Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Golf grows as Argentinean tourist attractiveness

ARGENTINA
Golf grows as Argentinean tourist attractiveness
The executive secretary of the National Institute of Tourist Promotion affirmed that the golf is among the tourist niches of major growth in Argentina and in the United Kingdom and it is one of the main markets in this sector. From Salta Mountains in the north of the country passing by Buenos Aires in the south to the end of the world in Patagonia, Argentina has 300 fields to satisfy all the golferโ€™s pleasures. Also, there are other 15 courses of first category currently under construction, some of them designed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Greg Norman and Marck Adams.

Howard Johnson has expanded
The Howard Johnson chain will place a hotel in Vicente Loฬpez in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and before the end of the year this will fix other four inaugurations. In Vicente Loฬpez, the establishment will have 18 floors and 450 rooms and its building will have an investment of US$90 million. For the rest of the year, the chain affirmed openings of new hotels in Formosa, Coฬrdoba, Zapala (Neuqueฬn) and Riฬo Tercero (Coฬrdoba).

URUGUAY
IVA will be returned to tourists
The government approved the returning of 85.97 percent of IVA for nonresident tourists who buy national products more than US$60 in a same shop which will be used or consumed abroad, in Uruguay. The mechanism would be in force in October when the promotion will start to the new summer season. Products have to be labeled with the inscription โ€œMade in Uruguayโ€, โ€œUruguay Industryโ€ or other equivalent.

Season of whales seeing began
Uruguay have recently begin officially the season of Frankish southern lands whales seeing, in order to take advantage of cetaceans dozens in the coasts of the east of the country. The natural show will be extended until October.

BRAZIL
Airports of Galeao and Guarulhos will be able to receive A380
The president of Infarero informed that the airports of Galeao (RJ) and Guarulhos (SP) will be adapted to receive the A380. In Galeao, a third floor will be constructed in one of the terminus for passengers and the track will be enlarge, while in Galeao , the track of taxis will be also modified.

Rio de Janeiro wants a U2 for the end of the year
The secretary of Tourism informed that the Coast Guard is negotiating with the producers of U2, a free presentation of the Irish group on Copacabana beach for the end of the year.

Hotel rooms in Isla de Pascua are sold out one year before of the sun eclipse
On July 11th, 2010, a total eclipse will leave Isla de Pascua in semidarkness; this placed is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean where there are not more hotel reservations to one year of the astronomical show. The eclipse will get dark during 4 minutes and 45 seconds the Oriental zone of the Polynesia where Isla de Pascua is. The event got excited tourists and scientific inhabitants, around the world, who have made reservations of the 1,500 hotel rooms that the island offers.

CHILE
Caral will double the number of visitors
After the Declaration of the Sacred City of Caral-Supe as a humanity cultural heritage by Uneso, it is expected to double the number of visitors that come attracted to know traces of the first civilization of America placed in the province of Lima, Barranca and it plans to close the year with 90 thousand visitors. Caral belongs to the archaic period late (3,000 to 1,800 years before Christ). This is located in Valle de Supe to 158 kilometers to the north of Lima. This is one of the settlements identified in the valley and it has an extension of 66 hectares approximately.

PERU
LAN will fly to Cali via Quito
LAN PERU adds Cali (Colombia) as a new international destination which people will be able to arrive three times a week via Quito from August 15th in Airbus 319, with capacity for 144 passengers.

TACA duplicates flights to Cusco
Since August 15th, Taca airlines will double its operation to Cusco offering two daily flights from and to Lima. This new flight will leave from Lima at 10:15 am, returning from Cusco at 1:25 pm.

Cadena Aranwa will invest US$36.5 million in five new hotels
The Vice-President of Operations stated that Aranwa Hotels, Resorts& Spas will invest US$36.5 million until 2013 in five new hotels, in the south circuit of the country in the departments of Cusco, Arequipa, Puno and Ica, . The company wants to operate seven hotels in the next five years, all of them with a marked health concept and spa. The investment more approach belongs to the construction of a five star hotel in the city of Cusco with 41 rooms and with a cost of US$8 million.

ECUADOR
Galaฬpagos between the 28 finalist of the new 7 natural wonders
The Foundation New 7 Wonders mentioned the results of โ€œThe New 7 Natural Wonders of the Worldโ€ competition. Galaฬpagos Islands and Amazonia passed to the final phase of the competition.

COLOMBIA
International arrivals grow 9.4 percent
Colombia received 638,000 foreign visitors in the first semester, 9, 4 percent more than in the same period of 2008 according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. According to the minister of industry, these data affirmed that crisis did not stop the tourist growth in Colombia while in the world; the tourism decreases 8 percent due to the current economical crisis

IHG will open six hotels more
To the recent inauguration of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel, in the north of Bogotaฬ, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) adds other projects of the signature in Bogotaฬ. The growth plan plans to build between five and six hotels more in Bogotaฬ, another one in Medelliฬn, one in Cartagena and other in Barranquilla.

PANAMA
Hotels will reduce costs until 25 percent
Before the fall of the hotel activity during the first five months of 2009, the government and the private sector consider a contingency plan which contemplates cuttings until 25 percent in the hotel and restaurants prices, besides companies that renders services to tourists. The authority of Tourism from Panama indicated that to this initiative have added 20 hotels, 12 operators of tourism and several gastronomical establishments. It is planed that the respective discount comes into force on August 1st and this will be lasted until October 31st.

COSTA RICA
Riu builds a hotel in the north of the Pacific
Riu invests US$150 million in its first hotel in this country which expects to inaugurate in November on a beach of the north of the Pacific. The five star hotel will have 701 rooms and this will be placed in a land of 380 hectares in Matapalo beach to 285 kilometers to northwest from San Joseฬ which will be only built in 19 hectares. In the same land it is planned the building of the second level of five star too, under the brand Palace.

MEXICO
Ciudad Mujeres will be the new Mexican spa
Authorities of the zone stated that Mexico plans to build in the Caribbean, a spa with more than 50,000 hotel rooms and dozens of thousand of houses which could compete in Cancuฬn. The plan, to 30 years, is building Ciudad Mujeres, Nuevo Destino del Sol and beaches above 15,500 hectares of lands placed in 25 kilometers to the north of Cancuฬn. Hotels, condominium towers, thematic parks and golf courses will be built.

Tourism this week in Latin America

SOUTH AMERICA
The Inca road system would be named World Heritage before UNESCO

SOUTH AMERICA
The Inca road system would be named World Heritage before UNESCO
Six South American countries will present before UNESCO their advances to a future nomination of The Inca road system (Qhapaq Nฬƒan) as a humanity cultural heritage. National Committee managers of Qhapaq Nฬƒan from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru will have a meeting in Lima, between 20 and 26 of this month, with high ranking-official of the Center of UNESCO Heritage in order to carry out this humanity cultural heritage statement in 2011.

ARGENTINA
Palacio Duhau- Park Hyatt was elected as the best hotel of the region by Travel+Leisure
Travel+Leisure announced that Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt Buenos Aires was elected as the best hotel of the center city and South America 2009 in its traditional ranking โ€œWorldยดs Best Awardsโ€. As well as being number one in Latin America, while Nuevo Claฬsico in Buenos Aires has the eleven position in โ€œThe top 100 Hotels Overallโ€ which classifies the best hotels around the world.

BRAZIL
Three attractiveness continue in competition of the 7 Natural Wonders.
The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco), The Amazon and the Iguacฬงuฬ Falls (Paranaฬ) are the three attractiveness from Brazil which continue competing by a place between โ€œThe New 7 Natural Wonders of the Worldโ€ after they were spread in Zurich, Suiza, the names of the chosen places by the foundation “New 7 Wonders” which is the competition organizer. The only attractiveness which Brazil participates exclusively is Fernando de Noronha. The selections of The Amazon and the Iguacฬงuฬ Falls are shared with other countries.

EL AL is authorized to carry out regular flights
EL AL which was operating from May has already the temporary authorization to carry out three weekly flights between Sao Paulo and Tel Aviv. It is planned daily flights for next year.

Watching season of whales was started
Playa do Rosa, Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Ballena Franca placed in the south of Estado de Santa Catarina started Season 2009 of whales watching, these whales will be able to be seen until October near to the coast approximately to 30m.

CHILE
Air Canada will daily fly to Santiago with B777-300ER
From December 2nd, Air Canada will increase its capacity in its route from Santiago to Toronto and to Buenos Aires when daily flying in its new Boeing 777. The initiative will be extended up to March 28th.

BOLIVIA
Sonesta inaugurated two hotels
Sonesta opened two hotels in the country, in Gran Concepcioฬn and in the city of Osorno, in the region of Los lagos. The first one is the first hotel which has a qualification of 5 stars; also it has 120 rooms between them 20 suites, 20 doubles and 80 Kings rooms as well as lounges, meeting rooms, swimming pools, a solarium and a complete gymnasium. The establishment of Osorno is placed in the Plaza Sol de los Lagos Complex, a strategic place of the city because it also includes the casino and several commercial places.

PERU
Casa Kalfu has a new boutique hotel in Puerto Varas
Casa Kalfu is completing the last details for its next opening in December of this year. It will have 14 rooms decorated in a fine way, a first category equipment, meeting rooms, bar and restaurants. The hotel is placed to 100 m of Lago Llanquihue.

The largest recreational park is inaugurated in La Paz
With an area of 21 hectares of green area land, the largest Ecological Recreational Park of Bolivia was inaugurated in La Paz, in the region of Pura, to the north of the Governmentโ€™s seat city. The fairground has an artificial lagoon, a fiberglass slide, a suspension bridge of 60m, two synthetic grass courts, three cement slides with an average length of 40m, a sport field with sand and a circuit trotters.

Cusco is among the 20 most important tourist cities around the world
Cusco is in the 16th position of the most popular tourist cities in the world, according to an online survey carried out by Travel + Leisure magazine. The Incas City exceed in the ranking to Jerusalem (Israel), Siem Reap (Camboya), Quebec (Canada) and Kyoto (Japan). In that list, the cities of Barcelona (Spain), London (England) and Paris (France) were not included.

Jorge Chavez Airport was nominated as the best in South America
One more time, the International Airport of Jorge Chavez has been nominated as the best airport in South America by the organizers of World Travel Awards which is the competition that highlights excellence in the tourism and travel industry worldwide. Also, Machupicchu and the city of Lima were elected as the best South American destination, and Callao as the best port in the region.

LAN PERU to Cordova since August
LAN PERU will operate from August 5th, five weekly flights to Cordoba – Argentina, on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with A319.

ECUADOR
Galapagos Islands are the “Best of the Region”
Travel + Leisure magazine honored the Galapagos Islands with the award of the “Best Island” in the category of Mexico region, Central America and South America, and, with the second place in the category of the “Best Island Worldwide.” This prize is a recognition to the effort and commitment that the National Government has to promote the sustainable management of this important tourist destination.

Aero Cuenca will begin operations in September
On September 14th, Aero Cuenca will begin operating a new airline which will fly between Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Loja with an Embraer 145, with capacity for 30 people. The base of operations will be the city of Cuenca, with direct flights Quito-Quito-Cuenca, Loja-Loja-Quito with two direct frequencies from Monday to Friday and Saturday and Sunday Quito-Macas-Quito, Quito, Machala, Quito, Cuenca Guayaquil-Cuenca. Subsequently cross-border flights will be increased to Cajamarca, Chiclayo and Piura, in Peru.

Wax Museum will be ready for the bicentennial
The Wax Museum began its conceptual scenic transformation process. A total of 10 statues will be added to the cultural showground, placed in the Metropolitan Cultural Center of Quito. The 18 existing will be replaced in modified settings. Among the characters that will be included are Simoฬn Boliฬvar and Antonio Joseฬ de Sucre.

COLOMBIA
Aero Repuฬblica begins to fly from Barranquilla to Panama, in August
Aero Repuฬblica will start a new flight in the route Barranquilla – Panama which will operate three times a week from August 7th.

MEXICO
Mexico City premieres 38 tourist routes since this summer\
The Mexico City premieres 38 tourist routes designed to promote, value and introduce the capital of this country as a “diverse and attractive” destination. These routes will operate until August 21st, as part of the “Programa Turismo para ti” (“Tourism Program for You”).

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Plays are canceled in all the country

ARGENTINA
Plays are canceled in all the country
โ€œFor reasons of force majeureโ€, plays are canceled during next 10 days in Argentina meanwhile cinemas will postpone premieres. The Argentinian Association of Theater Impresarios announced that it decided to cancel the theater activity in the country during 10 days to help avoiding that the Influenza A virus spreads.

Aeroliฬneas Argentinas program again direct fights to Trelew-Sao Paulo
The measure is due to the health situation that Influenza A causes and for the alerts that the Brazilian government has been announced to the population of this country. The operation was programmed for September.

Andes will promote Ruta del Vino in its flights
Since this week, Andes Liฬneas Aeฬreas and some wine shops from Salta will promote wines of the zone, in the flights of Andes from Buenos Aires to Salta. The purpose is to consolidate Ruta del Vino from Salta as a high range tourist product.

Design Suites was opened in Salta
With an investment of US$ 8 million, the group Solanas opened a hotel of its Desing Suite chain in the city of Salta. The establishment placed in the city center has 51 rooms divided up in nine floors.

BRAZIL
Pluna will fly to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
The Aeronautical Committee authorized to extend to 10, the weekly frequencies for the flights to Asuncioฬn and it approved to cover with airplanes and Uruguayan pilots the flight from Asuncioฬn to Santiago de Chile which the airline has a share code with LAN and TAM. Besides that, it authorized to flight from Montevideo to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia which Pluna has to submit a formal application.

PERU
TAM expands share code with BMI
Since July 7th, TAM and BMI expanded their share code to include the city of Dublin. By means of this agreement, clients of both airlines in Brazil and Ireland can enjoy simplified reservations procedures, also having a connection with only one ticket for only checking the luggage until the final destination.

Titicaca, Amazonas and Colca between the 77 nominated Natural Wonders
The New Seven Wonders Foundation which is the foundation that organizes the competition announced that Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon and the Jungle of Amazonas were included in the list of 77 nominated from the competition. They were chosen after the end of the vote process on July 7th. The final 28 will be elected by a committee of experts and they will be announced on July 21st. The elected 28 will enter to the final stages until the middle of 2011.

More than 42 thousand of tourist visited Huaca de la Luna in the first three- month period of the year
La huaca de la Luna (La Libertad) received until June, 42,780 visitors, 4 percent of the registered visits during the same period of 2008. La huaca de la Luna was the ceremonial religious center of the mochica mythology also of the construction, la huaca de la Luna is emphasized by having temples which were built and superimposed in different periods.

It is discovered a Pre-Hispanic road in Machupicchu
A group of specialist discovered a Pre-Hipsanic road in the National Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu. This road possibly started from the archeological complex of Wuaraqtambo, it moved upward to the summit of Machupicchu and went down to the Inca citadel. The road discovered is made of stone masonry, approximately it has 1 meter width, walls that supports its slope reach between 4 and 5 meters high and it has a front although, various stretch have brought to a standstill.

Huaca Chotuna – Chornancap Museum will open its doors in 30 days, in Lambayeque
In 30 days, Huaca Chotuna – Chornancap Museum will open its doors; this is placed in the city of Lambayeque, place that will show finds and studies done three years ago to national and international community.

Taca will fly to Cali
Since August 17th, TACA will add to its wide route network in the region of the city of Cali- Colombia, it will offer a direct flight to this city via Guayaquil- Ecuador, four times a week.

ECUADRO
Guayaquil plans new airport
The local foundation, The Airport Authority of Guayaquil, gave definitive studies about the aeronautical feasibility of the future intercontinental airport of Guayaquil which confirms Chongoฬn โ€“ Daular zone as the place that meets necessary characteristics for its operation. The new airport will have 3 parallel tracks that will be able to operate simultaneously; one of them will be of 4,100 meters length with international category to be useful to airplanes such as Airbus 380 or Boeing 747-400ER, and the rest will be of 3,500 meters length. All of them will have 60 meters width.

Courtyard by Marriott will be opened in Guayaquil
This month, Courtyard by Marriott will open an establishment in the north of Guayaquil; this establishment will increase the hotels number of four or five star of the city to 11. The hotel offers 144 rooms basically to executive tourism. Courtyard is placed in the economic heart of the city, it means near to centers such as public offices, to the building of the Chamber of Production, commercial centers and other luxury hotels such as Hilton Colon.

COLOMBIA
IHG plans to operate eight hotels in Bogotaฬ
After the inauguration of Holiday Inn Express in the north of Bogotaฬ, Managers from InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) informed that this chain has planned to open six hotels more of this brand in the capital, in medium term, meanwhile Medellin, Cartagena and Barranquilla plan to develop new projects which allow them to continue with their positioning. Also, IHG plans to open one Holiday Inn and one InterContinental in the capital of the Republic.

VENEZUELA
Aeropostal would return to The Caribbean
Aeropostal informed that it reincorporated the fourth DC9-50 to its fleet as a part of a reactivation plan that in medium term, it desires to recover international routes beginning with the Caribbean.

MEXICO
Definitely Aviacsa is canceled
The government cancelled Aviacsa operations due to debts that are not paid off of US$ 22 million by tax concepts about the use of the overhead space which the company must pay before flying again. The cancellation was taken after a judge left โ€œwithout effectโ€ a judicial protection in favor of the airline granted in 2008.

Grupo Xcaret opens new park in Cancun
Grupo Xcaret opened a new park in Cancun, Quintana Roo, where it invested US$ 22 million. The new project named Xplor is an underground park which allows visitors to submerge in a sea of stalactites and stalagmites also navigate a raft by underground paths, land on water after a flight in the jungle or drive an amphibious vehicle. New facilities have a capacity of 1,200 people and are looking for turning into one of the greatest attractiveness of the resort.

New connection from Maya Island Air to Belice since Cancun
Maya Island Air opened a new direct connection between Cancun and Belice. The beginning of operations is supported with the resolution of Foreign Affairs Secretariat which came into force on July 1st and eliminates the visa requirement to enter to Mexico for residents from Belice. The shuttle service started with three aircraft ATS from French manufacture with capacity for 68 passengers each one of them; they will offer a daily direct frequency.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Tickets for the Patagonian Train are already for sale.

ARGENTINA
Tickets for the Patagonian Train are already for sale.
The Patagonian Train is selling tickets for next winter vacation. This year will have only one frequency on Fridays returning on Sundays.

Lan Argentina will join Coฬrdoba and Lima
From July 12th, LAN Argentina starts its flights from Coฬrdoba to Lima. It will have two weekly frequencies from Monday to Sunday and it will be carried out with A 320 aircrafts.

South African Airways has one new frequency between BUE and Johannesburg
SAA added one new frequency between Buenos Aires and Johannesburg flying in that way on Wednesday, on Fridays and on Saturdays with 340-200 Airbus with 24 seats in Business Class and 226 in Economical Class.

BRAZIL
Rotary Club International Meeting, in 2015, in Sao Paulo.
So Paulo has been chosen to be venue of the Rotary Club World Convention in 2015. Last time that the city had this event was in 1981, registering a total of 17 thousand people of 94 countries. Icca estimates that in 2015, 40 thousand people will attend.

It is opened the first Central of Express Tourism
Brahma Bar and Sao Paulo Circuit inaugurated the first unit Central of Express Tourism in Sao Paulo Capital; this will bring total information service in Portuguese, English and Spanish. The first unit is placed on the corner of Av. Ipiranga with AV. Sao Joao in Brahma Bar. The city will open new kiosks with live attention also auto- assisted or online in bars and commercial centers. The first kiosk in a commercial center will be inaugurated at the beginning of August in Frei Caneca Shopping and then in the O Torcedor Bars placed in Plaza Charles Muller and in the Bar Brahma Aeroclub in Campo de Marte in the north of Sao Paulo.

American Airlines renewed its lounge in Guarulhos
American Airlines completed the Admiral Club Lounge renewal at the airport of Guarulhos. This is located in Terminal 2, in the D of the mezzanine level, now has 6,621 square feet and with a space for more than 220 passengers. The lunge shows a combination of luxury with practicality to offer a business center highly functional, television flat screens, high speed Wi Fi and a good selection of wines and liquors, children lounges between other comforts.

Delta Airlines started flights between Sao Paulo and Los Angeles
Delta started flights without scales between Guarulhos (Sao Paulo) and Los Angeles, USA three times a week.

BOLIVIA
Lab and AeroSur flight together
Civil Aeronautics General Direction approved the agreement between Aerosur and Lloyd Aeฬreo Boliviano to operate the flight Boeing 727-200 of LAB. The agreement establishes six months hire of duration with the possibility of extending the contract by other time similar to the navy that will carry out only national flights.

PERU
Ciudad Sagrada de Caral is declared a Human Cultural Heritage.
UNESCO declared Ciudad Sagrada de Caral as a Human Cultural Heritage during meeting number 33 of the World Heritage Meeting made in Sevilla, Spain. The meeting indicated that Ciudad Sagrada de Caral meets the integrity and authenticity principles in the monument conservation and that the management system implemented is suitable.

More than one destination has potential to turn into World Heritage
Peru has innumerable natural and archeological places with potential to turn into world heritage emphasizing Canฬƒon del Colca in Arequipa, some churches from Ayacucho and the city of Cajamarca because of its cultural landscape that this represents. Also, Senฬƒor de Sipan and Huaca Rajada where the monarch from moche was placed and the Complejo Arqueoloฬgico El Brujo and Huaca del Sol y la Luna in Trujillo, among others.

Cusco will be fashion center in September
Cusco will be fashion center during the competition carrying out โ€œCusco always fashionโ€ last week of September. This event is for the first time carried out and it intends to insert Cusco in the circuit of international fashion showing the best of the national designersโ€™ young productions.

Taca Airlines started direct flights to Santo Domingo
Taca started direct flights between Lima and Santo Domingo with three times a week frequencies on Wednesday, on Friday and on Saturday.

Start Peru started daily flights to Ayacucho
Start Peru started daily flights to Ayacucho. Soon, the airline will join Ayacucho and Cusco with two weekly flights Lima โ€“ Ayacucho โ€“ Cusco. At the end of 2009, it is expected to finish with the fleet renewal also having Bae 146 airplanes.

PeruRail cancels operations on July 8th
PeruRail will cancel its operations on July 8th via Machupicchu and Puno as a precaution measure before the possibility of manifestations that could affect the travel experience of its passengers. PeruRail will give facilities to passengers that ask for them so they can plan again past or future days of July 8th, for passengers who can not travel in a different date, the price return of the bought tickets will be carried out.

