomfort?). Read more...