COLOMBIA
Marriott will open its first hotel in August
The first, Hotel Marriott has scheduled its inauguration in August 15th. This will be placed in Bogotaฬ Corporate Center in the west of the capital. On the other hand, JW Marriott is under construction in the north of the capital, this will be opened in May 2010.

Avianca y Mexicana de Aviacioฬn with shared codes
Avianca y Mexicana de Aviacioฬn renewed an agreement of shared code through this alliance, airlines โ€œ offers to its passengers more options to arrive to key points of Colombia and Mexico also gives major facilities to its trips in its routes.

Aero Republica joins Cartagena with Caracas
Aero Repuฬblica inaugurated the route Cartagena-Caracas-Cartagena that started with three weekly direct frequencies. Besides that, the airline added its flights in the route Cartagena-San Andreฬs-Cartagena to one daily, at the same time it launched its fifth daily frequency between Bogotaฬ and Cartagena.

MEXICO
Cruises are reactivated in Costa Maya
The operations in the terminal maritime Costa Maya, in Majahual were renewed since Wednesday and up to December 31st also 58 cruises arrive, this is already confirmed.

Aeromeฬxico will fly to New Orleans
Aeromeฬxico started its operations in the route Ciudad de Meฬxico-New Orleans being this, the only international airline to fly in a direct way to this city. New flights will be operated by Aeromeฬxico Connect in ERJ-145 airplanes with 50 seats and it will have daily frequency, except for Saturdays.

HONDURAS
Taca adapts its flights schedule because of a curfew
Taca informed that it adapted its flights schedule to Honduras to accomplish the curfew of this country after the leaving by force of the president Manuel Zelaya. Also, due to the critical situation of Honduras, โ€œpenalty has been eliminatedโ€ by a date change in its flights to Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Roataฬn.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
โ€œAeroliฬneas Argentinasโ€ got second B737 Next Generation

ARGENTINA
โ€œAeroliฬneas Argentinasโ€ got second B737 Next Generation
โ€œAeroliฬneas Argentinasโ€ got its second 737/700 Boeing directly acquired from Boeing under the investment plan context targeted to strengthen their services.

URUGUAY
โ€œPunta del Esteโ€ stands out in the nautical cities circuit
Marbella and Punta del Este promote the creation of a nautical circuit that brings together 10 of the principal world tourist destinations which are characterized by having an intense water sport activity. Municipal authorities from Uruguay included the ten top cities of the world, as to tourist destination and as nautical tourism destination, in the international circuit. Besides these cities, they proposed to include Miami. Likewise, Dubai would be on the list. Later on, a city from China, Greece, Italy, France and Germany, having these characteristics will be added.

BRAZIL
Sighting of right whales in Santa Catarina
In the Right Whales Environmental Protection Area at Praia do Rosa (Santa Catarina), everything is ready to receive visitors since July 19, when the 2009 Whale Observation Season starts. The municipal government, businessmen, hotel owners and the whole local community are again confident that tourists will choose them to practice this kind of sustainable tourism that is growing year by year and that, besides promoting local Economy, helps to create environmental awareness among visitors.

Gol plans to fly to the Caribbean
Gol is studying the possibility of starting flights to the Caribbean and is therefore waiting for the respective authorizations to fly to Aruba and Dominican Republic, what represents an important change in their South America routes net. Recently, they suspended their flights between Santiago and Lima; in June flights between Sao Paulo and Bogotaฬ changed from daily and direct to four weekly frequencies with scale in Manaos. As to flights between Sao Paulo and Santiago, the airline reduced their seven weekly flights offer to two on Saturdays and Sundays, but keeping their daily frequencies with scale in Buenos Aires.

BOLIVIA
BOA increases operations
โ€œBoliviana de Aviacioฬnโ€ started a new route to the department of Tarija, 860 Km to the South from La Paz. With this one, four destinations are attended by the company, also operating between the capital, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.

PERU
Titicaca and Amazonas are shaping up as finalists of the New World Wonder Contest
Titicaca Lake and Amazonas River are in the first places of their respective groups, according to the last ranking published by New Seven Wonders foundation. Titicaca continues on top of Group F (rivers, lakes and waterfalls category), same as Amazonas in group E (forests, national parks, and natural reserves). Likewise, Colca Canyon keeps the second place in group D, referring to caves, rocks formations and valleys.

Soon, the Desert and Southern Sea Museum will be opened in Tacna
The Desert and Southern Sea Museum, located in Km 92 of Tacna seaboard road, will soon be opened for tourism exhibiting important archaeological collections, historical documents, biological species, geological samples, as well as natural and tourism resources of Tacna and the whole country.

Lan Peru started daily flights to Madrid
Since June 23, LAN Peru increased frequencies from Lima to Madrid to operate seven weekly flights. Furthermore, from the capital of Spain, connections with other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Frankfurt will be available with LAN Airlines Flights.

ECUADOR
Tourism excessively grows in Galapagos
Arrival of tourists in Galapagos, located at 1,000 km from continental Ecuador coast, has increased since 1979 when 11,765 tourists: 9,539 foreigners and 2,226 domestic arrived to the archipelago. In 2008, 173,420 persons: 119,952 foreigners and 53,468 Ecuadorians arrived. That is, touristsโ€™ arrival increased 1,472% in three decades.

COLOMBIA
Escobar Ranch will have a hotel
Napoles Ranch, belonging to Pablo Escobar has foreseen for 2011, to open a hotel on-site. Likewise, they will make use of the 1.280 m landing field โ€“ same which Escobar used to export cocaine โ€“ so that lots of foreign tourists arrive by airway.

VENEZUELA
SBA Airlines postpones flight to Panama
For operative, commercial and technical type reasons, the first flight of SBA Airlines was postponed for August 1st. Due to the high demand of travelers to Panama and within a growth plan, the airline will open a route Panama-Caracas-Panama in a 757 Boeing with capacity for 178 passengers. There will be two daily frequencies, excepting on Saturdays with only one flight.

PANAMA
Interactive map for whales sighting is being prepared
Panama National Geographical Institute is making the first interactive map for whales sighting in Latin America. The purpose is to order investigations and contribute to preserve these mammals. This digital plan will be broadcasted through an internet portal so that everyone traveling to Panama may be able to know where and when the humpback whales, the most abundant among those visiting the central American country, may be made out.

MEXICO
Guidebook of small hotels at Maya Riviera is published.
The Maya Riviera Small Hotels Guide book includes a short description of 92 accommodation centers at Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Tulum, as well as its location and contacts data. The guide book was made out of recycled paper, as well as the other leaflets designed by Maya Riviera Promotion Trusteeship. With simple format, the leaflet permits to quickly see small hotels offers. Though its content is short, it includes the basic characteristics to correctly choose the accommodation center that complies with the tourist requirements and expectations. The guide book, in Spanish and English, is a tool that will be used in fairs, tourist caravans and expositions as the Tourist bulletin and Mexico Magic Trade Show, event where small hotels directly present the tourist offer of Maya Riviera.

There will be a new airport in Palenque
Before ending the third quarter of the year, Airports and auxiliary Services and the Government of Chiapas will start building a new Airport in Palenque, which will substitute the airfield which is practically abandoned: In 2008 only 2011 passengers were transported. The new terminal will be in conditions to receive 767 Boeing and 330 Airbus airplanes.

CUBA
Sol Melia receives two recognitions for environmental stewardship
Paradisus Riฬo de Oro Hotel, a five stars resort with 300 rooms that Group Sol Meliaฬ has in Cuba, received two recognitions for their work on environmental stewardship. The hotel got the ‘Travelife Silver’ qualification award, bestowed upon them by TUI tour operator in the United Kingdom and Ireland; and the Environment Provincial Award of Cuba Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA for its abbreviation in Spanish).

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Aeroliฬneas Argentinas will connect Trelew and Sao Paulo

ARGENTINA
Aeroliฬneas Argentinas will connect Trelew and Sao Paulo
According to an agreement signed by the governor of Chubut, the secretary of Transportation and Aerolineas Argentinasโ€™ general manager, the company will fly between Sao Paulo, Brazil and Trelew.

New investment made by Accor in Buenos Aires
Accor Hospitality will invest US$ 100 million in the construction of a Novotel and an Ibis in an area located in 1334 Corrientes Avenue. The Novotel will have 127 rooms, spa, convention areas and an โ€œecological wall โ€œ with 21 different types of plants. The Ibis Obelisco will have 168 rooms and will be the third three-star hotel of the chain in the country.

Good quantity of reserves and not too much snow in Mendoza.
The Las Lenฬƒas complex, which had projected to open its doors on Saturday June 13th, has postponed it for a few days. The ski resorts are analyzing delaying the start of the season due to the absence of snow in the peaks of the province. Despite this fact, the provincial government estimated that this will be a good season.

URUGUAY
More LAN flights from Montevideo
Starting July 5th, LAN will increase its flights to 13 weekly frequencies to Santiago de Chile with a new flight on Saturdays, doubling the amount of flights in Uruguay from Monday to Saturday with A318 and A320. The company will also continue with its Sunday flight with the Boeing 767-300ER.

BRAZIL
The Gay Pride Parade received 400 thousand tourists in Sao Paulo
The 13th Edition of the LGBT Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, which was done on Sunday, received 400 thousand tourists, similar amount compared with the 2008 edition. This tourist movement generates close to R$ 190 million to the cityโ€™s economy.

Salvador will have โ€œOฬmnibus del Forroฬโ€ free this month
Bahiatursa and the Bahia Tourism Secretary, in Alliance with Salvador Bus, offers this month (from the 10th to the 13th, from the 19th to the 24th and from the 26th to the 28th) the Omnibus del Forro Bus in order for the tourists to enjoy the programming of Sao Joao da Bahia, in the Pelourinho, in the Bahian Capital. The service is free with typical activities inside the bus, as well as live music. The buses leave at 7:00pm from the Stella Maris Resort , in the Stella Maris Beach, and from the Pestana Bahia Hotel, located in Rio Vermelho. The return is at midnight from the Main Square.

CHILE
The Darwin Circuit in Magallanes, new Heritage route.
Commemorating 200 years of Charles Darwinโ€™s Barth, a new heritage guide will be launched in order to promote with the tourists all the sites visited by the British naturalist in the XIX Century. The route includes all sites visited by Darwin in his journey throughout the country. These sites include the cities of Parihuano, in the IV Region, La Campana in the V Region, Chiloe in the X Region and Puerto del Hambre, Fuerte Bulnes and Navarino Island, located in the XII Region of Magallanes and in the Chilean Antartica.

The Atton Hotel has expansion plans for Peru and Colombia
The construction of a new 280-room Atton Hotel will start in two months in Lima Peru. The company is also evaluating the construction of a hotel in Bogota and in other Latin American capitals. The decision is to define the second project outside of Chile before the end of the year.

BOLIVIA
Sixth in the World ranking for high quantity of species of birds..
Bolivia has the sixth place in the World among the countries with the highest quantity of species of birds, having estimated the existence of more than 1,414 different types of birds in its territory, which means 60 % of all species in South America.

Aymara New Year at Tiwanaku
Bolivia celebrates the winter solstice by receiving the Aymara New Year, one of the celebrations with more tradition in the Andean Region. Every year, on June 21st, Tiwanaku celebrates the Holiday with the visit of thousands of tourists who come from inside and outside the country. The main event of the celebration starts when the first rays of the sun during June 21st pass through the Puerta del Sol, signaling the beginning of a new Andean Year. The year 5517 will be celebrated this year.

PERU
Inaugurates Aymara tourist route
Puno has a new tourist route that tries to become one of the most important routes in the zone. The main attraction of this route is the Titicaca Lake. The route includes a visit to the towns of Acora, Chucuito and Plateria, among others, moving towards the border with Boliฬvia. This will be a new alternative to the Quechua route that tourists use to visit the islands of Taquile and the Uros from the port located in the lake.

The first phase of construction of the Westin Libertador Lima is finished.
The first phase of construction of the Westin Libertador Lima was finished with the roof of the last floor of the main tower. The works will concentrate now on the placement of the curtain wall and on the finishing touches. Up to today, US$68 million was needed for its construction, being the total investment US$100 million. The end of the construction will be August, 2010, when there will be a soft opening, being inaugurated officially in November.

Less seats to Lima from Miami
American Airlines has 79 seats less in its daily flights between Lima and Miami, due to the change of one of its A300 that was used up to today, for a Boeing 757. There will be another 72 seats less in August as a result of the second change of the A300 for a Boeing 767, which will operate the evening flights.

COLOMBIA
A bus is transformed into a Mobile museum in Medellin
A bus in the city of Medellin was transformed into a mobile museum about the history of transport. The bus has pictures, parts of aircrafts, ship compasses, a 70 year old flight simulator and one of the famous black boxes.

MEXICO
Cruises arrive to Progreso
After 42 days of suspending the arrival of cruises to the Progreso port, the Carnival Shipping company resumed its operations to this point of the Yucatan coast with the arrival of the Holiday, which brought 1,786 visitors from the United States. The segment of the cruises industry works again with the arrival of this cruise, and there are new expectations that Carnival will increase its frequencies to Yucatan by including this destiny on its routes.

Quintana Roo would reduce hotel tariffs in order to attract tourism
The hotel sector of the south of Quintana Roo will reduce its hotel tariffs in order to attract tourism. The objective is to sacrifice earnings at a first stage, in exchange of promoting destinies with the visits that will be received and show that the Southern area of Quintana Roo is well prepared.

The Riu Group opened its US $ 115 million hotel in Mazatlan
The Government of the State of Sinaloa announced that the Riu Group opened its US $ 115 million in the resort of Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific area. The investment of the company from Mallorca in the Riu Resort Hotel Emerald Bay has been โ€œthe biggest in the last years of tourism development in the areaโ€. The hotel has 716 rooms and its opening reached 80 percent occupancy.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Hotel for business executives opened

ARGENTINA
Hotel for business executives opened
The first hotel in Argentina focused exclusively on executives was inaugurated. The amount of money invested to build this hotel was US$10 million. This new project will try to capture an important portion of the market of businessmen who travel to the country.

BRAZIL
IHG expands its brands Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express
Intercontinental Hotels Group -IHG- signed an agreement for four new Holiday Inn Express Hotels and for the transformation of an independent Holiday Inn in Brazil, increasing its presence in the country to 12 cities. The new Holiday Inn Express hotels, which will be located in Belem, Cuiaba, Maceio and Manaus, will start operations in 2011. The Holiday Inn Sao Luiz would open at the end of this year.

BOLIVIA
BoA will fly to Tarija Tarija
Boliviana de Aviacioฬn will begin commercial operations to the city of Tarija in late June. There will be four round trip flights per week in the route Tarija-Cochabamba, with immediate connections to La Paz and Santa Cruz, in addition to one direct frequency between Tarija and La Paz.

Sky Airlines started flights
Sky Airline started operations in the route La Paz-Arica-Antofagasta and Santiago three times per week with Boeing 737-200 airplanes, with the intention to expand its national and international operations.

PERU
Titicaca is still the favorite in the Seven Natural Wonders of the World contest
The Lake Titicaca continues in first place of the F Group of the contest that will select the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, surpassing competitors like the Niagara Falls and the Danube River. Meanwhile, the Amazon remains in second place of the E Group, surpassed by the National Park of Rio Subterraneo, located in Puerto Princesa in Philippines.

Punoโ€™s Tourist routes have new sign posts now
Nine tourist routes of the Puno Region have new sign posts that will enable the national and foreign visitors to obtain information about their characteristics, altitude, among other information. The tourist routes with new sign posts are Masocruz, Chaka Ckaka, La Raya, Lagunillas, Titiri , Macusani, Tilaly, Sandia and the city of Puno.

Emblematic Ayllu Cafe left local
The Ayllu, a cafe considered by the people of the city of Cusco as part of their identity, left definitely the local that had in the Main Square for approximately 40 years.

The first Afro Peruvian Culture Museum is inaugurated
The first National Museum of Afro Peruvian Culture, located in the city of Lima, was inaugurated last week. The main objective is to pay tribute to the work done by the Afro Peruvians in the identity and in the Peruvian culture. Photographs, musical instruments as well as typical dresses and art works of Peruvians of black race can be seen in this Museum.

COLOMBIA
AeroRepublica increased number of flights.
AeroRepublica will have more flights departing from Bogotaฬ to Santa Marta, San Andreฬs, Leticia, Cartagena and Panamaฬ during June, July and August. During the same period, the airline will expand its flights on the routes from Bucaramanga and Cartagena to Panama and San Andres; from Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla and Cartagena.

MEXICO
Quintana Roo, 12 of the 40 hotels closed reopen
At least 12 of the 40 hotels that closed their doors in Quintana Roo due to the fall in tourism as a result of the sanitary emergency brought about by the H1N1 flu, reopened. Eight of the hotels that opened again are located in the Maya Riviera and the other four are located in Cancun.

Ocean By H10 Hotels with new corporate website
The Ocean by H10 hotel chain, that has three resorts in the Caribbean, launched its new corporate website where the search process has been simplified. A clear example is the search word โ€œExperiencesโ€ where the type of vacations can be selected: Romantic, Business, Spa; Sports or Family. After that, Ocean By H10 presents a list of services, packs and offers that go according to the selection made. A survey manager has also been included enabling Ocean By H10 to know the clientsโ€™ experience and, in this way, improve or strengthen certain services.

RIU opened its first hotel in Mazatlan
The RIU Emerald Bay, the first hotel of the Spanish company opened its doors in Mazatlan, becoming in the resort number 15 that RIU has in this country, and the 30th hotel that the chain has in America. The resort is located in first line in the sea and offers the 24-hour All Inclusive by RIU Service. It has 716 rooms, 4 restaurants, 5 bars, 2 swimming pools and 3 meeting rooms.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
LAN with a new frequency between Mendoza and Santiago

ARGENTINA
LAN with a new frequency between Mendoza and Santiago
Beginning from July 1st, LAN will add one new daily frequency between Mendoza and Santiago, the current route it flies with two daily frequencies.

GOL will directly fly to Fortaleza
GOL will resume the direct flights between Buenos Aires and Fortaleza beginning from December. The agreement will last one year.

Boutique hotels propose tourist routes
The establishments meeting in TheBBH, the first Argentine club of boutique hotels, will present a series of tourist circuits in the country. The Boutique Routes, which will be proposed by TheBBH at the beginning and join the gastronomic offer and the comfort of the boutique hotels, are Patagonia Boutique, Mesopotamia Boutique, Centro Boutique, Noroeste Boutique and Buenos Aires Boutique.

BRAZIL
Six monuments compete in vote of 7 Wonders Lusas
Brazil, with six monuments, is competing in vote of the 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World and it has presented the candidatures of the San Francisco de Asiฬs Church of Penitence, the Sanctuary of Jesus of Matozinho, both are in Minas Gerais; the Monastery of Sao Bento and the Convent of San Francisco, in Rio de Janeiro; el Fuerte del Principe da Beira, in Rondonia and the Monastery of Sao Bento of Olinda. The list of the participants includes in total 27 monuments belonging to 16 countries.

US Airways with a new service to Rio de Janeiro
US Airways will operate direct daily flights between its hub in Douglas International airport of Charlotte, NC, and Rio de Janeiro. On December 2nd, the new service will start with a B767 with capacity for 18 passengers in Business class and 186 in Economic class.

PERU
Lake Titicaca continues leading a group F of competition of the New Wonders
Lake Titicaca continues leading the group F of competition that will choose the seven Natural Wonder of the world, meanwhile el Canฬƒon del Colca raised one position in the last ranking of the foundation New7wonders and it places in the first place of the group D.

Sol & Luna hotel invests US$5 million in extension of its facilities
Sol & Luna Lodge-Spa, located in Urubamba valley, invested US$5 million in the extension of its facilities that will have 15 new luxury small houses, as well as one multipurpose hall with capacity for 150 people. The small houses will be directed to luxury segment and will be added to the 28 bungalows that this hotel currently has. All the houses will have more than 100m2 of the inner area, one private garden and terrace, and wonderful view to the surroundings of Valle Sagrado.

Guides of museums of Arequipa will be distributed between tourists
Arequipa will have a guide of museums that will show to the tourists what offers, more than 16 galleries of Historic Center.The document will include photographs and thematic information about the offer of each one of the museums in order that tourists could have the option to choose which one they are going to visit during their stay. The guide will be full color and in Spanish and English, and it will be distributed in travel agencies, hotels, airport and terminus with no cost.

They will evaluate the possibility to build mythological museum in Puno
Puno would have a Mythological museum similar to those that exist in Paraguay and Spain, where trace and ornaments, related to the culture of this region of the country, will be exhibited, it informed that the museum would be located on the shore of Lake Titicaca.

ECUADOR
Iberia adds direct flight to Guayaquil
From June 12th to 26th, Iberia will increase the offer of flights to Guayaquil in order to attend the increase of the demand that is registered at the beginning of the summer in the northern hemisphere. Iberia adds the second flight to the current frequency in the route Quito โ€“Guayaquil, which will operate every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and will directly connect with Guayaquil.

COLOMBIA
Santa Marta will continue being among plans of cruisers
Royal Caribbean announced that Santa Marta will continue being included within different schedules in the calendar of โ€œEnchantment of the Seasโ€ for 2009-2010 seasons. For 2010-2011season, Santa Marta will be held to the verification of some advances related to the agreements acquired by the municipality and the company of cruisers.

SBA will arrive to Panama
From July 1st, SBA Airlines will arrive to Panama operating the route Panama-Caracas-Panama in a Boeing 757 with capacity for 178 passengers.

PANAMA
Fenn chain will open a hotel in the country
In November, after one year of the opening of its first establishment in Asuncion (Paraguay), the Argentine hotel chain will inaugurate el Esplendor Denovo Panama, in the capital city of the country. The hotel will be of 42 floors and have 100 rooms and its building will demand an investment of US$ 30 million.

MEXICO
Cozumel begins tourist recovery
The tourist Cozumel companies prepare themselves for the return of the ships for this Wednesday, while the hotel activity already went up to 41%. The recovery of the hotel sector has been marked because it went from 19% to 41% that was reported this Saturday; which means that the level of the activity was duplicated around a week and half.

Sol Melia recovers normality
After its services in two of its hotels in Mexico, the ME Cancun and Melia Cozumel, have been temporarily interrupted, Sol Melia will open its establishment in Cancun and will do the same with that of the island, on June 13th.

The health insurance will be free for foreign tourists
The Federal Government will give foreign tourists, who turn to DF a free health insurance, especially against illnesses caused by virus. The insurance that will protect visitors against the virus of influenza AH1N1 and, moreover, it will give other 10 benefits, it will be obtained in the hotel where the tourists will be lodged.

CUBA
Melia Las Dunas receives distinction Marque of Excellence
The important British tour operator Thomas Cook reworded Melina Las Dunas hotel with its 2008 Marque of Excellence Award. This reward expresses the recognition of Tomas Cook clients for the high standards of service and the quality of the hotel lodging.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
As of lat Friday, May 1, Aerolineas Argentinas began its two weekly frequencies from Almirante Zar Airport of Trelew to the city of Esquel.

LAN will have more flights to Cordoba

ARGENTINA
As of lat Friday, May 1, Aerolineas Argentinas began its two weekly frequencies from Almirante Zar Airport of Trelew to the city of Esquel.

LAN will have more flights to Cordoba
LAN announced that it will add three new weekly frequencies to its Cordoba-Santiago route beginning from June 1st. With the arrival of these new frequencies, the airline will increase its offer to a total of fourteen flights.

Pluna seeks to have flights to Comodoro Rivadavia
Pluna would include the city of Comodoro Rivadavia into the airline route network. On May 27th, Pluna planed to begin flights that join Trelew (Chubut) to Montevideo and Sao Paulo.

BRAZIL
Alitalia would take up again its Roma-Rio route
Between this and the next year, Alitalia would take up again the route between Roma and Rio de Janeiro. The renewed airline is immersed in a plan of fleet extension, with which it searches to add some 70 planes to 148 that it currently has.

Delta Air Lines changes beginning of its flights to Los Angeles to June 30th
Delta Air Lines, that had required an authorization of DOT in order to fly between Sao Paulo and Los Angeles from May 22st, will begin to operate the flight on July 1st, due to high season in this date.

CHILE
A new tourist product for wine lovers
Vinobus (Wine bus) is the new full day program of Enotour & Culinary Travel, the company of tourism specialized in enogastronomic tours to several wine-growing regions of Chile and of the Southern Cone. Vinobus (Wine bus) begins its route in Santiago where tourists will learn about the relationship between wine and the city and then to visit zone of Maipo Alto and Vinฬƒa Perez Cruz where a visitor is a participant of a privet technical circuit and will taste some of the best premium wines. The journey also includes Vinฬƒa Santa Rita, Andino museum and a gourmet lunch.

Blue Tree in Santiago and Patagonia
Blue Tree Hotels incorporate in its chain two new hotels in Chile. On May, the chain passes to administrate the Santiago Fundador hotel, the establishment is dedicated to a corporate market and it is located in Paris-Londres district. The other hotel, Remota, is located in the region of Patagonia, in the city of Puerto Natales, near to the most famous park of Chile, Torres del Paine. The Remota Hotel explores the concept of home feeling and it raises the characteristics and the value of architecture of the region.

Puerto Vargas with a new tourist circuit
Puerto Vargas will open a new alternative of tourism: a heritage tourist circuit that travels through 33 places of interest including: Plaza de Armas, the square of Jose Luis Martinez, heritage houses, the church of Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, The Lutheran church among others places of interest finishing in heritage house, currently occupied by Chile Investigations,

PERU
Arequipa will be included in tour of cruisers
Due to its colonial architecture, religious tourism, countryside and gastronomy, the city of Arequipa will be considered in a tour of cruisers that arrive to Peru. The cruisers will disembark in Matarani port and from there tourists will be transferred to the city, where they will stay for one day. During this time, the visitors could do religious tourism, to visit countryside, to taste food and to return to the cruiser in order to continue their travel in the afternoon hours.

Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge reaches International Quality Certification
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Loge became the first hotel of Cusco and the second nationwide hotel in getting the SQF 2000 Certification in Level 3; the highest in its field. SQF or Save Quality Food is developed by Food Marketing Institute of America and consists of an analysis of dangers and critical points of control for suppliers of whole nutritious chain; from a farm to a table.

It is planned to build thematic restaurant in Lambayeque
A group of national businessmen has shown interests in constructing thematic restaurants in different localities of administrative district of Lambayeque, which will generate competition in order to show and offer a better service than traditional local and district restaurants. In these denominated โ€œthematic restaurantsโ€ they plan to offer to visitors a cultural code with typical dances and gastronomy of the region.

ECUADOR
Hotels will adapt Skype phone system
The Vox Skype company presented to the hotel businessmen a solution to put down the price of phone calls. The application is named as Vosky Exchange and it consists of an internet phone call, where the voice is digitalizing, compressing and sending in packages of IP information. To make use of it the companies donโ€™t need to renew their central telephony, even when it has 15 years of functioning. Skype notices that guests and their families are the first to be benefit.

COLOMBIA
Sonesta opens its first hotel in the country
The first Sonesta hotel in Colombia, it is located in Valledupar (Cesar), it will open its door on May 4st. The hotel had an investment close to $10 million; it has an area of 6.500 m2, 108 rooms, three VIP halls, restaurant, gym, swimming pull, Jacuzzi and one auditorium with capacity for 300 people.

MEXICO
Aeromexico increase routes
Aeromexico will increase routes in the domestic and international market, before a growing demand of corporate market. Aeromexico will fly from Mexico City to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chetumal, Hautulco, Cozumel, Colima, Tepic and Lazaro Cardenas with an Embrear 145 for 50 passengers. The new nine international routes to America will be Guadalajara-San Jose (California), Los Cabos โ€“ San Francisco, the City of Mexico โ€“ New Orleans, Puerto Vallarta โ€“ San Diego. In South America, it will have one daily flight between Cancun and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and another flight will be the city of Mexico – Medellin, Colombia.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Tourist bus will start from May 2nd in Buenos Aires
The buses which will travel through Buenos Airesยด tourist places will begin to function on May 2nd with the $25 per day price.

ARGENTINA
Tourist bus will start from May 2nd in Buenos Aires
The buses which will travel through Buenos Airesยด tourist places will begin to function on May 2nd with the $25 per day price.

Boutique hotels arrive to Bariloche
Los Juncos Patagonian Lake House is the first hotel, a member of TheBBH, in the city of Bariloche, it is an old southern large house for enjoyment just for 12 guests and it is located 20 kilometers from the San Carlos of Bariloche center, just 4 kilometers from Villa Llao Llao. Out of traditional catering, it offers a different experience to its guests with gourmet home cooking and selection of wines from small Argentinean winery.

Hotel La Cantera is an option of accommodation in missionary jungle
From August, Iguazu will count on a new option of accommodation. In its first stage, The Hotel La Cantera will have 24 rooms, which are divided into 3 modules of 8 rooms each one, and will be located only 15 minutes from airport, waterfalls and the city of Iguazu

BRAZIL
TAM with 34 new flights to seven capitals of the country.
This month, TAM will begin to operate 34 new flights from the Rio de Janeiroยดs Santos Dumont Airport to seven capitals of the country: Aracajuฬ, Belo Horizonte (Confins), Brasilia, Curitiba, Recife, Salvador and Vitoria. These 17 flights join with 31 regular flights of airlift between Rio and Sao Paulo.

TAM requested approval of code sharing agreement with Swiss
National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil received the request, from TAM and Swiss, of approval of a code sharing agreement between both airlines. TAM recently announced similar agreements with Air China and Bmi.

PERU
Colombian theme park arrives
The manager of the company confirmed that Divercity, in alliance with Peruvian partners, will invest US$10 million in order to open its local in Lima on December of this year.
New artificial wharf will facilitate an access to Guanฬƒape islands in La Libertad
On September of this year will be initiated the construction of an artificial wharf in Morin port, province of Viru (La Libertad), this will allow tourists to get to Guanฬƒape islands, the one of the main nature reserves in the zone, in less time. The wharf will improve the condition of the tourist services by increasing security and control of boats that travel to islands, in one hour and half journey at sea.

Star Peru begins flights to Ayacucho
From July 2nd, Star Peru will begin operations to the city of Ayacucho with three weekly frequencies on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The flights will be direct and will depart in the morning.

ECUADOR
Entry of tourists to Galapagos Islands decreased
The management of the Galapagos National Park registered the entry of 41,146 people that arrived to the archipelago between January and March of this year, 35, 41 of whom visited the protected area. With such facts as a base, a 7.5% decrease was determined in relation to the same period of 2008.

Five tourist routes in province of Azuay were presented
The Ministry of Tourism presented five tourist routes corresponding to the province of Azuay. The Archeological, Gastronomic, Extreme Sports, Handicraft Routes and the Aviturism Route will be a different alternative for visitors who can enjoy gastronomy, handicraft and extreme sports.

Place of Tourist Information in Manabi is inaugurated
The Ministry of Tourism inaugurated a Place of Tourist Information, i-Tur, in โ€œCiudad Alfaroโ€ Civic Center, in order to offer his visitors ample information of tourist destinies that have the province of Manabi and especially Montecristi.

COLOMBIA
Emirates maintain its interest in flying to Bogota
Emirates Ailines will begin to operate the Dubai-Bogota route at the end of this year or in 2010.
On May, it will begin the negotiations with the Direction of Civic Aviation and the idea is that the company could cover the route between Dubai, Caracas and Bogota. The company has been thinking of beginning the route for cargo transport and analyzing the future transfer of passengers.

MEXICO
MexicanaLink opens a new flight to Merida
MexicanaLink began operations in Yucatan with a new airlift that will make a connection with the cities of Merida, Villahermosa, Veracruz, and Guadalajara. MexicanaLink has a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ 200 airplanes with capacity for 50 passengers. It will gradually add aircrafts up to 13, with which it will be able to transport more than 800 thousand passengers.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
New tourist projects in Punta Cana
It has been projecting a construction of eight new hotel establishments in Punta Cana Bavaro, thirteen projects of tourist property development, eleven new golf fields, one water park and two commercial centers, informed The East Zone Hotels and Tourism Projects Association, with tourist destination. El Bahia Principe Esmeralda initiated construction works, Westin Roco Ki is in advance and The Catalina Royal is an extension. The others establishments are: the Venezian Bavaro, of 550 rooms, the Marlyn with 204 rooms, Bahia Principe Romana, Tropicalia in Miches and the Elliot Miches Beach Resort. It is hoped that after five years, the hotels will be built and commercialized.

CUBA
SOL MELIA Renewed Solmaliacuba.com
Sol Melia Cuba renewed the corporate image of its Web site and added new functional qualities in order to approach the clients and to increasingly orient them to make a purchase. From the main page it is possible now to access to the last news, to subscribe to the newsletter offers, to know which hotels are the most visited by the internet users and to search for accommodation according to travel interests. In addition, it is accessed to the new Sol Melia Cuba Map section in order to locate on interactive maps 24 hotels and resorts, which the company promotes on the biggest island of the West Indies.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Tourist buses will travel through Buenos Aires

ARGENTINA
Tourist buses will travel through Buenos Aires
Specially prepared convertible units with capacity for 50 passengers each one, specialized tourist guides and informative material will travel through Buenos Aires and for the first time will officially develop the Tourist Bus circuit, exactly as it happens in the great cities of the world. The service will be done in regular form by means of a predetermined schedule of departures and the circuit will take no more than three hours. The passenger will be able to use the service, getting on and off the bus as many times as they wish at any of the authorized bus stops during the term of force of the ticket. www.buenosairesbus.com

LAN began flights to Tucuman
LAN Argentina began to fly to San Miguel of Tucuman with an Airbus A320 with capacity for 150 passengers and two daily flights. In this way, Tucuman is added to the group of Argentinian cities to which an airline is flying.

South Africa Airways began direct flights to Johannesburg
South African Airwaysยด direct flights began between Buenos Aires and Johannesburg, South Africa, with an Airbus A 340-200, two times per week. The airline expects to add one more frequency in July and for the next year the flights will be daily.

URUGUAY
Pluna will fly to Trelew two times per week
Pluna will begin its operations to the airport of Trelew with two weekly flights from Sao Paulo via Montevideo.

Pluna increases frequencies between Montevideo and Sao Paulo
From June 21th, Pluna will fly three days per week between Montevideo and Sao Paulo. The company will offer services in the morning, in the afternoon and at night, on Thursdays, Fridays and on Sundays. www.flypluna.com

BRAZIL
Christ the Redeemer will be modernized
The modernization work of the Christ the Redeemer will cost about US$500.000 and would be finished in four months. It includes the modernization of the electric discharge system, waterproofing of the base of the statue and recovery or substitution of compromised pieces of the granite floor and of the handrails..

TAM will fly seven times per week to South Africa
TAM will fly to South Africa with seven weekly frequencies. In the second semester of the year it will begin to fly to Johannesburg and it is already negotiating a code sharing agreement with South African Airways. It indicated that its request to fly to Portugal was approved, the country to which TAM currently flies in code sharing agreement with TAP.

It will join Rio de Janeiro and Santiago
TAM will begin daily flights between Rio de Janeiro and Santiago, Chile, in May 15th. The flight will stop in Sao Paulo and then will directly continue to Santiago. The operation will be fulfilled with airplanes A320 configured with 156 seats, 12 of which are of Executive Class.

Delta Air Lines will inaugurate three weekly flights between Sao Paulo and Los Angeles
On May 21st, Delta will inaugurate three weekly flights between San Pablo and Los Angeles. The airline will start a flight operated by Northwest from Los Angeles to Las Vegas that will directly connect to the flight from San Pablo. Delta plans to operate direct flights from Atlanta to Brasilia from December 17th of this current year.

CHILE
Starwood will open Hotel W in Santiago on July1st
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide informed that the first hotel of its South American W brand will open its door in Santiago on July1st. The opening was originally prevented to be during the course of this month.

BOLIVIA
AeroSur received the IATAยดs IOSA Certification

IATA gave the IOSA Certification to AeroSur, after the airline satisfactorily approved the certification audit based on the highest standards of quality and operational security at the international level.

PERU
Machu Picchu among the 20 best views in the world
The online Yahoo search engine, through its section Yahoo Travel, published the ranking of 20 best views in the world. The review, elaborated by recognized travel writer, Andrew Harper, puts Machu Picchu on the 9th place of the list.

Conde Nast Traveler highlights two Peruvian hotels in the Hot List 2009
In the 13th Hot List ยดs version of Conde Nast Traveler , two of ten South American hotels, which are highlighted among the new 140 hotels and resorts that transcend the industry standards, is presented by tow Peruvian excellent establishments: Las casitas de Colca in Arequipa and La Casona Inkaterra in Cusco. The Hot List 2009 will be distributed with the May edition of the magazine. www.concierge.com

Star Peru will fly to Talara
From Friday May 19th, Star Peru will begin its operations to Talara via Cajamarca with three weekly frequencies: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and on Sundays. The flights will depart from Lima in the afternoon and stop in Cajamarca in order to continue to Talara and vice versa.

VENEZUELA
Santa Barbara will fly to Madrid and Tenerife
SBA, old Santa Barbara Airlines, will resume the route Madrid โ€“Caracas-Madrid with five weekly flights the following Monday June 20th. The service will be operated with a Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft with 241 seats; with this, the offer ascends to 1,205 weekly and 4,820 monthly passengers. Likewise, SBA announced that it will have two weekly frequencies between Caracas y Tenerife.

Lufthansa offers First Class service from Caracas
Lufthansa is operating its Caracas- Frankfurt route with a modern A340-600, which offers the First Class service. The service, which is unique in its type of flights from South American country to Europe, offers 2 meters length seat-bed with computer connection, In-flight Entertainment with the last film premieres, exclusive menus and the best wines.

MEXICO
Mexico launches โ€œRuta del Tequilaโ€
They launched The Ruta del Tequila, which includes the municipalities of El Arenal, Amatitan, Tequila, Magdalena and Teuchitan in its first stage. Aeromexico will have 6 weekly flights between New Orleans, Mexico City and Honduras The Aeromexico will launch six weekly nonstop flights between New Orleans and Mexico City on July 6th , with connection to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The route represents the first new service of the international flights announced for New Orleans since hurricane Katrina and forms part of the Aeromexicoยดs energetic plans of expansion for North America.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Breezes Puerto Plata Hotel will stop to operate with that branch from May 1st.
Breezes Puerto Plata Hotel will close its door and stop to operate under this branch, which is belonging to SuperClubs chain. The property will be called Sol de Plata Beach Resort & Spa. The guests who have done their reservations for a posterior date to the first of May, will be accommodated in other Puerto Plataยดs own property, and also they will have the opportunity to do a reservation in other installation of the Breezes branch in the Caribbean or cancel their reservation, explained managers of SuperClubs in the country.

SOUTH AMERICA
Ten hotels are in the 2009 Hot List of Conde Nast Traveler
Conde Nast Travelerยดs May edition includes the 13th annual Hot List prepared by famous magazine, which features 140 new hotels and resorts, 50 new restaurants, 35 new nightclubs and 50 new Spas whose design, service and amenities transcend industry standard. Among hotels and resorts highlighted by magazine, ten are South American: Argentina (5) , Brazil(1), Chile (1), Costa Rica (1), Peru (2).

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Aerolineas Agentinas and Sky Airline agreed to expand both of them in Chile and Peru

ARGENTINA
Aerolineas Agentinas and Sky Airline agreed to expand both of them in Chile and Peru
Aerolineas Argentinas signed a commercial agreement with Sky Airline, which will allow it to expand its services to Chile destinations and the south of Peru destinations. Also, Aerolineas Argentinas through Sky will be able to offer destinations from Santiago to trans- Andean, such as Concepcioฬn, Temuco, Copiapoฬ, Puerto Montt, Antofagasta, Calama, Iquique, Balmaceda, Arica, Punta Arenas and Arequipa in Peru. In addition, the project includes an admission to the e-ticket system, the combined achievement of promotional activities in common markets, technical and commercial cooperation.

Aerolineas Argentinas will increase its frequencies from and to Mar del Plata
Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral will increase their flight frequencies from and to Mar del Plata, going from the current nine flights to the fourteen weekly frequencies. From June 15th, five weekly flights will be added and will be part of gradual expansion plan of the Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral domestic services.

CHILE
Santiago Park Plaza first certified hotel
Santiago Park Plaza hotel is the only five star hotel in Chile that fulfills the requirements of the International Norm ISO 9001-2000. In this way, it was certified for hotel trade and gastronomy services by prestigious company Bureau Veritas Certification.

PERU
Cielos Andinos will open new Ayacucho-Cusco-Ayacucho route
Cielos Andinos will fly Ayacucho-Cusco-Ayacucho route with four weekly frequencies on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and on Sundays. The flight will take one hour.

Rio Sagrado Villas & Spa Hotel opened its doors
Rio Sagrado Villas & Spa Hotel opened its doors in Urubamba, in Valle Sagrado, Cusco. It is located along the Urubamba River on land of 2.5. The new establishment has 21 rooms, all of them with terraces and private gardens, 2 small completely equipped towns and one restaurant as well as Spa with Jacuzzi and sauna.

ECUADOR
Implements Mariscal Sucre Tourist Route
Ecuador set in motion the โ€œMariscal Sucre Tourist Routeโ€ that comprised attractions, such as the Carondelet palace with the change of the presidential guard, the Historic City Center, the Casa de Sucre Museum, the Cathedral in order to visit Mausoleum of Sucre, la Cima de la Libertad, where the Pichincha battle was fought and then the Carmen Bajo, where Sucreโ€™s remains were during 70 years before to be transferred to the Metropolitan Cathedral.

LAN began domestic flights
LAN Ecuador began its operations on the domestic market with seven domestic flights. Quito and Guayaquil are the first destinations covered by the company but, it will soon include other destinations such as the Galapagos Islands.

VENEZUELA
Santa Baฬrbara resume flights to Europa
From June, Santa Barbara Airlines will operate again to Madrid, Funchal and Tenerife. The frequencies will be five flights per week to Madrid, and two weekly flights to both Funchal and Tenerife.

MEXICO
Promotes Health Tourism
In May, the Secretaries of Tourism and Health of Mexico D.F. have planed to launch a Program for Health Tourism in Mexico City, which will allow them to witness plastic surgery, organ transplant and different kinds of operations more at low prices.

SOUTH AMERICA
Qatar Airways would arrive in 2010
Qatar Airways announced that one of its plans is to arrive to six American destinations and to South America in 2010. The company was in recent Arabia- South America forum, which was carried out in Doha, where companies of both regions got to join commercial bonds.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires- Sao Paulo LANยดs flight will be daily

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires- Sao Paulo LANยดs flight will be daily
From April 19th, LAN will have a new frequency between Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. On Sundays, with the beginning of this flight, the offer is going to be daily between both cities.

URUGUAY
BQB will fly to Madrid
(BBQ) Buquebus requests to fly the Montevideo-Madrid route. BQB would operate a maximum of 7 weekly frequencies, with a plane capacity of 310 passengers and with a maximum of 10 tons of freight.

PARAGUAY
TAM will extend code sharing agreement with Pluna to fly to Asuncion
TAM and Pluna extended the code sharing agreement signed in November which included flights between Sao Paulo and Montevideo. At present, the agreement is valid to fly to Paraguay through the participation of TAM Airlines, with an office in Asuncioฬn. The agreement came into force from April 1st and it plans daily flights between Montevideo and Asuncion, operated by TAM and Pluna.

The exit tax raised
From April 1st, the value of the exit rate (XR) of ASU, raised from US$ 25.00 to US$ 31.00.

BRAZIL
TAM began code sharing agreement with Lufthansa
TAM and Lufthansa entered into the code sharing agreement. At the present time, the passengers coming from Europe with destination to Santiago will do a connection in Guarulhos (Sao Paulo) in order to continue with a TAM airplane. An agreement with Swiss is also in force in order that the passengers, traveling from Zurich, do the same connection. At the same time, from April, the TAMยดs passengers will be able to buy flight tickets to Hanover, Stuttgart and Bremen with connection in Frankfurt, flying by Lufthansa inside Germany.

Taca will expand operations in its Rio-Lima route
Taca informed that it will expand the number of flights between Rio de Janeiro and Lima, Peru. One of its plans is that it should be daily. Currently, it has four weekly frequencies. Likewise, Taca indicated that they have talked to different operators in order to support the development of new packages, among which are packages to Guatemala, Belice, Honduras, Bolivia and Peru. The launch must happen at the end of this month or in the beginning of May.

GOL set the code sharing agreement with Air France-KLM
The Air France โ€“KLM group singed an agreement of commercial cooperation with Gol. The agreement anticipates code sharing flights to destinations inside Brazil: Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, to Belen, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Campinhas, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Foz do Iguazu, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador and Victoria. Moreover, the customers of both airlines will have benefits of accumulated miles at traveling by any of two companies.

Air China will postpone beginning of Sao Paulo flights
Air Chinaยดs flights from Beijing to Sao Paulo, Madrid route, will begin on June 28th instead of beginning last Sunday, as it was anticipated at first.

PERU
The museum of Cao in Peru opened its door
The Museum of Cao was inaugurated in the Archeological Complex โ€œEl Brujo de Trujilloโ€. This museum will exhibit Madam of Cao, Moche leader, discovered in ceremonial place more than 1800 years of antiquity. The Museum is located near to the archeological complex โ€œEl Brujoโ€, which is one hour from the city of Trujillo, district of Magdalena of Cao.

Titicaca and Amazon lead competition of 7 Natural Wonders
Lake Titicaca and the Amazon River lead in their respective groups in the competition that will choose the 7 Natural Wonders of the world, according to the last ranking of the New 7 Wonders Foundation. The Titicaca candidacy , shared by Peru and Bolivia, was consolidated in the first place of the group F, whereas the Amazon that includes the largest river of the world and the Amazon jungle also reinforced its favoritism in the competition, recovering again the first place of the group E. While Colca canyon, located in Arequipa, reached the fourth box of the group D.

Backpacker service to Machu Picchu changes route
PeruRail reminded that the backpacker service changed its route and its new route is Estacion de Poroy-Machu Picchu-Poroy. In the first place, the change replies to the repeated order of the inhabitants of the comprised zones in Picchu Alto y Tica-Tica. The company indicated that in the last years, this zone called Zigzag was significantly urbanized and it is understandable that now the inhabitants ask for the train route change, thinking about their growing and calmness.

GHL will open four star hotels in Trujillo and Arequipa
The Colombian chain GHL, Sonesta hotels operator in the country, plans to open two more hotels in the country in the next two years. The new establishments, four star each one, will be located in the cities of Arequipa and Trujillo (La Libertad) and will be focused on a corporative sector.

Casa Andina will inaugurate hotel in Chincha in 2010
In April of 2010, Casa Andina will inaugurate its Private Collection Casa Andina hotel in Chincha, of four star, through the redesigning of the Casa Hacienda San Jose located in Chincha (Ica). The project that includes 11 suites among 80 rooms, a center of conventions with capacity of 600 people, 10 hectares of gardens, two bars, restaurant , spa & gym, two swimming pools, among other services.

ECUADOR
Galapagos Guayaquil with new bilingual guide
Markdigital launched the first bilingual magazine โ€“guide with complete information about two important tourist destinations of the country, as Galapagos and Guayaquil. Galaquil 2009 tries to show to national and international tourists useful information about tourist attractions, services, maps, drawings gallery, photographs, classifieds, telephone cods, emergency numbers, tables of conversions and soon.

Will be construct international airport in Base de Manta
An international airport will work where currently Base de Manta is, after the North American troops leave the facilities in November. With a new terminal they try to turn Manta into the entrance of the Asian Basin toward Latin America and vice versa. For this purpose, they looked for Chinese airlines as strategic partners to take charge of the project management, due to this to assure the flow of flights to Manta.

LAN Ecuador officially began operations
LAN Ecuador began officially operating domestic flights from today, with seven frequencies from Monday to Tuesday, between Quito and Guayaquil. The US$29 one-way flight tickets will be promoted through its web site, as well for the Quito-Guayaquil route as for Guayaquil โ€“Quito. In addition, people that accede to this discount by the purchase of one ticket will accumulate 25% of LANPASS kilometers.

COLOMBIA
Avianca increases flights for Easter
Avianca adds a total of 168 connections to national and international destinations of major request during Easter. In this way, from Friday 3th and Monday 13th of April, the passengers will have at their disposal about 20.000 additional seats.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Temporary closing of Viedma Airport

ARGENTINA
Temporary closing of Viedma Airport
Until 14th of April the Gobernador Castello Viedna Airport will remain closed for all kind of operation because of maintenance works in the maneuvers area. Its operations will be transferred to the Bahiฬa Blanca Airport.

LAN with self check-in service in Jorge Newbery Airpark of Buenos Aires
Using a new service of kiosks supplied by AA2000 located in Sector A, LAN set the self check-in service up in Airpark. LAN not only has a Web check-in service in Lan.com, but also the Kiosk allows the passengers to choose their seat, to print a boarding card and to save time by dispatching the luggage in an agile way.

TAP with new flights to Buenos Aires via TAM
The flights to Brasilia will also have connection to Buenos Aires in code shared with TAM, to offer three points of connection between Brazil and The Argentinaยดs capital.

FSA will construct four hotels
First South American Investment announced that four new hotels will be constructed in Argentina: in Buenos Aires, Mendoza and in the southern and northern locations of the country. Also, it added a project of the first class offices where US$ 15 million will be invested in a corporative hotel destined to cover the need of accommodation for the local companiesโ€™ employees.

Esplendor Savoy Rosario opened its door
The Fen Hotels chain invested US$4 millions in the redesign of the old Savoy Rosario hotel. The new establishment was reopened with the name of Esplendor Savoy Rosario and added to two last Fen Hotels inaugurations in Buenos Aires and the first hotel that was opened in Asuncioฬn, Paraguay.

Amerian opens new hotel
With a US$15 millions investment, Amerian chain opened a new hotel in San Luisโ€™ suburbs. The establishment, higher than four stars, has 50 rooms. For 2010American has other two openings programmed in Neuqueฬn and Rio Hondo (Santiago de Estero).

BOA carried out its first commercial flight
Yesterday, after having accomplished its permission to do commercial operations, Boliviana de Aviaciones carried out the first flight. The inaugural flight between La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz was done on Sunday and yesterday the commercial operations began with a fee lower in 10 percent than that determined as reference. In the next days the frequency will increase to three daily flights.

PERU
Peru will be promoted through Facebook, Youtube, Flickr and Twitter
Peru undertakes a new promotional strategy where its tourist attractions have presence on the main virtual social networks like Facebook, Youtube, Flickr and Twitter filling the vast information in the official site of tourist promotion for the exterior of PromPeru.

TACA began direct flights to Havana
TACA began its flights to Havana, Cuba, with three weekly flights. The passengers of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, alongside Peruvians will be benefited by this flight that is projected as one of the favorites in order to access to this tourist destination by excellence.

Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham among 25 best trips in the world by train.
The International Railway Travelers society published a list considering the 25 best trips in the world by train. Peru is presented by the Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham, the first one travels the route between Cusco and Puno and the second one travels the route between Cusco and Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu). In order to create this list, the organization was based on the experiences of writers, publishers, members and staff of the IRT.

Sonesta five stars hotel will be inaugurated
In July, the Colombian GHL chain will inaugurate the Sonesta Savoy five stars hotel located in La avenida el Sol, in Cusco. Last year the chain bought the Savoy Hotel through Joint Venture with the intention to convert it into a Sonesta category hotel and operate it. The chain invests more than US$ 4 million in the redesign of the hotel. Although the exterior of the building is maintained, inside everything is being modified.

ECUADOR
Ecuador is among the eight best educational destinations
Ecuador was chosen among the eight best educational destinations to be visited in the world. One of the characteristic that was considered in the evaluation was the fact that the country has four worlds (regions): Coast, Andes, Amazon and Galapagos, which allow an exotic exploration in a short time. The selection is made by Discovery Student Adventures within its new world program of educative trips.

Iฬcaro will fly from Manta to Galapagos
Iฬcaro will cover The Manta-Galapagos route and vice versa during Easter. At this moment in time, the day and the time of the charter flight are coordinated.

Tame will increase frequencies
Tame is analyzing to add a new frequency (at noon) to Guayaquil and a flight to Macas in the mid afternoon. In addition, it plans international flights on the Cuenca-Piura route that is a pending project since a time ago. The three frequencies will be accomplished by the incorporation to the fleet of the three new Turbo Propeller airplanes. The first will arrive to Cuenca in June.

LAN negotiates code shared with Tame to fly to Galapagos
6th of April, LAN Ecuador will begin its domestic flights in the country, beginning the same ones in the route that joins Quito to Guayaquil. Being authorized to enter Galapagos with a daily flight, it also negotiates with Tame to establish agreement of code shared in that destination. Due to this, the airline could commercialize the route, but the flights would be carried out in a Tameยดs airplane.

CENTRAL AMERICA
Travelers with USA visa and Europeans of the Schengen space will be able to travel freely
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua will allow the free transit of travelers who have USA, Canada visa or European countries that integrate the Schengen space. This measure will be applied to the four members of CA-4 group and will benefit travelers from about 70 countries.

MEXICO
Carnival anticipates decrease in Mexican destinations
Carnival Corp. waits for a slight decrease of its business in destinations to Mexico during 2009, due to the global economic recession. The company had a loss of 15% in its Caribbean routes in the two first months of the year, meanwhile in the Pacific the same levels of 2008 are kept.

Air Comet will begin operations in Benito Juarez Airport
The next months, Air Comet will arrive to the facilities of Benito Juarez International Airport of the Mexico City. The arrival of the airline is due to bilateral agreements that exist between Mexico and Spain and as well as to the capacity that the airport has mainly in Terminal 2.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
CAP Cana announces the construction of two hotels
Cap Cana announced the construction of two new hotels of luxury next to the AmResorts International company in its facilities in the east of the Dominical Republic, for that purpose, an investment of more than โ‚ฌ147 millions will be destined. The Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts and Pure Secrets Resorts & Spa Hotels will be finished at the end of 2010 and they will be located in two privileged places.

Tourism this week in Latin America

LATIN AMERICA
Taca in code sharing agreement with Lufthansa
Taca launched two code sharing flights with Lufthansa in the Frankfurt-Caracas-Lima and Frankfurt-Miami-San Salvador route, round trip.

LATIN AMERICA
Taca in code sharing agreement with Lufthansa
Taca launched two code sharing flights with Lufthansa in the Frankfurt-Caracas-Lima and Frankfurt-Miami-San Salvador route, round trip.

Hilton will construct 200 establishments in the region
Hilton Hotels will construct about 200 new hotels and resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to an official announcement of the chain, the accommodations will be located in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Panama. The Brazilian market will be the main focus of the developments planned by the company in the region, with projects in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Manaus, Recife, and Goiania.

ARGENTINA
Argentine Airlines increases flights between Buenos Aires, Trelew and Esquel
Argentine Airlines and Austral increase their flights during May, June and July between Buenos Aires, Trelew and Esquel. There will be 14 weekly frequencies to Trelew and three to Esquel in May and June. 17 frequencies will be during the first week and five during the second week of July. Last year Trelew had eight weekly frequencies in May, 10 in June and 12 in July, whereas Esquel had only one weekly flight in May and none in June and July because of the eruption of the Chaiteฬn volcano.

Canceled code sharing agreement with Air Comet
Airlines will not be accepting any tickets emitted by Air Comet from the 5th of March. The airline has decided to cancel the code sharing agreement and share that was maintained until recently with Air Comet.

LAN with 7 weekly frequencies between Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires
LAN Argentina will operate 7 daily flights between Buenos Aires and San Pablo from the 19 of April. Until this moment, the airline operates every day except on Sundays. A New flight, the 4552, will leave from Buenos Aires to arrive at the airport of Guarulhos in Sao Paulo.

Sol Lineas Aereas with daily flight to Montevideo
Sol Lineas Aereas began the 2009 with the incorporation of the fourth airplane Saab 340, at the same time itยดs advancing in the acquisition of the two Boeings 737 of 120 seats. In addition, it added a new daily Montevideo – Buenos Aires – Montevideo flight.

Andres Lineas Aereas with more flights to the interior
Andres Lineas Aerias added a new daily frequency between Buenos Aires and Salta, with a stop in Cordova, and one flight that will do a stop three times a week in Iguazuฬ. Nowadays, it also flights in regular form to Jujuy, Tucuman and Puerto Madryn. The company has three MDโ€™s with capacity of 165 passengers.

Bair Fly flies to Rio Cuarto
Bair Fly already flies between Buenos Aires and the Cordovan city of Rio Cuarto. In this way, the flights, which had been suspended in 2004, will be resumed between both cities.

Train to the Clouds initiates season 2009
The 1st of April the Train to the Clouds will begin its 2009 season. Its departures are programmed for Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The train, which goes up until the 4.200 mts of altitude, presents a renewed service on board, modification in the regime of meals and unification of prices for national and foreign tourists.

CHILE
Sky Airlines agrees with Pluna
Sky Airlines agreed with Pluna to allow the passengers of the latter to fly to tourist destinations of Chile like Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt.

BRAZIL
Tam will fly to Johannesburg in the second semester
Tam will fly to Johannesburg, South Africa, in the second semester of 2009. Among the plans of the airline are return to fly โ€œthe triangularโ€ rout, which was popularized years ago by Paraguayan Airlines, that united Lima, Buenos Aires and Asuncioฬn.

America Airlines will reduce the flights to the Northeast in low season
American Airlines will reduce the special offer of flights to the Northeast of Brazil from the 8 of April, which is considered a period of the low season. The daily operated flights to Recife and Salvador will be operated five times a week until the 14 of June, the date in which they will retake the daily flights. Also, the seasonal flight to Rio de Janeiro will stop operating, which will be resumed in high season. With these changes, the AA offer in Brazil will be reduced by 17%.

PERU
Star Peruฬ with new routs
Continuing with its plan of extension and fleet renewal with more BAe 146 airplanes, Star Peruฬ inaugurated its new Lima- Puerto Maldonado route with a stop in Cusco, and will begin the Lima-Pisco-Cusco-Lima route by the second semester of this year. Moreover, the airline also plans to cover the route to Juliaca and unite it with Cusco.

Accord will open Novotel in June
Accor will open a four-star Novotel hotel in June, located in front of the Commercial Center in San Isidro (Lima). The project, which cost US$ 15 million, will have a capacity for 210 rooms, halls of meetings and a Spa. It is anticipated that its inauguration will be in the second semester of 2009.

Paracas Hotel will be reopen in September
In September the chain of the Libertador Hotels of Peruฬ will reopen its hotel located in the bay of Paracas, the five star category hotel with a new infrastructure, whose price is US$ 30 million. The reopening of the Resort & Spa Libertador Paracas Hotel will be a soft opening that will allow them to evaluate the service of the hotel as well as the new characteristics of the market.

ECUADOR
Changes in the domestic market of aviation
LAN began to compete with Tame, Aerogal, Iฬcaro, Saeฬreo and VIP. The LANยดs operation will begin in the Quito-Guayaquil route, the most valued by the airlines. For this reason, LAN will have two Airbus 318 for 120 passengers. In May, another airplane will arrive for the Quito-Cuenca and Guayaquil-Cuenca routes.

COLOMBIA
Cartagena among the best bays of the world
Cartagena was included in the list of the beautiful bays of the world that elaborates an international club with its headquarters in France, revealed the authorities of the city. The entrance will take place in the V World Congress of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, summoned for the middle of May in the Portuguese city of Setuฬbal.

GUATEMALA
Mayas Routes will be the new tourist product
Guatemala launched the โ€œMayan Peopleโ€ program of ethnic tourism that includes three new routes: Mayan Universe, Mayan Calendar, and Mayan Dualism. The objective of this initiative is to allow visitors to go deeper into the Mayan culture, knowing not only monuments that this civilization left, but also how their descendants are living. The three routes are operated by members of indigenous communities.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JetBlue will fly between Santo Domingo and Boston
Starting in June, JetBlue will start non-stop flights in the Santo Domingo-Boston route from the airport of the Las Americas. The flights will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and will be daily during the high season of winter.

CUBA
Exposes replicas of Louvre in Havana
The exhibition โ€œImages of the Louvre: Six centuries of European paintingโ€ gathers the main works of the European painting of the XIII and XIX centuries, which are exhibited to the public outdoors on the gates of the Force Castel in Old Havana. The exhibition consists of 101 photographic reproductions that include โ€œThe Giocondaโ€, of Leonardo da Vinci, and the โ€œAltarpiece of the French Parliamentโ€, of Dreaux Budeฬ, among others. The picture that was brought to Cuba after being exhibited in The Dominican Republic will be shown until the 18 of May.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Argentine Airlines increases flights to the South

ARGENTINA
Argentine Airlines increases flights to the South
Between the 1 of May and the 31 of July, Argentine Airlines and Austral will increase their frequencies to Ushuaia to thirty five weekly operations, whereas in the same time Grande River will receive ten weekly frequencies.

Buquebus with WiFi on board
Buquebus already has the wireless service of Internet in its ship Juan Patricio, which will also allow to improve the signal of cellular telephony and even to use the Skype system during the travel. This free service of wireless Internet is offering in Montevideo-Buenos Aires-Montevideo direct line and permits its clients to work comfortably on their personal computer, while the travel is developing.

Fen Hotels with new facilities in Buenos Aires
Fen Hotels inaugurated the Dazzler Tower Maipu and Splendor Palermo Hollywood, boutique style of avant-garde design of the chain that opened its doors the first of March. The building of eight floors arranges 21 Concept rooms totally equipped and with wi-fi connection without additional cost. The Dazzler Tower Maipu has ninety spacious Classic rooms

BRAZIL
Azul prepares its arrival to Rio de Janeiro
Although there is not yet specific date, the airline announced its arrival to the Santos Domunt Airport, where it will perform one of its hubs of distribution.

Delta Airlines with direct flights from Atlanta
From the first of July to the fourteenth of August, Delta Air lines will have three weekly direct flights Recife-Atlanta and three weekly flights Fortaleza-Atlanta. In addition, it will unite Atlanta and Brazil from the 17 of December, with a Boeing 757, three times per week. The Airline confirmed that the 21 of may will begin direct flights from Sao to Los Angeles.

BOLIVIA
BoA anticipates to begin commercial flights the 20 of March
Bolivian of Aviation would initiate its operations from the 20 of March after the Superintendence of Transport grants the Certificate of Commercial Operator. It is anticipated that its inaugural flight is the next 19 of March and begins the commercial operations the following day. The first flight would be La Paz-Cochabamba-La Paz route.

AeroSur includes Miami-Cochabamba direct flights
AeroSur now includes direct flights from Miami to Cochabamba. This new service will allow the users to save time, avoiding scales and will give the greater distinction to the International Airport of Cochabamba, Jorge Wilsterman, because a direct connection with one of the most important airport of the world is establishing.

Copa requests authorization to flight to Santa Cruz
Copa Airlines asked for authorization to operate to Bolivia. That request, that aspires to cover the route Panama-Santa Cruz-Panama, will be considered in a date not yet defined in a public audience.

PERU
Fourth hotel of Casa Andina in Miraflores at the end of the year
The chain of hotels Casa Andina will invest US$ 10 millions in its plans of expansion during the 2009. This include the construction of the new Casa Andina Classics hotel (three stars), that would be its fourth hotel in Miraflores. The new Andean House Classic will offer 160 rooms in 11 floors. The inauguration is planed to be within a year.

Five stars hotel will be constructed in Ucayali with US$ 4millions investment
Inversiones Turiฬsticas de la Amazoniฬa will assign US $ 4 millions to the construction of the five stars Ucayali River Hotel in Pucallpa city. The hotel will have 101 rooms in its more than 3000 m2. In it initial stage it will open 68 rooms, among which it will count on eight suites and one presidential suite. Moreover, the large room equipped for 500 people, business center, restaurant, casino, swimming pool in the terrace, among others services.

Lambayeque will have its first museum of religious art
The district of Monsefuฬ in Lambayeque will have its first museum of religious art that will be equipped in the complex of the church San Pedro. The museum will have an exposition hall to exhibit the attire and the vestments of the Captive Lord of Monsefuฬ, the patron saint of this zone, and a special room for the exhibition of his jewels. The investment of the project ascends to S/. 125. 000.

The Lima-Huanuco-Lima tourist train will leave twice per month from April
From April and to November, the Lima-Huanuco-Lima tourist train will increase from one to two its frequencies of trips every month, being its next departure for Friday 20 of March. In April the departures will be Thursday 9 and Friday 24.

ECUADOR
UNESCO analyzes the possibility to remove Galaฬpagos out of heritage in danger
UNESCO is studying the possibility to remove or not Galapagos out of the Heritages in Danger list, this, after analyzing the last report that Ecuador sent on the undertaken actions to improve its conservation. The luck of the Ecuadorian archipelago will be defined the 18 of June during the meeting of the Heritage Committee in Sevilla, Spain. There the Representatives of the 21 one countries members, among them Brazil and Barbados representing Latin America, will evaluate if Ecuador adjusted to the recommendations to take better care of their main natural heritage.

COLOMBIA
Lan prepares its arrival to Cartagena
LAN Peru will begin direct flights, Wednesday and Sunday, between Lima and Cartagena the 29 of April, for which it has already advanced in the preparation of its operations in the Rafael Nunฬƒes airport

MEXICO
Hotel opens within hospital
A private hospital of the Mexico City have inaugurated in its facilities a Holiday Inn in order to attend the called medical tourism, travelers who visit the country in order to perform some surgery or treatment. The hotel has 72 rooms and has as main goal to provide a new additional service for patients and relatives who require staying in this hospital center. The facilities of the hotel are between fifth floor and seventh of the third tower of the building, located in the south of the Mexican capital.

Mexicana Inter began domestic flights
Recently, Mexicana Inter began operations attending the Mexican domestic and regional market. The company, subsidiary of Mexicana Group- which controls the Mexicana de Aviacioฬn and Click-, will fly, in the beginning all its routes from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta, Torreon, Veracruz, Monterrey, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juarez, Mazatlan and Tampico, among others destinations.

Aeromexico announced growth of its fleet
Aeromexico informed that, during the current year, will maintain its strategy of expansion and investments, for this reason, during the next six months, its Aeromexico Connect regional line will receive 7 airplanes Embraer 145 with capacity of 50 passengers, with these airplanes the company will offer service to 12 national routes and cover 48 destinations in the country.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
New tourist signaling launched in Buenos Aires

ARGENTINA
New tourist signaling launched in Buenos Aires
The new tourist signaling at the Av. de Mayo area, developed under the Plan of Prioritization and Diversification of Provision of Tourist Services considers the relocation and installation of signposts in 12 areas in the capital: San Telmo, Montserrat, La Boca, Av. de Mayo, Puerto Madero, Flores, San Nicolaฬs, Plaza San Martiฬn-Retiro, Recoleta, el Abasto, Belgrano and Barracas.

Buenos Aires consolidates as a “reproduction tourist” destination
In recent years, the number of people has increased who arrive in Buenos Aires to follow assisted reproduction treatments. The demand is so high that many local operators are already offering packages for “reproduction tourists” that include visits to glaciers and the Iguacฬงu Falls.

Club Hoteles Boutique de Calidad adds new members
This season, The BBH, the first Club Hoteles Boutique de Calidad in Argentina, admitted the following establishments as new members: Krista Hotel Boutique in Buenos Aires (December 2008), La Casa de Eugenia in San Martiฬn de los Andes, Estancia El Colibriฬ in Coฬrdoba, and House of Jasmines in Salta (January). The latest admittance was Correntoso Lake & River Hotel in Villa La Angostura, Neuqueฬn, so far totaling 15 members of Best Boutique Hotels.

BRAZIL
Gol installed self-check-in terminals in Sao Paulo and Rio
Gol installed self-check-in kiosks at the Garulhos (Sao Paulo) and Galeao/Tom Jobim (Rio de Janeiro) international airports. The service is available to domestic flight passengers with or without luggage. Check-in should be completed up to 30 minutes before flight departure.

BOLIVIA
BoA one-step away from start-up
BoA is just one step away from starting operations in Bolivia, now that it has been granted the Air Operator Certification by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation. The airline is completing the last administrative proceedings with the Superintendence of Transport to get the final permit โ€“the Commercial Operation Certificationโ€“ to start actual operations in the country.

PERU
The Amazon River ranks first in the 7 Natural Wonders contest
The Amazon River climbed up to the top in Group E of the contest that will choose the world’s Seven Natural Wonders, according to the last ranking published by the New 7 Wonders Foundation. The Amazon โ€“whose candidacy is shared by Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and the French Guianaโ€“ had remained second for one month.

Lake Titicaca floating islands to be cut back from 50 to 30
The floating islands will be reorganized and will be trimmed back from 50 to 30, so that tourists could be better catered to. Each island receives between 500 and 800 tourists a day; however, some of them have a very small population and can provide but poor service to visitors, if at all. Only the largest ones and those with more families will continue receiving tourists.

New services by Libertador Hotels
Libertador Hotels has novel and exclusive products for its guests: a luxury yacht that will set sail from La Punta until the opening of Hotel Libertador Paracas in September 2009 โ€“then the yacht (a catamaran) will set sail from Paracas; a 12-passenger plane to fly over the Nazca lines, which will depart from Pisco; and finally, a private 8-passenger plane exclusive for the guests of this chain, that will fly between the various destinations where Libertador hotels are located.

A 5 star hotel built at Pimentel Beach
With a US$ 500,000 investment, a 54-room 5 star hotel has been finished at the Pimentel, Lambayeque beach. The establishment has a gourmet restaurant, suites with Jacuzzi, and terraces with rooms, among other services.

qp Hotels to open five hotels in Peru by 2013
qp Hotels plans to open 5 boutique hotels in Peru by 2013. The hotel chain may already have confirmed a first project in Arequipa and may be assessing future projects in such cities as Trujillo and Lima (Miraflores).

COLOMBIA
Avianca to start direct flights from Cali and Medelliฬn to Panama
Avianca is completing administrative proceedings to establish direct flights from Cali and Medellin to Panama to offer โ€“via its affiliate Samโ€“ new flight options to travelers from Antioquia and Valle del Cauca to Panama and vice versa. Colombian travelers and those from the region will have four daily flights (28 weekly links) available via Avianca-Sam between Colombia and Panama City. These new flights will be served by a Fokker-100.

MEXICO
Mexico among world’s favorite destinations
In 2008 Mexico was chosen as one of the favorite destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists. According to a survey conducted by Despegar.com and data from the Council for Tourist Promotion, Mexico is preferred by 30 percent of all world’s travelers, especially Cancun, followed by the United States with 21 percent, where New York and Las Vegas are the cities with highest demand; Central and South America (17 percent), and Europe (13 percent).

Air Comet to fly to DF starting June 15
Effective June 15, Air Comet will start operating its new Madrid-Mexico route on a daily basis, thus broadening its network towards Latin America.

CUBA
Havana to host the MITM Americas 2009
The 15th MITM Americas, Meetings and Incentive Travel Market, will be held in Havana, Cuba, on November 18 and 19. Purchasers invited to the MITM are European “hosted buyers” of incentives and meetings. MITM will keep its successful format of pre-requested and pre-arranged individual meetings between exhibitors and purchasers, continuing its small-show concept, focusing on quality rather than on quantity, and equating the number of purchasers to that of exhibitors. US purchasers will also attend the event, despite being held in Cuba.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
GPS helps tourists cross Patagonic zone

ARGENTINA
GPS helps tourists cross Patagonic zone
An innovative project is put into practice to cross the Patagonic zone. It is a system with tourist topics of interest for GPS platforms and is acquired with a chip in the car rental companies, through which alternative routes and non-traditional trips are offered without tourist guides to be in the region.

There are already 65 hotel boutiques in Buenos Aires
There are 65 hotel boutiques in Buenos Aires and in the future three more will be inaugurated during this year. 27 of them are located in Palermo, 15 in San Telmo and the rest among Las Caรฑitas, Nuรฑez, Recoleta, Monserrat, Almagro, Balvanera, La Boca, Boedo and Belgrano

URUGUAY
Among the 20 best places for 2009, according to Condรฉ Nast Traveller
Uruguay is in number 16, together with destinies like Amsterdam, Chile, Chicago, Madagascar, Malta, Panamรก, Vietnam, among others .It was done an excellent description of the country. The publication describes it as the smallest Spanish speaking country, as well as the safest in Latin America.

BRAZIL
Tourists will have preferential treatment during the 2009 edition of the Rio Carnival
Tourists who are located in Sector 9 of the Rio Sambadrome during this year’s carnival will have all the comforts needed to enjoy the parade of samba schools. 60 bilingual professionals will be in the place to receive the 719 thousand tourists expected for the event. It is expected earnings of US$521 million only from the movement of visitors in the city during the carnival.

TAM asked for new frequencies to Chile and Uruguay
The National Civil Aviation agency is evaluating 7 new frequencies to Chile and 14 to Uruguay as well as a third one related to the addendums to the shared codes agreements signed with LAN Airlines and LAN Peru.

CHILE
Cruises will leave extraordinary earnings
The arrival of cruises will leave important earnings to its economy. The passengers from ships like “Star Princess” or “Queen Mary II” spend approximately between US$40 and US$70 per day. It is predicted that 39 ships will have arrived until the month of April. “Discovery”, “Celebrity Infiniti”, “Marco Polo I y II” and “Nippon Maru” are considered among them.

Awasi rewarded with the โ€œ2009 Tablet Hotels Selection Awardโ€
Tablet Hotels, world leader in the advice and selection of hotel boutiques, unique and luxurious all over the world, announced that Awasi was rewarded with the “2009 Tablet Hotels Selection Award”. This prize, presented for the first time this year, recognizes Awasiโ€™s excellence in terms of service and infrastructure as well as travellers satisfaction, maintaining consistently a 17 out of 20 in an on line survey for the visitors who have been in that property.

PERU
Does not expect a significant reduction in tourism due to the crisis
In spite of the world economic crisis, Peru does not expect a significant reduction for 2009. Peruvian authorities express optimism about the development of foreign tourism in the country. However, there is a โ€œfearโ€ abroad because there is no certainty about future income.

The Colca Valley received more than nine thousand tourists in January
The Colca Valley received 9,144 tourists in January, a 31 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This important increase in tourism to this area is due to the intensive promotional campaign in order for the Colca Canyon to be selected as one of the seven natural wonders in the world.

COLOMBIA
Foreign tourism increases 100% between 2003 and 2008
Colombia had an average growth rate of 18 percent during the last four years. This percentage meant that the country went from 624,990 foreign visitors received in 2003 to 1.2 million in 2008. It is important to note that there are more visitors to Colombia that come by sea. During the first quarter of 2008, the passengers who came on cruise ships had an increase of 172 percent.

Decameron plans an investment over US$25 million in order to strengthen operations
Decameron will increase the number of hotels in Barรบ, the Atlantic Coast, Cabo de la Vela, the Guajira, Tota, Boyaca, Bogotรก and another one in Mompichen (Ecuador), with a new focus of its Business towards the corporate and Business tourism. The Baru Hotel will be opened in December and will have 330 rooms, a conventions centre with a total capacity of 600 people.

VENEZUELA
Reduces its seats offer for Aruba, Curazao and Panamรก
The Nationa Institute of Civil Aeronautics suspended the issuance of permits to operate non-scheduled flights to destinations such as Aruba, Curacao, Panama or Margarita. The demand of Venezuelan Tourists has turned, for the Carnival season, to places like Cartagena, San Andrรฉs or Santa Marta in Colombia as well as other places in Central America, including Panama.

GUATEMALA
Old Guatemala selected as the Best City in 2009
Old Guatemala was selected as “The Best City of the Year 2009” by the magazine Wanderlust during the London Destination Travel Show fair that ended recently. Old Guatemala won the first prize of its category , beating the city of Kyoto in Japan and the city of Boston in the United States that won the second and third place, respectively, as well as more than 600 destinations from all over the world.

MEXICO
Aeromexico increases its destinations
AeroMรฉxico increased new destinations inside its network of national connections. Flights from Toluca to Guadalajara and Monterrey, as well as from Mรฉxico to Tampico, San Luis de Potosรญ, Ciudad Victoria, Nuevo Laredo, Tuxtla Gutiรฉrrez and Huatulco, Lรกzaro Cรกrdenas, Tepic and Colima will be operated between March and July, through AeroMรฉxico Connect. The company has been offering since the end of January two weekly non stop flights between Las Vegas and Ciudad de Mรฉxico. Two routes have also been inaugurated inside the United States, Denver and San Francisco, and will fly soon to Toronto (Canada).

New IHG hotels
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) reported that it will open this year 21 hotels in the country despite the current economic crisis. This hotels are part of the 62 hotels that the chain is planning to open in the next three years.

CUBA
Hotel Copacabana returns
After having completed the first stage of its current redevelopment with 44 rooms, this hotel is one of the best known hotels for its inspiration in the Brazilian culture and music, and the excellent position in a coastal strip, near the Cuban National Aquarium.

RIU will open a new hotel in 2010
Riu Hotels & Resorts is preparing the opening, expected for the summer of 2010 of a new hotel in Cuba. It will have 1,110 rooms. The Riu Varadero, located in the beach, will offer the ‘All Inclusive by RIU’ service and it will have a main building of one floor and connecting buildings. It will also have theme related restaurants, a ‘lobby bar’, a theatre bar, two ‘snack bars’ in the swimming pools zone and two aquatic bars. The hotels will also have two swimming pools, a childrenโ€™s pool and a solarium terrace.

Tourism this week in Latin America

COSTA RICA
Marriott opened Resort in Guanacaste
Marriott International opened the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa, the fourth Hotel that the Company opens in this country.

ARGENTINA

COSTA RICA
Marriott opened Resort in Guanacaste
Marriott International opened the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa, the fourth Hotel that the Company opens in this country.

ARGENTINA
Aerolineas will add flights to El Calafate
Aerolineas Argentinas will increase the frequency of flights in winter to El Calafate, to 4 or 5 flights per week.

Ushuaia, the main port for cruises in the hemisphere
Ushuaia will have396 operations of touristic cruises, which will make it the main port f this activity in the southern hemisphere. Ushuaiaโ€™s Tourism Secretary mentioned that the main segment of these cruises that operate in Ushuaia is the visit to the Antarctic.

URUGUAY
Tax-free would be put into effect in Montevideo and Colonia starting this month
The Government announced that the Tax Free benefit could start this month. The legislation establishes the tax refund on purchases of Uruguayan products made by foreign tourists. The transaction will be possible to do it in the ports of Montevideo and Colonia. The transaction ticket should be presented and, if the product appears in the list โ€œMade in Uruguayโ€, the discount of the value added tax (22 percent) will be applied.

BRAZIL
US Airways interested on flying to Rรญo de Janeiro
US Airways asked the Department of Transportation the opening of the route between the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Rรญo de Janeiro, even though the beginning of the flight would be the city of Philadelphia. Continental Airlines has already asked for a route that will start on June 1st between Houston and New Orleans with Rรญo de Janeiro, while Spirit Airlines is waiting for the approval of daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and Manaus, which is expected to start in October.

Brasilia will have special bus for city tour
Brasilia will offer, starting in March, a City Tour for local visitors and foreign tourist in an especially equipped two floor bus. The service will be done by Brasiliatur together with the Secretary of Economic Development and Tourism. The circuit will have three routes: the city, the cultural aspects and the nightlife.

BOLIVIA
Lab will include more airplanes
Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) announced the arrival in the following days of the second B727-200 to continue covering the routes inside and outside of the country. The airlineโ€™s General Manager informed that more planes are programmed to arrive in order to attend the routes inside and outsider of Bolivia. LAB started its operations officially last Saturday, after the Superintendency of Transports granted the operations license for five years.

PERU
Mincetur presented the Moche route
The Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism presented in Trujillo the action of plan of the Moche Route, focused on promoting the many tourist attractions of the cities of La Libertad and Lambayeque. The plan, to be implemented in two years, will improve in its first stage the services in the main tourist attractions and will also promote the route at a national and international level.

Huaca Rajada Museum โ€“ Sipan the best in the whole country
The Huaca Rajada โ€“ Sipan Museum, inaugurated last Thursday, is considered the best Site Museum in the country, according to the archaeologist Walter Alva. The cultural centre is located one hundred meters from the site of the Lord of Sipan Tomb discovered in 1987, in the district of Zaรฑa, 40 minutes from Chiclayo.

Casa Andina will remodel the former San Jose Hacienda
In order to convert it into a four or five star hotel, the Casa Andina Hotels chain will start in February and March the remodeling works in the former San Jose Hacienda, in Chincha. These works could be finished by early 2010, and it would be the first high class hotel in the zone in one of the most emblematic coastal haciendas in the country. It will have 65 rooms, which will include 11 suites, in an area of 12 hectares. It will also have a convention centre for 600 people, a swimming pool, two bars, restaurant, spa and gym, among other services.

Sheraton Lima Hotel announced a first level service for the corporate sector
More than 200 refurbished rooms with more comfort and latest technology accessories are some of the most recent changes that the Sheraton Lima Hotel did, according to Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Latin America.

ECUADOR
Loja inaugurated its first Five-star Hotel
The Howard Johnson Hotel is the first Five-star Hotel in the city. It has 7,900 m2 in 11 floors, 73 rooms (44 doubles, 24 simple and five suites), five areas for social events and a terrace with swimming pool. Howard Johnson is operated by GHL Hotels, a chain that has a presence in Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and, in the near future, in Chile.

COLOMBIA
Aerolineas will increase the number of national as well as foreign flights
Civil Aeronautical authorities gave the authorization for routes and frequencies that the national and foreign Airlines asked for in December, 2008, giving green Light to four local Airlines, which asked for connecting routes, at a national and international level, as well as four foreign companies that asked for permission to enter into Colombia or expand its operations inside the country. Avianca received the approval of two new frequencies in the route Bogota โ€“ New York and Sam will be able to fly to Panama from Medellin and Cali. Easy Fly will do the same with flights from Bogotรก to Cali and Pereira, and Aires will be able to operate 14 destinies and 231 frequencies.

Accor announced hotel projects
The Accor Group presented the plans that will develop in Colombia over the next three years, which will make it the first in doing direct investment in the country. The expansion of the Business in Colombia will take place, first, in the construction of five Hotels of the Ibis brand, specialized in the corporate regional and national segment. Two of the Ibis Hotels are already in the construction stage and they are located in Bogota, near the National Museum and in Medellin.

NICARAGUA
Tourist entry Visa is suppressed

The authorities announced the suppression of entry visas for international visitors in its territory in order to promote tourism even more. The announcement was made by Mario Salina, Minister of Tourism and pro tempore president of the Central American Council of Tourism, who emphasized the importance of this announcement in order to promote tourism in the country.

MEXICO
Mexicana launched a new low cost airline
The Ministry of Communications and Transports gave the new concession authorization to operate an airline to Mexicana of Aviation. With a US$ 7 million investment, Mexicana Inter will start operating on March 15th with an expectation of completing 24 routes, announced the General Director of Mexicana. He also informed that the new airline will have a fleet of 13 airplanes of the CRJ-200 type. The operations centre has not yet been defined. Mexicana Inter will cover routes from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta, Torreon, Monterrey, Mazatlan, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juarez, Veracruz and Tampico, the last two without competition in the market. The airline is considered a supplier and not regional, taking into consideration that it will supply passengers to the flights from Mexicana and Mexicana Click.

LATIN AMERICA
Starwood expands
Osvaldo Librizzi, the Corporationโ€™s Regional President reported that it is expected to open a new place in Mexico by the end of the year and another one in Buenos Aires in 2010, estimating that by either May or June a new Hotel of the brand โ€œWโ€ will be inaugurated in Chile. It is also expected the opening of the Westin in Lima, the first in South America. With this first level brand, It is expected to repeat the model in cities like Santiago, Buenos Aires and Brazil. It was also announced the opening of one in Santa Fe, financial destiny in the city of Mexico.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
LAN adds third frequency to Salta

ARGENTINA
LAN adds third frequency to Salta
LAN adds a third frequency to the city of Salta. The flight leaves Aeroparque arriving at the Martin Miguel de Gรผemes Airport. The local manager reported that the morning and even flights are still maintained, and that the service is done by an Airbus 320 with a total capacity for 168 passengers.

Sofitel remodels the Buenos Aires hotel
The Sofitel chain announced an investment of US $ 1.2 million in order to remodel its Sofitel Hotel located in Buenos Aires. The funds were used for the renewal of the gymโ€™s area, which includes the purchase of new machines and Italian equipments. The Hotel also announced that it will return to its membership program for clients in general during this year.

The Mate Museum is born in Buenos Aires
The Nationโ€™s Tourism Secretary presented the Mate Museum, which will be opened in the city of Tigre. The Museum will have a collection of more than three thousand pieces as well as a tour of the history of the Mate, from its discovery until today. The smallest mates in the world will also be exhibited, mates and historical crystal bulbs, books about the mate, old musical instruments with matera pumpkin and other pieces made with mates.

CHILE
Surpasses 300 thousand foreign visits in January
312,000 foreigners have entered Chile during the month of January. This number shows an 8 percent increase compared with the same month in 2008. lo que representa un aumento de 8 percent con respecto al mismo mes de 2008. It is expected that by the end of the austral summer, the Lumber of visits should reach 750,000.

BRAZIL
TAP will link Moscow with Sao Paulo starting in June
TAP will fly five times per week starting in June, linking Moscow and Lisbon with Sao Paulo. This new connection will generate an important increase of Russian tourism to the country.

PERU
Machupicchu will be the scenario for a Werner Herzogโ€™s documentary
Werner Herzog is in Cusco filming a documentary in the Vilcanota River. Herzog reported that Peru is the best country where he has been able to do these movies. This documentary talks about an anecdote that happened in the 70s in the area of Machupicchu.

Bird watching in the Pomacโ€™s Forest
The Historical Sanctuary Pomacโ€™s Forest offers an excellent opportunity for economic progress for Lambayeque with the promotion of the specialized tourism of bird watching. This place concentrates a wide variety of birds that can only be observed in that area. The birds that stand out are the hornero or chilala, the putilla, the chisco as well as the Peruvian cortarrama.

XX Adventure Sports Festival 2009
During February 28th and March 1st, the XX Adventure Sports Festival 2009 will be held in Lunahuana. Canoeing, kayaking, climbing and mountain biking are some of the Sports that will be done in this important event.

Chinese entrepreneurs will Guild a 2000 bedroom hotel
A group of Chinese entrepreneurs would be interested on building a 2000 bedroom hotel in Cusco. If this project becomes a reality, it will be the biggest hotel in the country.

2.5 kilometers of Chan Chan city walls in Trujillo are restored
After a long period of work, 2.5km of the perimeter walls of Chan Chan were restored. In the following months, the restoration works will be done with different projects and budgets in order to maintain the city.

Juliacaโ€™s Carnival will be transmitted live through the Internet
The Juliacaโ€™s Carnival will be transmitted live through the Internet. The website www.andina.pe se will be in charge of transmitting this important event.

Ecuadorean Airline interested on entering the North of Peru
Tourism Galapagos expressed its interest to operate in Peru, mainly in the Northern zones of Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Piura and Tumbes, which are part of the Bi national Technical Committee Peruโ€“Ecuador. The proposal has been taken favorably by the authorities of the Peruvian Technical Committee that work in the tourism sector.

ECUADOR
Guayaquil will have three new luxury hotels
The construction of the new Swissotel Guayaquil will start soon. It will have 35 floors, parking lots, saloons for special events, swimming pools, apartments and everything related to the hotel activity. This Hotel will be the second in the country, because there is one operating in Quito. It will also have a gymnasium, spa and a restaurant. It is considered that with this new hotel, the tourism in this city will increase by 35.5 percent.

COLOMBIA
Macondo will be the new touristic product
The town of Macondo, the place of the famous novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, will be used by Colombia to promote the virtues of the Caribbean zone of the country. The Corporation Tourism Cartagena and the Colombian Association of Authorities of the Colombian Caribbean will present the products Macondo Route and the Natural Caribbean of the Promotional Touristic Fund, during the first semester of 2009. The new product will connect seven departments of that Colombian region: La Guajira, Magdalena, Bolivar, Atlantico, Sucre, Cesar and Cordoba.

REP. DOMINICA
Caribair suspended for infringing civil aero nautical regulations
The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation confirmed the suspension of the airline Caribair for one year due to violations of the law and the Dominican aero-nautical regulations, due to the fact that it did commercial flights like private. The Institute reported that, since the company received its license as an aero nautical operator, it has been suspended up to 15 days and has also been intervened for periods up to 3 months.

MEXICO
Mexicana prepared to land in Spain
Mexicana will arrive in Spain in February 12th with daily flights, operated by its new wide cabin airplanes A330, which continues strengthening its expansion and growth plan, consolidating its presence in the European market.

CUBA
Melia Las Americas leader in golf
Melia Las Americas led the practice of Cuba by concentrating 46.4 percent of the rounds that were placed in the 18-hole camp of Varadero during 2008. In this way the hotel, conceived only for adults from the age of 18 years old, consolidates as an specialist in this demanding segment. Melia Las Americas is the only hotel with direct access to the Varadero Golf Club, an 18 hole camp, Par 72, with 6,269 linear meters (6 856 yards) of path between the first tee or exit and the green 18.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Iguazu Falls receive tourists with an unusual flow of water

ARGENTINA
Iguazu Falls receive tourists with an unusual flow of water
The Iguazu Falls show a higher than usual flow of water due to the intense rains occurring in Brazil. With this additional attraction, the dazzling show that offers the 275 waterfalls in the middle of the jungle has been seen by more than 80,000 people in January.

BRAZIL
TAM with four additional flights per week to Miami
Tam increased the number of flights to Miami, from last Monday until March 1st, in order to serve the increasing demand during high season.

Azul is looking for a higher market share.
In its first year of operations, Azul wants to become the third most important company in the domestic Brazilian market. The low cost strategy will be used against the giants TAM and Gol, that dominate 92 percent of the Brazilian air traffic market.

CHILE
LAN selected as the best airline in Central and South America.
For a third year in a row, the magazine Global Traveller awarded LAN as the best airline in Central and South America. This distinction was given based on the opinion of more than 31 thousand readers of this magazine that took part in the survey to select the best companies in luxury and business trips during 2008.

Sky Airlines would fly to Lima
Sky Airlines would be interested in the route Santiagoโ€“Lima, as an aspiration to start growing, beginning from the neighbouring countries. โ€œArgentina is a possibility and Peru is the natural step of an airline that wants to begin its international operationsโ€, according to the airline.

BOLIVIA
BoA Delays the beginning of its operations
Boliviana of Aviation would not start to operate by the end of January, as it was expected. The arrival of the first B737-300 of the company has been delayed due to administrative problems, which would make it difficult to comply with the initial take-off date. The company is also waiting for the certificate that would certify it as an airline carrier.

PERU
The Inca Trail to Machupicchu is going to close because of maintenance works.
Starting February 1st, the transit through the Inca Trail that leads to Machupicchu will be closed for one month in order to do refurbishment, conservation, cleaning and adequacy to roads works and camps. These works have been done since 2002, according to the Regulations for the Use of the Inca Trail.

The Inca Trail to Sacsahuaman will open to tourists
Starting in February the Inca Trail of the Archaeological Park of Sacsahuaman will be open to tourists. This circuit goes farther than the visit to the monumental zone of Sacsahuaman, which is what is allowed today by the tourist ticket of Cusco. The new aspect of the tour is the visit to the Inca Jail, located in Kallachaca, located more than 3 thousand meters of altitude. There are constructions built in carved stones; precincts forming a ceramic workshop, colcas with burned corn, which shows an evidence of funeral offerings and niches that would have been occupied by mummies.

JW Marriott builds a hotel in Cusco
The JW Marriott Hotel is building a five star hotel in Cusco, which will be located on the ground of the former Saint Augustine Monastery. It expects to start operations at the end of 2010 and it will have 144 rooms, 6 luxury suites, bar , restaurant, meeting rooms, a business centre and a Spa.

The San Agustin chain would open 4 star Hotels in Trujillo and Puno by 2010.
San Agustin Hotels would open to 4 star Hotels in Trujillo and Puno by 2010, as an step of its expansion and consolidation process. There will be a 110 room hotel in Trujillo. During that year, it is expected the construction of a hotel by the shores of Lake Titicaca. Talking about the Hotel in el Chaco La Puntilla , in Paracas (Ica), it is programmed for the beginning of next February and should be finished in July of 2010.

ECUADOR
Quito will host the 2009 Orchids Universal Expo
Starting February 4th until the 8th, the Itchimbรญa Cultural Centre will be the scenario of a fantastic and diversified exhibition of orchids from Ecuador and the World, where there will be delegations from more than 12 countries. The Expo will be open to the public from Thursday February 5th until Sunday February 8th.

COLOMBIA
Aviatur gets into the hotel business
With an investment close to 14,000 million pesos, the company is entering the corporate hotel Business with the construction of its first Avia hotel in the country, the Avia 93. It is going to have 40 rooms, restaurant, a spa and parking spaces. The constructions works have already started and it will be located in the park of the 93 in Bogota.

TACA will star again its flights to Cartagena โ€“ Mompox
Taca announced that it will start, before one month from now, the operation of the route Cartagena โ€“ Mompox, after reaching an agreement of the necessary support for the re opening of the San Bernardo Airport, closed for more than six years.

Estelar began its expansion with a hotel in Arequipa (Perรบ)
Estelar hotel chain began its international expansion with the beginning of the management of a hotel in Arequipa (Perรบ). The hotel, under the name Lago Estelar (Estelar Lake), has 52 rooms, four saloons of special events with a total capacity of up to 1,000 people, a restaurant, 10,000 m2 of green areas, swimming pools and a business centre. The international expansion will continue with the opening of a hotel in Panama, and, in Colombia is expected the grand opening of the Estelar Villa de Oro, the second hotel in the city of Medellin. The opening is expected for May.

REP.DOMINICA
Santo Domingo invests US$ 45 million in a new terminal in Sansouci
US $45 million were invested in the modern terminal of the Port of Sans Souci, which was inaugurated recently, and included the renewal of the Port of Santo Domingo and dredging works.

A new terminal is opened in the Punta Cana International Airport
The newest passenger terminal was opened in the Punta Cana International Airport with a total cost of US$ 9โ€™883,465, distributed between construction and equipment. This is the first airport in Dominican Republic that has installed the โ€œCommon Use Self Supportโ€ system approved by IATA, which will allow the users of the system to choose the airline from a simple kiosk, where they will also be able to print their plane tickets as well as their luggage tags.

MEXICO
Aeromexico could suspend flights to China
Even though a final decision has not been taken, Aeromexico reported that it would suspend its operations to China temporarily starting April 20th.

Mexicana de Aviaciรณn will fly between Mexico and Madrid
Mexicana de Aviaciรณn will start flights between DF and Madrid on February 11th, with a daily frequency both ways. The route will be operated by two Airbus A330with a capacity for 211 passengers, 163 in tourist class and 48 in Elite Class.

CUBA
Hotel Capacity grows in Cayo Coco
The hotel capacity in Cayo Coco, included in the tourist Packaged of Jardines del Rey( The Kingโ€™s Gardens), increased with the opening of a new 320 room hotel. The Blue Bay Balconies, owned by the Gaviota Group, shows the introduction of the Spanish company Hotetur in the region. It has a four star category and has 154 suites, distributed in two floor bungalows, besides other recreational facilities. In this way, this destiny has now 3,900 rooms, distributed among 13 hotels and villas.

Tourism this week in Latin America

BRAZIL
Florianopolis, third best gay destination

BRAZIL
Florianopolis, third best gay destination
Florianopolis is considered the third best Brazilian destination for gay tourists. Such places as Mole Beach or La Galheta Beach are becoming well-known spots by gay tourists from around the world for good reasons โ€“the prevailing open-minded attitude among locals and the array of services offered are some of them. There are exclusive nightclubs, nude beaches and gay-friendly hotels like Eco Vila. Even the most exclusive establishments โ€“such as the Majestic Palace hotel downtown- is also tearing down some walls.

TAM started new on-board service for international flights
TAM started its new international on-board service called โ€œBrazil Aboardโ€. The delicacies first-class passengers can now enjoy include crab salad with tapioca biju and cheese mousse, as well as marajoara chicken served in a miniabรณbora with white rice and broccoli. End your meal with a trio of local desserts: quindim, some creamy coconut cake, and sweet of milk.

TAM launched TAM Brazil Airpass and TAM South America Airpass
On January 1st TAM started selling the 2009 version of TAM Brazil Airpass and TAM South America Airpass. With them, passengers who donโ€™t live in Brazil, including Brazilians living abroad, will be able to travel to a number of destinations in Brazil and South America paying discounted rates. To get TAM Brazil Airpass, passengers have to buy an international air ticket from any place outside Brazil to any Brazilian city. TAMโ€™s promotional pass will be issued as a separated ticket and attached to the international ticket.

TAM to place a Boeing 777-300 in GRโ€”London route
Tam launched its route to the UK with the operation of a new Boeing 777-300ER. Now all flights between Sรฃo Paulo (Guarulhos) and London (Heathrow) will use this airliner with a seating capacity of 365 passengers (63 in executive class and 302 in economy class).

Hilton to open hotel in Salvador de Bahia
Hilton Hotels Corporation signed a multiyear agreement with Grupo IMOCOM to manage a 5-star, full-service Hilton Hotel in Salvador de Bahia. The establishment is 30 km away from the Salvador International Airport and will feature 170 rooms furnished with the new Hilton Serenity Collection of white sheets and mattresses. Other amenities include a gym, a spa, and 280-plus-square-meter shopping area, while business travellers will have available a 743-sq-mt area for business meetings with 6 conference rooms and 2 meeting rooms.

El Carmen Convent considered first historical hotel
El Carmen Convent Hotel, one of the historical icons of Brazil, is one of the finest luxury accommodation and cuisine choices in the city, and is part of the select list of Leading Hotels. The building still keeps its most peculiar feature: silence. Style has also been well preserved. The seventy-nine monastic cells are now rooms with plasma TV sets, among other furnishings, although still with shaded lights, separated by huge, labyrinthine corridors and isolated by 80-cm thick walls โ€“just as in their old days.

PERU
Puno inventoried 96 tourist sites
Lake Titicaca will no longer be the only attraction in Puno โ€“now that 96 spots that have been inventoried as tourist sites in the region. They are located in several provinces: Azรกngaro, Carabaya, Chucuito, Collao, Huancanรฉ, Lampa, Melgar, Puno, Sandia, Moho, Putina, Yunguyo and San Romรกn. The most visited places in 2008 were Lake Titicaca, Los Uros islands, Amantanรญ, Taquile, and the chullpas (high stone buildings) in Sillustani. Llachรณn, Ccotos, Ticonata, Capachica, Atuncolla, are preferred by tourists to spend a few days living with local inhabitants.

Taca to start direct flights Lima โ€“ Havana in March
Taca has announced that starting March 23rd there will be direct flights connecting Lima and Havana three times a week, thus becoming the only airline to join both countries non-stop.

Libertador Hotel remodelling works in Cusco to begin by mid-year
Remodelling works at the Libertador Cusco Inka Palace Hotel โ€“which faces the Santo Domingo Convent and Koricancha Palace- will start between March and August this year, and will take 12 to 15 to complete. Remodelling includes enlarging all rooms, building a spa, and changing furnishings.

ECUADOR
Galapagos considered between top-three must-go destination
The New York Times, in its special publication on travel issued last Sunday, January 11th, included Galapagos Islands as the third most-recommended tourist place for their readers to go in 2009. The publication gives a number of reasons to do so โ€”the bicentennial of British scientist Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the first edition of โ€œThe Origin of Speciesโ€, a book that contains his scientific experiences during his visit to the Islands.

GUATEMALA
Tax on cruise travels suspended
The effectiveness of the US$10 tax charged to cruising tourists was deferred by the government on threats by cruiser owners to exclude Guatemala from the list of destinations. Executives of the cruise industry and government officials met yesterday to reach an agreement on the controversial charge, which was suspended until May 1st, or until an agreement is reached.

MEXICO
Airlines reduced prices by more than half
As a result of decreased number of passengers and excess supply of airplane seats, Mexican airlines have reduced by more than 50 percent their ticket prices to the main national and international destinations. Aeromรฉxico, Mexicana de Aviaciรณn, Volaris, Interjet and Aviacsa are offering discounts as part of their strategy to appeal more customers and increase their income.

CUBA
Barcelรณ opened fourth hotel
Barcelรณ opened Barcelรณ Cayo Santa Maria Beach in Cuba, a 5-star establishment with 624 rooms that will marketed under the Barcelรณ Premium mark. It will be located at seashore of key Santa Maria and will be completed by 2010. It will feature 2,780 rooms, a VIP club, 21 restaurants, 28 bars, 2 theatres, a jazz-cafรฉ, a bowling bar, a conference centre with 27 conference rooms, a 2,200-sq-mt spa -a tourist town stretching over 45,000 square meters dedicated to leisure.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
New boutique hotel in Barrio Norte

ARGENTINA
New boutique hotel in Barrio Norte
Invest Property Group will invest US$10 million in the construction of a boutique hotel in Barrio Norte. The New York based firm announced the beginning of construction of Algodon Mansion, a ten room boutique hotel, which will be inaugurated in 2009. It will have a restaurant, a bar and a spa.

British Airways has daily flights to London
British Airways recently began daily flights from Buenos Aires to London with a layover in Sao Pablo, thus increasing its frequency from 4 to 7 weekly flights as part of its Latin American expansion strategy.

URUGUAY
Pluna begins Asuncion-Montevideo connection
Starting tomorrow, Pluna will operate four weekly frequencies between Montevideo and Asuncion. Flights will last 45 minutes and will operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

PARAGUAY
Asuncion, Capital of Culture
The International Bureau of Cultural Capitals named Asuncion the American Capital of Culture 2009. This designation will have a direct result on the inflow of foreign tourists to the main Paraguayan metropolis.

BRAZIL
Cruise Ship with Pele in the Mediterranean
Costa Cruseros will operate the first international cruise ship to carry a Brasilian soccer celebrity, Pele, onboard. Called โ€œCrusero Pelo โ€“ Sabor de Brasilโ€ (Pele Cruise Ship โ€“ The Flavor of Brazil) and organized in alliance with the Olimpya group, it will travel along the Mediterranean coast from June 28 to July 5, 2009.

CHILE
Viรฑa del Mar to be the venue for the First Bird Festival
The Heritage Unit of the Municipality of Viรฑa del Mar and the Ecotourism Major at the Universidad Andres Bello are preparing for the First Bird Festival in Chile. The event, which will be held from October 30 to November 2, will have venues at Wulff Castle, the head office of the Universidad Andres Bello of Viรฑa del Mar, and the Botanical Garden, and will include talks by well known ornithologists and other professionals in the field, a Bird Watching fair, bird watching routes and guided excursions led by specialists, among other activities.

Chiloe among the most interesting places in the world
The tour guide Lonely Planet named the city of Chiloe as one of the most interesting places in the world for 2009, following the Bay of Fires in Tasmania and Basque Country. Next year Chile will carry out an internationalization campaign in which it will seek to consolidate the provinceโ€™s image.

BOLIVIA
Tourist hostel inaugurated in Pampalarama
The municipality of Pampalarama inaugurated the cityโ€™s ecotourism hostel, located one hour from La Paz. The hostel has ten fully furnished rooms for 20 people, a restaurant, and a lounge.

PERU
Three of the 15 best hotels in South America are Peruvian
In the 21st annual edition of the โ€œReaderโ€™s Choice Awards,โ€ the Hotel Monasterio of Cusco was honored with the number 1 position among the 15 best hotels in South America, and is # 47 in the ranking of the top 100 in the world. The JW Marriot Lima (#9) and the Libertador Palacio del Inca Cusco (#12) are also on the list.

Cusco among the most recommended destinations
Readers of the North American publication Condรฉ Nast Traveler placed the city of Cusco in 6th place among the most recommended destinations to visit in the Americas. First place is held by Buenos Aires, followed by the Canadian cities of Vancouver and Quebec.

Tourist transportation via luxury bus from Puerto Maldonado to Rio Branco
Before the end of the year, thanks to an agreement signed between the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, PromPeru and Ormeรฑo, a two story luxury bus will begin joining Puerto Maldonado with Rio Branco, thus enabling the transfer of tourists between both locations.

Shelters may be opened at the foot of Cordillera Blanca
The provincial municipality of Huaraz is planning to set up shelters at the foot of the Cordillera Blanca in order to promote tourism development as well as facilitate high mountain climbersโ€™ access to the snow-capped mountains. The shelters will have bedrooms, heating systems, restrooms and restaurants; all of them will have the necessary conditions for climbers to stay the night before climbing to the top of the mountain, and they will also facilitate their reunion with their families.

3,000 year-old temple discovered in Lambayeque
Recently, a team of archaeologists discovered an approximately 3,000 year-old ceremonial temple in the town of Pomalca, in Lambayeque. It is a temple of Collud, an archaeological compound made up of a platform around 150 meters wide by 400 meters long, as well as a series of buildings used for religious purposes. The monument has an impressive structure and building technique, as there are no cracks despite its age.

Probable monolith found on pre-Incan trail in Chachapoyas
A monolith, approximately 1.7 meters tall and presumed to have been constructed by the Chachapoyas due to its features, was found by the Peruvian explorer and hiker Felipe Valera Travesi, known as โ€œEl Chaski.โ€ The monolith has engraved images similar to drawings on the mummy wrappings of the Chachapoyas culture. The finding was made in the province of Rodriquez de Mendoza (Amazonas), in the middle of the lush grove on the pre-Inca trail which goes from the city of Chachapoyas to the provinces of Rioja and Moyobamba.

TAM may evaluate beginning flights to Ecuador via Lima
In the short term, TAM Airlines may evaluate beginning flights from Sao Paulo (Brazil) via Lima to Ecuador using 5th freedom rights. If this project is confirmed, TAM would carry out flights with fifth freedom rights, which is the right to commercially transport people or things to and from third party states, but only those flights that begin in the airlineโ€™s country of origin.

REP. DOMINICA
Sol Melia to open Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real
Sol Melia Vacation Club (SMVC) will open a new project, The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana by the end of the year. It will have 190 two-story cabanas with one or two ultramodern rooms, with exotic Balinese beds, private jacuzzi and direct access to the pool. It will offer spa treatments, fitness programs, a golf course, a variety of gourmet restaurants, a casino and nightlife entertainment, among other facilities.

MEXICO
Airport to change clocks for the end of summer time
As of October 26, the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City will turn all its clocks and arrival and departure screens back one hour due to the conclusion of the summer time schedule. The air terminal urged all passengers to do the same with their watches and/or cell phones.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
New boutique hotel in Barrio Norte

ARGENTINA
New boutique hotel in Barrio Norte
Invest Property Group will invest US$ 10 million in the construction of a boutique hotel in Barrio Norte. The New York based firm announced the beginning of construction of Algodon Mansion, a ten room boutique hotel, which will be inaugurated in 2009. It will have a restaurant, a bar and a spa.

British Airways has daily flights to London
British Airways recently began daily flights from Buenos Aires to London with a layover in Sao Pablo, thus increasing its frequency from 4 to 7 weekly flights as part of its Latin American expansion strategy.

URUGUAY
Pluna begins Asuncion-Montevideo connection
Starting tomorrow, Pluna will operate four weekly frequencies between Montevideo and Asuncion. Flights will last 45 minutes and will operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

PARAGUYA
Asuncion, Capital of Culture
The International Bureau of Cultural Capitals named Asuncion the American Capital of Culture 2009. This designation will have a direct result on the inflow of foreign tourists to the main Paraguayan metropolis.

BRAZIL
Cruise Ship with Pele in the Mediterranean
Costa Cruseros will operate the first international cruise ship to carry a Brasilian soccer celebrity, Pele, onboard. Called โ€œCrusero Pelo โ€“ Sabor de Brasilโ€ (Pele Cruise Ship โ€“ The Flavor of Brasil) and organized in alliance with the Olimpya group, it will travel along the Mediterranean coast from June 28 to July 5, 2009.

CHILE
Viรฑa del Mar to be the venue for the First Bird Festival
The Heritage Unit of the Municipality of Viรฑa del Mar and the Ecotourism Major at the Universidad Andres Bello are preparing for the First Bird Festival in Chile. The event, which will be held from October 30 to November 2, will have venues at Wulff Castle, the head office of the Universidad Andres Bello of Viรฑa del Mar, and the Botanical Garden, and will include talks by well known ornithologists and other professionals in the field, a Bird Watching fair, bird watching routes and guided excursions led by specialists, among other activities.

Chiloe among the most interesting places in the world
The tour guide Lonely Planet named the city of Chiloe as one of the most interesting places in the world for 2009, following the Bay of Fires in Tasmania and Basque Country. Next year Chile will carry out an internationalization campaign in which it will seek to consolidate the provinceโ€™s image.

BOLIVIA
Tourist hostel inaugurated in Pampalarama
The municipality of Pampalarama inaugurated the cityโ€™s ecotourism hostel, located one hour from La Paz. The hostel has ten fully furnished rooms for 20 people, a restaurant, and a lounge.

PERU
Three of the 15 best hotels in South America are Peruvian
In the 21st annual edition of the โ€œReaderโ€™s Choice Awards,โ€ the Hotel Monasterio of Cusco was honored with the number 1 position among the 15 best hotels in South America, and is # 47 in the ranking of the top 100 in the world. The JW Marriot Lima (#9) and the Libertador Palacio del Inca Cusco (#12) are also on the list.

Cusco among the most recommended destinations
Readers of the North American publication Condรฉ Nast Traveler placed the city of Cusco in 6th place among the most recommended destinations to visit in the Americas. First place is held by Buenos Aires, followed by the Canadian cities of Vancouver and Quebec.

Tourist transportation via luxury bus from Puerto Maldonado to Rio Branco
Before the end of the year, thanks to an agreement signed between the Brasilian Ministry of Tourism, PromPeru and Ormeรฑo, a two story luxury bus will begin joining Puerto Maldonado with Rio Branco, thus enabling the transfer of tourists between both locations.

Shelters may be opened at the foot of Cordillera Blanca
The provincial municipality of Huaraz is planning to set up shelters at the foot of the Cordillera Blanca in order to promote tourism development as well as facilitate high mountain climbersโ€™ access to the snowcapped mountains. The shelters will have bedrooms, heating systems, restrooms and restaurants; all of them will have the necessary conditions for climbers to stay the night before climbing to the top of the mountain, and they will also facilitate their reunion with their families.

3,000 year-old temple discovered in Lambayeque
Recently, a team of archaeologists discovered an approximately 3,000 year-old ceremonial temple in the town of Pomalca, in Lambayeque. It is a temple of Collud, an archaeological compound made up of a platform around 150 meters wide by 400 meters long, as well as a series of buildings used for religious purposes. The monument has an impressive structure and building technique, as there are no cracks despite its age.

Probable monolith found on pre-Incan trail in Chachapoyas
A monolith, approximately 1.7 meters tall and presumed to have been constructed by the Chachapoyas due to its features, was found by the Peruvian explorer and hiker Felipe Valera Travesi, known as โ€œEl Chaski.โ€ The monolith has engraved images similar to drawings on the mummy wrappings of the Chachapoyas culture. The finding was made in the province of Rodriquez de Mendoza (Amazonas), in the middle of the lush grove on the pre-Inca trail which goes from the city of Chachapoyas to the provinces of Rioja and Moyobamba.

TAM may evaluate beginning flights to Ecuador via Lima
In the short term, TAM Airlines may evaluate beginning flights from Sao Paulo (Brasil) via Lima to Ecuador using 5th freedom rights. If this project is confirmed, TAM would carry out flights with fifth freedom rights, which is the right to commercially transport people or things to and from third party states, but only those flights that begin in the airlineโ€™s country of origin.

REP. DOMINICA
Sol Melia to open Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real
Sol Melia Vacation Club (SMVC) will open a new project, The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana by the end of the year. It will have 190 two-story cabanas with one or two ultramodern rooms, with exotic Balinese beds, private jacuzzis and direct access to the pool. It will offer spa treatments, fitness programs, a golf course, a variety of gourmet restaurants, a casino and nightlife entertainment, among other facilities.

MEXICO
AAirport to change clocks for the end of summer time
As of October 26, the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City will turn all its clocks and arrival and departure screens back one hour due to the conclusion of the summer time schedule. The air terminal urged all passengers to do the same with their watches and/or cell phones.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Tourists to be charged for entry

ARGENTINA
Tourists to be charged for entry
The National Directorate of Migrations announced that it will charge 116 countries for the entrance visa, including the US and Canada, who apply similar measures to Argentineans. It is estimated that the agency will collect around US$12.5 million the first year that the regulation is in effect. The amount collected will be used to modernize the information systems of the immigration offices, and the exact amount will be proportional to that of the other countries.

One boutique hotel inaugurated per month in Buenos Aires
Boutique hotels are increasing along with the peak of foreign tourism in Buenos Aires; a new hotel of this type is opened per month in the capital. Currently, there are 34 boutique hotels in the city, principally distributed in the neighborhoods of Palermo and San Telmo. For the next two years there are eight more currently projected and under construction.

URUGUAY
Pluna and Tam sign a shared code agreement
Pluna signed a shared code agreement with TAM so that both can take advantage of their respective structures and services, and in this way offer a better product to their passengers. The agreement with TAM assumes the acquisition of passengers that can be channeled through TAM to other destinations in Brazil, the US or Europe, and bringing or distributing TAM passengers from these places to Uruguay and the region.

CHILE
Hilton to build in 5 cities
Hilton Hotels will build in 5 cities in Chile through its franchises. The chosen sites are Santiago, Puerto Mont, Concepcion, Calama and Rancagua. The chain is already looking for investors in Chile to establish its brand through franchises.

BOLIVIA
LAB operating again as of October 15
LAB is preparing to start flying again as of mid-October, after having received US$ 2 million from merchants in Cochabamba. The money, which allowed the company to recover the Commercial Operator Certificate, would have been delivered by the leading Enriqueta Imaca.

PERU
Touristic circuit Valle Sur to be promoted to increase attractions
The touristic circuit Valle Sur (South Valley) of Cusco, which covers around 20 km, will be promoted in order to increase the offer of attractions to visit in this department. To this end, five touristic development plans are being prepared to promote other destinations in the department, which include touristic development in the Espinar region with the Suicutambo canyon, the Calca development plan, which is home to Pisac, the largest artisan market in the country, and the promotion of Paucartambo as a natural balcony from which the sunrise can be viewed. The fourth plan covers the Canchis region, which houses the temple to the god Wiracocha, which is projected to be promoted along with the regionโ€™s hot springs. Finally, the fifth plan refers to the region of Quispicanchi, Ollantaytambo, Vilcabamba and the Capac Nan, or Camino Inca project, and will work with the INC.

Pyramid discovered near the archaeological region of Cahuachi
Italian scientists discovered an ancient pyramid near the archaeological region of Cahuachi, in Nazca while analyzing Quickbird satellite images, with which layers of rock and mud were blurred until the base of the pyramid was found. The investigators were able to optimize the quality of the images enough to obtain a detailed view of the base of the pyramid, which is 9,000 m2.

Pre-Inca city discovered in Yaurisque Cusco
An important discovery of a pre-Inca citadel belonging to the Late Intermediate period or the beginning of the Inca stage was made by investigators of the Qhapaq Nan Project of the National Institute of Cusco Culture, in Qโ€™atupata of the Araykalla sector, a farming community in Anyarate, in the district of Yaurisque (Paruro). It is located on the side of the Apu Wanakaure hill, 15 kilometers from the imperial city, on the border of the provinces of Cusco and Paruro, on the Camino Blanca route, which is part of the Andean road system.

HONDURAS
Santa Barbara Airlines suspends flights to Spain
Santa Barbara Airlines temporarily suspended its connections between Spain and Venezuela due to the decrease in traffic resulting from the economic crisis in Spain. The passengers affected by the cancellations will be relocated on flights on other airlines that operate the same routes. The airline operated direct flights between Caracas and the Madrid-Barajas and Tenerife-Norte airports.

Hilton to build hotel in Honduran Caribbean
Hilton announced the construction of a hotel in the Bahia de Tela in the Honduran Caribbean, a region in which a tourism complex is being developed with nation and foreign investment. The Hilton Hotels Corporation project in the Bahia de Tela will be called โ€œConrad Los Micosโ€ as it is located around the Los Micos lagoon in the Tornasal sector of the Atlantida department.

Tourism this week in Latin America

PARAGUAY
Pluna and Taca to begin operations in October

PARAGUAY
Pluna and Taca to begin operations in October
Pluna and Taca will carry out operations to Paraguay beginning in October. Pluna will fly between Montevideo and Asuncion 4 times per week as of Wednesday the 29th. In addition to Asuncion, the airline will make daily direct flights to several cities in Argentina and Brazil, as well as Santiago de Chile. Tacaโ€™s direct flights to Asuncion from Lima (Peru) will begin on December 15.

BRAZIL
Nautical tourism launches website
Nautical tourism now has digital support after the launching of a website dedicated to this branch of the sector. According to experts, the site will provide tourists with information in four languages (Portuguese, English, Spanish and French) about navies, available moorings, coordinates and charts. www.braziltour.com

New soccer museum
โ€œAs marcas do Reiโ€ is the first exhibit housed in the new Soccer Museum which opened its doors yesterday in the Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo, headquarters of the Corinthians club. The exhibit brings together pieces of personal heritage of the star in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Brasilโ€™s first World Cup (1958). The museum is made up of 17 themed rooms and is located under the stands of the stadium in a space of 6,900 square meters.

ANAC authorizes the unification of Gol and Varig
The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) issued prior authorization for the corporate restructuring of its subsidiaries Gol and Varig, thus allowing them to be joined into one single company. The company announced that the restructuring would allow for the optimization of the operational structure of the subsidiaries in order to make services such as operation integration and an increase in the offer more efficient. The Gol and Varig brands will be kept separate by the new company.

CHILE
Government to regulate hotel services by their stars
The new tourism law being discussed by Congress would establish a set of conditions for hotels according to the number of stars that they have. In this way, 5-star hotels would have to have services such as an internet connection, a heated pool and an international restaurant. This law is a complete step forward for the sector.

BOLIVIA
New Air Comet โ€“ Sky Airlines alliance
Air Comet Chile and Sky Airlines signed a commercial and operational agreement. Both companies will work together to strengthen their participation in regional touristic and commercial air transportation.

New airline may begin operating in December
The new state-run airline Boliviana de Aviacion (BoA) will begin operations in December with at least three airplanes, and is planning the arrival of two other aircraft by mid-2009. Next year they plan to have an aeronautical fleet of five airplanes.

Remodeled airport in Cajamarca inaugurated
Remodeling works at the Cajamarca airport were recently inaugurated, consisting in the internal restructuring of the terminal building, and the construction of an entryway guaranteeing safety inside the airport, as well as internal remodeling in order to create better passenger flow and the best signs for the airport.

PERU
Signs in English on touristic streets in Rimac
Soon an aggressive plan for signs in Spanish and English will be carried out in the main tourism points of Rimac. Among the tourists attractions to be given signs are the Paseo de Aguas, Alameda de los Descalzos, Alameda de los Bobos, the Quinta Presa and the viewpoint from San Cristobal hill.

Museums to be built in Sacsayhuaman
Two museums are set to be built soon: the Site Museum and the Popular Art Museum of the American Art Institute, as well as an interpretation center and a tourist services center. The rooms planned for the site museum will display archaeological pieces found in this important historic monument.

Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel receives 5-stars
The Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel now has five stars, thus becoming the first 5-star hotel in Machu Picchu.

LAN Peru may fly to Washington as of January 2009
In the last half of January 2009, LAN Peru may begin direct flights between Lima and Washington, in the United States. The frequency will first be operated four times a week.

COLOMBIA
VAT refund to tourists becomes effective
Tourists visiting Colombia can now request a refund of taxes for purchases made (VAT). Products established under the law are: clothing, shoes, compact discs, crafts, liquor, toys and jewelry. To get the refund, tourists must register with the National Directorate of Taxes and Customs, presenting their passport, entry stamp, migration card or any other entry document.

PANAMA
Among the 50 best
In the latest World Economic Forum (WEF) global tourism competitiveness index, Panama moved up 5 positions, placing it among the 50 best countries in the world in the leisure industry. The categories in which the Central American country had the highest rankings were โ€˜natural resourcesโ€™ (sixth place), โ€˜bilateral air service agreementsโ€™ (eleventh place), โ€˜port infrastructureโ€™ (fifteenth place) and โ€˜hotel pricesโ€™ (twenty-fifth place).

EL SALVADOR
Livingston to begin flights to Italy and vice versa
Livingston will begin flights every 8 days between Italy and San Salvador beginning October 31. The airline will cover a route departing from Milan to Havana, and then to San Salvador, and returning with a direct flight to Milan.

MEXICO
Cancun is best beach destination
The World Travel Awards named the Mexican city the Best Beach Destination in Central America and the Caribbean. This is the fourth time that Cancun has been recognized in this category by the same international organization, which selects its winners through votes cast by travel agency representatives from all over the world.

Cruise ships propose the repeal of tourist tax
The Senate Tourism Commission proposed the repeal of the 56 peso Non-Immigrant Fee (DNI) which would be imposed on cruise ship passengers arriving in the country. According to the Federal Fee Act, the charge was to be made effective as of this past July 1. However, the federal Executive issued a decree on June 30, 2008 to postpone the effective date of this fee due to the clear effect it would have on this industry.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Boca Juniors to build luxury hotel

ARGENTINA
Boca Juniors to build luxury hotel
The sports club Boca Juniors presented the โ€œfirst theme hotel in the world,โ€ named Hotel Boca By Design Suites, whose creation will be carried out by Grupo Solanas. Hotel Boca will be located in the San Telmo neighborhood, and construction will begin in one month. The projected investment is US $15 million.

Indian hotelier to build 5-star hotel in Iguazu
The Indian hotelier, Shristi, will built a 5-star hotel at Iguazu Falls as part of its entrance strategy to the Latin American market. The project will follow eco-sustainable parameters with a state-of-the-art building, thus fulfilling holistic precepts and Indian tradition.

New flights to Rio Gallegos with Lan
Beginning November 1st, Lan Argentina will add three new flights to the Rio Gallegos region. The company will offer four weekly flights, which will depart from the Jorge Newberry airport on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Return flights from the Patagonian terminal will be Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Revolving house is tourist attraction in Cordoba
A revolving house, located in the community of Cordoba, was restored in order to become one of the main tourist attractions in the city. The residence, whose restoration cost US$ 33,000, has a complex mobile system that allows it to turn, an entrance hall with a chimney, three bedrooms, one kitchen and two bathrooms.

First cruise ship arrives in Ushuaia
With the arrival of the cruise ship โ€œMar Australisโ€ in the port of Ushuaia, the new cruise season 2008-2009 was inaugurated in Tierra del Fuego. The ship left from Puerto Navarino, Chile, with 105 passengers and 46 crew members. Among the visitors are South Americans, Australians and passengers from the United States.

URUGUAY
Pluna to have direct flights as of November
Starting in November, Pluna will operate direct flights to all its destinations in Argentina, Chile and Brazil, and on October 29, it will begin its frequencies to Asuncion. Consequently, it will cover 9 daily frequencies over the air bridge with Buenos Aires and one between the Argentine capital and Punta del Este, which will increase to two on weekends. They will also offer two daily frequencies to San Pablo, one to Santiago de Chile, three daily direct flights to Rosario and four to Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Asuncion and Cordoba.

BRAZIL
Daily Rio-Lima flights evaluated
Tacaโ€™s head of sales for Rio de Janeiro announced that the possibility of operating daily flights to Lima and vice-versa is being evaluated due to the 70 percent occupancy registered by the company for flights on this route with a frequency of 4 times per week.

Azul may invest in airports
Azul may consider participating in the construction of a new airport in Sao Paulo and in the privatization of two others. According to the information given, these airports may be Galeao in Rio de Janeiro and Viracopos in Campinas.

Airplanes sold to Montenegro Airlines
Embraer sold an airplane to Montenegro Airlines for US$ 39.5 million. The Brasilian company maintained that the agreement with the Montenegrin airline also includes options for the purchase of another two airplanes. If everything is confirmed, this transaction could reach US$ 118.5 million.

PERU
New publicity campaign launched
โ€œPeru, a living legendโ€ (โ€œPeru, vive la leyendaโ€) is the slogan that PromPeru has launched as part of its new publicity campaign. The new slogan and its development respond to a rigorous field investigation by PromPeru which revealed that the country is positioning itself as being essentially historical, natural and authentic. This campaign will be dispersed throughout the United States, Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

New โ€œInca fishโ€ trail
The Regional Chamber of Cusco will launch a new trail named the โ€œInca Fish Trail.โ€ To make this trail possible, several organizations will join together to carry out the project, which begins in Cuscoโ€™s Plaza de Armas and ends at the Inca Port (Arequipa), and passes through 24 towns in four departments.

Lan Peru connects the country with new routes
Lan Peru implemented new destinations within the country. For example, in June, operations to Tumbes were initiated, in September daily flights to Cajamarca began, and they also covered the Tacna-Cusco route. This means a greater operation than Lanโ€™s operation in Chile. Furthermore, the airline may also be evaluating the possibility of opening a new route between Iquitos and Miami.

ECUADOR
New ecological airport in the Galapagos Islands
The airport on the Galapagos Islands will be transformed into the first ecological air terminal in the world, and will thus reduce the environmental impact on the area declared โ€œin dangerโ€ by UNESCO. For this purpose, an investment of US$ 20 million is planned which will be made by the Argentine consortium Corporacion America, which was awarded a concession for 15 years.

Guayaquil airport to close in November
From the 5th to the 24th of November, from 12 am to 8 am local time, the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport in Guayaquil will suspend its operations due to the complete restoration of the runway and taxiway repairs. Airport authorities have asked for the collaboration and understanding of the operators as well as their clients.

New airport in Guayaquil
The Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development released a favorable report for the implementation of the new Guayaquil airport. The report has been presented after three years of studies in which an automated system of meteorological samples was used. The new terminal will have three runways for simultaneous operation.

Carondelet Palace open Tuesday to Sunday
Visits to the Carondelet Palace can now be made from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 4 pm. During the tour, visitors will be able to enter the different rooms of the house, such as the Banquet Hall, where there are three crystal lamps from Peru. In Carondelet, four guides are in charge of teaching visitors about the charm and secrets of the Presidential Palace. The tour receives groups of up to 20 people, lasts around 45 minutes, and is free.

COLOMBIA
Hyatt arrives in the coffee-producing country
The Hyatt hotel chain will soon begin construction of a complex of almost 350 rooms in Bogota. The hotel complex, which has an investment of approximately US$ 100 million, will be located on Avenida El Dorado, and will have a convention center, a spa, two restaurants and a bar.

Hotel Sheraton inaugurates new tower in Cali
With the goal of doubling its offer, the Four Point Sheraton in Cali will inaugurate its facilitiesโ€™ new tower this week. The organizationโ€™s directors hope that Cali will become a business and tourism sector.

REPUBLIC DOMINICA
New flights from France as of November
Beginning in November, there will be 24 weekly flights arriving to the Dominican Republic from France, announced the countryโ€™s Secretary of Tourism. Of these flights, 22 will be regular and 2 will be charter. The regular flights will be operated by XL Airways, and will depart from the French cities of Lyon, Nantes, Marseille and Paris, and will arrive at the international airports at La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Santo Domingo.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Lufthansa increases frequencies between Buenos Aires-Frankfurt

ARGENTINA
Lufthansa increases frequencies between Buenos Aires-Frankfurt
Beginning October 30, Lufthansa will add a sixth frequency to its flights between Buenos Aires and Frankfurt, representing a 20% increase in its offer. Approximately one year ago, the management of the German airline scheduled direct flights between both cities for the first time.

Cruise season begins in Ushuaia
Approximately 120,000 visitors from all over the world are expected to arrive at Ushuaia aboard cruise ships during the second season 2008-2009, which was inaugurated today in the port of Ushuaia. The season will begin with the arrival of the Mare Australis, the Chilean company which also operates the Via Australis ship. The ships that arrive in Ushuaia every year are divided into 2 groups: those that carry out Antarctic tourism and those that go around the Southern Cone, going from Brasil in the south, along the Pacific to Ecuador, and then returning.

URUGUAY
VAT to be refunded to foreign tourists
Next summer, the government of Uruguay will implement a tax refund for foreign tourists and discounts for Uruguayan tourists in order to promote sales during the summer season. The program will include discounts of 9 VAT points for hotel and restaurant purchases and for car rentals made with credit cards, although the โ€œtax freeโ€ system will only include foreign tourists, the Minister of Tourism explained.

BRAZIL
TAM to fly with A-340 to Milan
TAM announced that as of November, they will fly the Sao Paulo-Milan-Sao Paulo route exclusively with A-340 aircraft, after having operated the route since August with a Boeing 767. The transition up to November will be gradual – beginning September 19 they will fly with 767 or A-330 aircraft, and as of October, with A-340.

TAM signs contract for mobile communications aboard
TAM Linhas Aereas will be the first airline in the Americas to offer onboard mobile phone service on its Airbus A320s, to be provided by OnAir -a joint venture of Airbus and Sita-. A trail-blazing partnership signed with the company will enable TAM passengers to use their cell phones and smartphones in flight — for voice, SMS messaging or emails — on South American routes. The system is expected to begin working in the second half of 2009. The startup of operations will depend on approval by the National Agency of Civil Aviation (Anac — Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil) and the National Agency of Telecommunications (Anatel — Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes), as well as the adjustment of legislation that only authorizes cell phone use when the aircraft is on the ground and the doors are open.

American Airlines to fly to 3 new destinations in November
In November, American Airlines will add three new Brazilian destinations to its network of routes: Salvador, Recife and Belo Horizonte. The flights will depart from its hub in Miami. On November 2nd, daily flights will begin to Salvador and Recife, while flights to Belo Horizonte will begin three times a week on the 4th.

PANAMA
Air France-KLM to extend frequency of flights to 5 per week
Air France-KLM announced yesterday that as of December 1st it will increase the number of weekly flights between Amsterdam and Panama from three to five.

PERU
Underground passage discovered in Chavin de Huantar
In a plaza of the archaeological complex of Chavin, an underground passage where offerings were made was discovered. Three weeks ago, it was discovered that the circular plaza did not have an even surface, and on one of the sides an opening was discovered that connected to an underground path which measures 2 by 3 meters and has a stairway made up of five stone steps that descends down to a depth of 2 meters. The path connects to the Mosna river and is approximately 400 meters long. A large amount of broken ceremonial ceramics have been discovered, as well as animal and human remains and a small sampling of metals.

ECUADOR
Travel Mart Latin America in Quito
Last week โ€œTravel Mart Latin Americaโ€ ended in Quito with the participation of more than 850 touristic businesspeople from all over the world. The organizers estimated that during the fair approximately US$ 40 million in foreign currency was generated for the country for the next 15 months.

COLOMBIA
Continental Airlines opens Bogota-Houston flight
Faced with the crisis caused by the increase in fuel costs, the North American airline will close 15 destinations, among them the Cali-Houston route. However, the company arranged to open a direct flight from the Colombian capital to the United States.

MEXICO
Cruise ship passengers to pay taxes
Cruise ship passengers arriving at Mexican ports will begin paying the US$ 5 tax beginning on October 1st. This tax will be paid to the municipalities which receive cruise ships, who will receive 90 percent of the income, while the remaining 10 percent will go to the National Institute of Migration.

Tourism this week in Latin America

LATIN AMERICA

Marriott International announces four new hotels for its Latin America region

LATIN AMERICA

Marriott International announces four new hotels for its Latin America region
Marriott International has announced five new hotels for its Latin American region, spanning its upscale Marriott, moderate-priced Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn for extended-stay travelers brands. The hotels are: 135-room Courtyard by Marriott Guayaquil, Ecuador, opening in 2008; 138-room Courtyard by Marriott Paramaribo, Suriname, opening in 2008; 144-room Courtyard by Marriott San Pedro Sula, Honduras, opening in 2010; and 160-room Cuzco Marriott Hotel, Peru, opening in 2010.

ARGENTINA

AeroSur begins flying between Tucuman and Santa Cruz
AeroSur began flights between Tucuman and Santa Cruz de la Sierra Bolivia, from which passengers will be able to fly to Miami or Madrid. In addition to those destinations, it will be possible to make connections to continue on to Bolivia, Panama, and the cities of Bogota, Lima, Cusco, Asuncion and Sao Paulo.

CHILE

LAN presents new Premium Economy class
LAN has developed a new class for its passengers traveling on regional flights beginning September 15. The โ€œPremium Economyโ€ class will offer more space in the cabin and will prioritize time efficiency during the different legs of the trip. Among the advantages, besides check-in through LAN.com, it offers preferential check-in, access to the VIP lounge, boarding when desired, and priority at disembarkation and baggage claim. In addition, it grants a mileage accumulation of 125 PERCENT for LANPASS members. LAN will offer Premium Economy on its routes to and from Santiago to Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, Quito, Lima, Sao Paulo and Montevideo. From Lima, clients will have access to it for their flights to Quito, Bogota, Medellin and Sao Paulo.

BRAZIL

Festival of Gramado to have 30 participating countries
The Tourism Festival of Gramado will be held from November 13 to 16 in the Serra Park Event Center in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Approximately 30 countries will participate, among which are Italy, Ireland, Israel, China, the United States, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Great Britain and Cuba. www.festivalturismogtamado.com.br

Continental Airlines to fly between Rio and Houston
Continental Airlines will begin direct flights between Rio and Houston, although it has not yet confirmed if there will be 3 or 4 frequencies per week.

PERU

World Tourism Day 27 September โ€“ New UNWTO Carbon Neutral Tourism Website to be Launched
World Tourism Day is to be held on September 27, 2008 with the Host Country: Peru. Celebrations include September 24-26, Lima – International Conference on Tourism and Handcrafts, September 27, Lima – World Tourism Day THINK TANK, and the launching of a new website: www.ClimateSolutions.travel, a web site with the mission to be the central gateway for information on solutions available to help the tourism sector respond to climate change. Users can learn about Climate Solutions that are available and to share their own, and to access resources such as RSS feeds, useful links and a Climate Solutions wiki.

Inca wall discovered in Historic Center of Cusco
An Inca wall was discovered at a depth of more than one meter during renovation works on Marquez Road, located two blocks away from the city square. According to investigations, during the Inca period the wall formed part of the route of the Capac ร‘ari, or Royal Path, which led from the imperial city towards Contisuyo, one of the four regions of Tahuantinsuyo. This is substantiated because the discovered structure continues along the same line towards another important Inca wall of similar characteristics which covers four straight blocks of Santa Clara Road, and which, according to historical references, marked the royal path to the Contisuyo.

Hiram Bingham named the best trip in the world
In the September edition, the Italian magazine Class, dedicated to tourism, will publish a listing of the 12 best trips. In first place is the trip in the Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu. The list also includes the private island of Fregrate, in Seychelles; a trip in a private yacht in the Maldives; a trip by elephant to see the royal tiger in India; a visit to the Metropolitan Museum, with accommodations in the W Hotel in New York; exploring Captain Cookโ€™s atoll in French Polynesia onboard a sailing ship; Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia; being served by a personal chef in Morocco; a photographic safari in the Natural Reserve of Purros in Namibia; the Nord valley and forest in Mongolia; skiing in British Colombia, Canada; and having an astronomer as a personal guide in a tropical resort in Madagascar.

Cuzco Marriott Hotel will open in 2010
Cuzco Marriott Hotel will be managed by Marriott International under a long-term agreement with Inversiones La Rioja. The hotel will be located on a 14,000 square foot site at the intersection of San Agustin and Ruinas, in the heart of Cusco’s colonial district. For dining and entertainment, the hotel will offer a casual three-meal restaurant that will accommodate early-risers planning a day-trip to Machu Picchu and an informal, lobby lounge whose ambience will evolve throughout the day. In-room amenities will include high-speed Internet access, two-line telephone with dataport and voicemail, coffee service, mini-refrigerator and oxygen for those impacted by Cuzco’s altitude. Recreational amenities will include a fitness center offering a large whirlpool and two treatment rooms. The business center will provide for Internet booths. For conferences and social events, the hotel will have 2,300 square feet of space comprised of one room that will be divisible into two sections and a boardroom.

Discovery of archaeological remains in Colca Canyon, Arequipa
In an untouched area of the Colca Canyon, a scientific expedition made up of Polish, North American and Peruvian specialists discovered archaeological remains belonging to a pre-Incan culture. The excursion, which left last August 21, carried out geological, hydro-geological, hydrographic, speleologic (study of caves and caverns), as well as electromagnetic studies.

ECUADOR

Delta Air Lines begins flights from Quito
Delta Air Lines inaugurated 2 new routes- a direct flight between Atlanta and Quito, and a flight between Atlanta and Guayaquil which will be inaugurated on September 19. The decision was taken based on passenger demand. According to Marcelo Costa, the regional manager of Delta, the airlineโ€™s other new expansion projects are focused on opening new frequencies in Brasil, direct flights between Bogota and New York, Buenos Aires-New York and Tegucigalpa-Atlanta.

COLOMBIA

Continental Airlines suspends Cali-Houston route
The managers of Aerocali, a concessionary of the Alfonso Bonilla Aragon airport, analyzed with concern the suspension of the Cali-Houston route on behalf of Continental. The airline announced that it will no longer operate this route, as well as others in Guayaquil and six in Mexico. These decisions were made considering the need to decrease some expenses due to the increase in fuel costs.

PANAMA

American Airlines begins to reduce flights
American Airlines cut back on flights to and from the United States as a consequence of the elevated cost of fuel. Delta Airlines also announced that as of this month it will remove its flight to New York City and will only maintain four weekly operations to Atlanta. However, Jet Blue, Copa and Air Europa announced that they will increase their daily frequencies in order to help ease the seating shortage caused by American Airlines during the low passenger season, which began at the beginning of the month.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA

Wine Resort opens new hotel in Neuquen

ARGENTINA

Wine Resort opens new hotel in Neuquen
Valle Perdido Wine Resort is located in the province of Neuquen in the new wine producing region of the Argentine Patagonia. Associated with the prestigious international chain, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, it was selected by Kiwi Collection to be included among those offering luxury hotels for trips for business or pleasure.

CHILE
Erupting volcano to be transformed into tourist attraction
The National Tourism Service (Sernatur) announced that the eruption of the Chaiten volcano in the south of Chile will be taken advantage of to transform its surroundings into a tourist attraction. The Chaiten volcano began to erupt last May 2, and its ashes completely covered the Chaiten region, located only 10 km away. Sernatur thinks that this natural phenomenon could be exploited as an attraction for those visitors who are interested in it.

PARAGUAY
Pluna to fly to Madrid with a shared code with Iberia
As of September 9, Pluna will suspend the route to Madrid and instead they made a โ€œshared codeโ€ agreement with Iberia by which both companies will be able to market the regional and intercontinental flights of the other party under their respective codes. Sources at Pluna said that โ€œunder the current circumstances it is not possible to continue flying with their own aircraftโ€ because it will generate losses of US$ 2 million per month. โ€œFlying with Iberia will generate incomeโ€ and enable Pluna to โ€œfocus on regional destinations,โ€ they added.

PANAMA
Taca announces routes with Embraer aircraft
As of October 15, TACA will begin to operate the San Jose, Costa Rica; Havana, Cuba; and Panama routes with the first Embraer E190 which will enter its fleet on August 29. In addition, on November 15 it will operate routes between Guatemala, El Salvador and Managua destinations. Flights will begin between San Pedro Sula, San Jose and Guatemala as of December 15.

PERU
Copa Airlines modifies charges for excess luggage
Copa Airlines announced that it will begin a new charging system for excess luggage for passengers who purchase their tickets for flights they will take on or after September 1. The same fee will be charged for excess luggage to and from all destinations, excluding Brazil and the United States. Under the new system, the weight and maximum size allowed per item free of charge between Central America, South America and the Caribbean is 23 kg and 62 lineal inches.

Construction of Site Museum in Huaca Rajada-Sipan complex in Lambayeque completed
The movements of a feline in full combat, artistically captured in a mask of golden copper, will welcome tourists visiting the Site Museum located at the Huaca Rajada-Sipan archaeological complex. The construction included the latest technology, which will provide the necessary conditions for the security and preservation of the valuable ornaments, jewels, emblems and a range of items discovered in tomb 14.

MEXICO
Delta Air Lines to fly to Cancun
Delta Air Lines announced the beginning of operations of its non-stop flight between Nashville, Tennessee and Cancun, Quintana Roo as of next December 20. Also for December, the multinational announced new flights from New York to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Bogota, Colombia and from Atlanta to Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Royal Caribbean withdraws Puerto de Progreso from its program for next season
Authorities from the state of Merida confirmed that the company Royal Caribbean decided to withdraw Puerto de Progreso from its cruise program for the December 2008 to March 2009 season. In a press conference, the State Secretary of Tourism explained that this is due to the lack of security available to handle the 24 embarkations that they had programmed for Progreso and the increase in fuel prices.

CUBA
Restoration of Baconao aquarium facilities in Santiago de Cuba
The facilities of the Baconao aquarium in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba were restored after undergoing repairs to eliminate damages caused by meteorological phenomena. The aquarium offers dolphin and sea lion shows, as well as exhibitions of more than 30 species, many of which were captured from the Caribbean environment. Hotels, restaurants, cafeterias and childrenโ€™s play areas are included in the recreational options in a natural environment where the sea and mountains are predominant elements.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Delta to reduce flights between New York and Dominican cities
Delta Air Lines announced that in September it will suspend its flights between New York and the Dominican cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago for three months. Said flights will be resumed on December 13 with a weekly, instead of daily, frequency. According to Delta, these flights will complement the current direct service offered between the international airport of Hartsfield-Jackson, Atlanta and the airports of Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and Puerto Plata.

Tourism this week in Latin America

BRAZIL
Rio will have a touristic bus

BRAZIL
Rio will have a touristic bus
Riotur will begin operating a bus for tourists in Rio de Janeiro with routes that pass through the main points of the city. Authorizations for companies interested in offering this service will be delivered before the end of the year so that by next year the service will be operational. The passages will have a fixed price, valid for one or more days.

American-Delta will fly to Manaus, Belo Horizonte, Salvador and Recife
The DOT of the United States authorized Delta Air Lines and American Airlines to operate new flights to Brazil. American will fly the Miami-Salvador-Recife route daily, as well as four weekly frequencies to Belo Horizonte. Both flights will begin in November. Delta has a daily flight between Manaus-Atlanta and another between Recife, Fortaleza and Atlanta four times per week beginning in December.

TAM begins flying between Recife and Buenos Aires
TAM began its daily service between Recife and Buenos Aires, with stopovers in Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.

PARAGUAY
Regional to begin flights in September
At the end of September, Regional Paraguaya Lineas Aereas will begin flying from Asuncion and Ciudad del Este to Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. According to its officials, routes to the United States and Europe would also be included. Furthermore, the entity is considering the possibility of beginning flights to Miami via Lima in the middle of next year, and to Madrid at the end of 2009.

BOLIVIA
Tourist lodge at the Pampalarama lagoon completed in La Paz
The Tourism Office completed the construction of the first touristic lodge in the Pampalarama lagoon. It has 10 rooms and the necessary furnishings with a capacity for 20 people. It will open its doors at the end of August.

PERU
Machu Picchu maintains visiting hours between 6:00 and 4:00
The INC Cusco director denied stories propagated by some local press who claimed that two shifts had been established for entry into the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. He explained that the citadelโ€™s visiting hours are from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm from Monday to Sunday, thus mitigating the congestion that used to occur in the past.

Discovery of pre-Hispanic tombs with textiles in a good state of conservation
Approximately 15 tombs with human remains from a pre-Hispanic burial were discovered in a burial cave in the sanctuary, accompanied by textiles in a good state of conservation and remains of ceramics. The discovery is important because the humidity and passage of time deteriorate the funerary wrappings or clothing of the buried dead, thus making the finding of preserved textiles unusual.

Snow-covered Huascaran Mountain will not disappear during the next 20 years
Investigators from Peru and the French IRD (Institute of Investigation and Development) declared that the snow-topped Huascaran will not disappear during the next 20 years because it is the highest point of Peru, and also has a very important glacial mass guaranteeing this. Investigators point out that from the โ€˜60s until now the surface of glaciers are reducing, and some are decreasing more rapidly than others.

Evaluation of Amazon waterfall concludes that it is 670 meters high
An initial evaluation carried out by the expedition who left for the viewing area of a waterfall which was thought to be higher than the Gocta (711 m), concluded that this one measures 670 meters and is among the highest of Peru.

Rio Shilcayo to begin construction of two touristic lodges in the Amazonas department
The hotel and convention center Rio Shilcayo will begin the construction of two touristic lodges in the Amazonas department in September, announced its general manager, Luis Dalman. The beginning of construction of both lodges was planned for March or April this year, but had to be postponed because of the rain in the region. The first project is a lodge located opposite the Kuelap fortress, which will have 10 rooms. The second project is a lodge opposite the Gocta waterfall with 8 rooms.

COLOMBIA
Highway will be built to link Panama and Venezuela
Colombia may join Panama and Venezuela with the construction of a 2,200 km two lane road. The project, which will be carried out along the Caribbean coast between Palo de Letras and Paraguachon, could take between 12 and 15 years and will be given the name โ€œHighway of the Americasโ€ (Autopista de las Amรฉricas). The megaproject, presented in the Colombian city of Barranquilla by Carlos Ramirez, the manager and director of the Santa Marta Paraguachon concession, will move ahead if given the โ€œgreen lightโ€ on behalf of the government, โ€œto create the countryโ€™s largest concessionary company in Latin Americaโ€™s most ambitious road project.โ€

Aero Republic signed agreement with Alitalia
Aero Republic signed an interline agreement with Alitalia enabling it to offer more travel alternatives between Colombia and the main Italian cities via Caracas, a destination serviced daily by the two airlines. The Italian company operates a daily flight on the Roma-Caracas route and Aero Republic operates one daily flight from Bogota and another from Medellin to Caracas.

Spirit Airlines to fly to Rionegro in November
Spirit Airlines will begin operations on the Rionegro-Fort Lauderdale route. With this flight it will complete three ports of destination in the country to the city in the state of Florida in the United States.

MEXICO
New tourism web site
Sectur presented the new on-line reservation and marketing on-line service through the website: www.visitmexico.com, a new alternative for the purchase and realization of trips through the Internet. The website will be the platform for an Comprehensive Tourist Website that aims to bring together all the local tourism offers, including large corporations as well as small and medium enterprises equally from all the states, offering them access to the global market.

Installation in Cancun of tourist locaters for hurricane season
A system to locate tourists in case of hurricanes, and to which the 30 accredited consulates in the area would have access, was installed in Cancun and the Maya Riviera, in Quintana Roo. The system, which will be accessible online, will have information about the area where the tourists are staying in case an approaching hurricane forces them to relocate in shelters or other hotels which wonโ€™t be affected.

Presentation in Cancun of travel guide โ€œin & outโ€ for the Mexican Caribbean
A special travel guide called โ€œin & outโ€, created for foreign holders of American Express Premium cards, was presented in Cancun. American Express presented the new travel guide โ€œin & out the best of the Mexican Caribbeanโ€ to business associates, clients, special guests and the press.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JetBlue will launch a new direct connection between San Juan and Santo Domingo
JetBlue plans to launch its first Inter-Caribbean service with daily direct flights between San Juan and Santo Domingo as of December 2008. It will also offer improved service between the Caribbean and the United States for the winter holiday season with direct flights between Santo Domingo and Boston; these also being subject to the governmentโ€™s approval. At the same time, it will add more flights to the existing routes from San Juan to Boston and from Puerto Plata, Santiago and Santo Domingo to New York.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA

ARGENTINA
Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela plan to form a regional airline. The plan may have been formulated from the moment the Argentine government took control of Aerolineas Argentinas, which was under control of Spanish capital until last July.

Ten Rivers & Ten Lakes adds 7 new establishments
The chain of boutique hotels and lodges Ten Rivers & Ten Lakes incorporated 3 establishments in Argentina and 4 in Brazil, in conjunction with their associates of the Brazilian chain Circuito Elegante. With these incorporations, which are added to another 3 in Corrientes, there are a total of 77 establishments in the best touristic destinations in both countries.

URUGUAY
Encotur 2008 will be held in October
In Encotur-Tourism Fair of Uruguay- there will be references about the industry, and the main wholesale operators of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay will be present. It will be held on October 13th and 14th at the Radisson Victoria Plaza Hotel. Tour Operators, Transport Companies, Tourism Offices, Hotels, Car Rentals, Travel Assistance, Organization of Events, Official Organizations, Travel Agencies, Organizers of Conferences and Incentives and Media will participate in the fair etc.

CHILE
Air Comet temporarily suspends direct flights between Chile-Madrid
Air Comet will suspend its direct flights between Madrid and Santiago as from August 31st, and they will be offered with a stopover in Buenos Aires both ways, as informed by the airline. During September the viability of this itinerary will be evaluated in order to take a decision. At present, Air Comet flies to Bogota, Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, La Habana, Lima, Quito and San Jose, in Latin America, as well as to London and Paris, from Madrid.

BRAZIL
Tourists will donate US$ 1 for environmental protection
Tourists who visit the Amazon area will be invited to make a donation of US$ 1 for each night they stay in the area and those resources will be aimed to finance protective plans for the environment, as disclosed by an entity of the sector on Friday. The agreement was signed with a large network of hotels from the Amazons, which will transmit the proposal to their guests.

Tam will link Rio and Miami from September
The airline started to sell its new daily route between Rio de Janeiro and Miami. The operations, which will be carried out with a Boeing 767/300 ER, will begin on September 19th.

PERU
Report in Amazons of a waterfall that would exceed the height of Gocta
A waterfall that would exceed the 771 meters possessed by Gocta was sighted near an estate of the village of San Antonio, in the province of Uctubamba. Said waterfall forms the ravine named Honda. To arrive at the site it is necessary to first pass through the village of San Antonio until arriving at a path that is accessible by car and then through a walk lasting 3 hours. On the other hand, an ancient stone citadel has been discovered in the midst of the vegetation of the village of Acapulco, in the district of Cajaruro, province of Uctubamba. In the citadel, which extends itself in a 5km radius, 59 gravesites have been discovered with funerary remains in a good state of conservation, ceramic items of different sizes, carved stone tools, among other objects.

Site Museum in Paracas will be reconstructed
The INC and the Spanish cultural center announced the call for tenders to execute the whole project including the construction, expansion and equipment of the Julio C. Tello site Museum of Paracas. Said project is financed by the Agencia Espaรฑola para la Cooperacion Internacional y el Desarrollo (AECID) (Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development), channeled through the Hispano-Peruvian Cooperation Fund (Fonchip).

Copa Airlines increases its daily flights from Lima to Panama
Copa Airlines stated that from August 11th a fourth daily frequency to Panama City will be offered. The airline made this announcement as part of an aggressive growth plan using its Hub of the Americas in Panama City as connection center with the rest of the continent.

Jose Antonio chain begins construction of 4-star hotel in Miraflores
In December, the hotel chain Jose Antonio will begin the construction of its third 4-star hotel, located in a lot half a block from Pardo Avenue, in Miraflores, as part of its expansion plan in the country. At the beginning of the year, the company informed that it would begin said project in the first days of April, which would be subsequent to the inauguration of its hotel in Puno last March.

PANAMA
Copa has new destinations
From December, Copa Airlines will fly to Valencia, in Venezuela, Oranjestad, in Aruba, and Santa Cruz, in Bolivia, the companyโ€™s first destination in said country. Along with Puerto Espaรฑa, in Trinidad and Tobago and Belo Horizonte, in Brazil, Copa will end 2008 with 5 new destinations in its network. It also announced that 6 new aircrafts will integrate the fleet of Copa Airlines which will amount to 43 aircrafts: 28 Boeing 737 and 15 Embraer.

MEXICO
Continental Airlines inaugurates new Queretaro-Houston flight
Continental Airlines will increase from 1 to 2 flights per day on the Queretaro-Houston route, which has been operating for more than 3 years. The occupancy rate is 90%, and because of this the company authorized one more flight frequency in view of the closing down of Delta on August 2nd. The new flights will begin when the new aircrafts are available.

CUBA
Two-floor touristic buses tour La Habana
Two-floor touristic buses offer a new perspective of touristic transport. On board a second floor of a roofless bus painted red and blue, Cuban and foreign tourists will be able to tour the most important places of the city and explore its mixture of Afro culture, life-style suspended in time and modern advances.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Aerosur to connect Tucuman with Madrid

ARGENTINA
Aerosur to connect Tucuman with Madrid
Beginning in September, there will be flights between Tucuman- Santa Cruz- Miami and Tucuman- Santa Cruz- Madrid. These international flights from the province of Tucuman will be made possible after Alperovich signs an agreement with Aerosur.

BRAZIL
GOL seeks to unite the companies, maintaining the GOL and Varig brands
GOL Lineas Aereas Inteligentes, the holding company of GOL Transportes Aereos S.A. (โ€œGTAโ€) and VRG Lineas Aereas S.A. (โ€œVRGโ€), submitted a request for authorization to the National Agency of Civil Aviation (ANAC) yesterday for the corporate restructuring of its subsidiaries GTA and VRG (โ€œReorganizationโ€), in order to join them into one single airline. The acquisition of VRG by GTI S.A., a complete subsidiary of GOL, was approved by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE, for its Portuguese acronym) on June 25th, 2008.

PERU
Peruvian candidates among the first 77 Wonders of the World
The 5 Peruvian candidates are ranked among the top 77 locations out of more than 380 international nominees in the contest organized by the New 7 Wonders Foundation to select the planetโ€™s 7 natural wonders. The first phase of the contest, in which internet users can vote for their favorites, will end on December 31st of this year, and then a special committee will select the 21 finalists from the 77 highest-ranking to enter the final competition in July 2010.

Yale waited 90 years to publish study on Machu Picchu artifacts
The University of Yale waited more than 90 years to publish the first scientific study on the artifacts from Machu Picchu, as North American scholars did not give importance to the archaeological heritage in their possession. Historian Teodoro Hampe Martinez commented that just recently in 2003 a study was published in relation to the controversial archaeological objects.

A Tourist Protection Network will be put into place in Arequipa
Public and private institutions with ties to the tourism sector will make up the Tourist Protection Network, which seeks to offer greater security to visitors. This network will be made up of establishments such as hotels, restaurants and taxi companies which meet the safety and protection requirements for national and foreign tourists.

Lighting improvements in touristic locations in Barranco
The mayor of Barranco, Antonio Mezarina, stated that the road works being carried out by his municipality will be complemented by an improvement in the lighting of the Plaza de Armas, the municipal library and the San Francisco church of that district. โ€œWe are going to light the most visited areas of our district in order to offer greater protection to the tourists who come in November for the APEC Summit,โ€ he said.

ECUADOR
New Daular airport is in its first stage
The air terminal will be 45 minutes from the city. The meteorological, surface and noise studies, as well as the airworthiness studies are ready for the construction of the new airport. The Daular air terminal will have three parallel runways with a capacity for 2,175 daily flights. The main runway will be 4,100 meters long by 60 m wide, while the other two be 3,500 meters long. The manager of the Guayaquil Airport Authority (AAG), stated that they are now analyzing the demarcation of the land according to the land uses determined by the Municipality. In the climate analysis by the Military Geographical Institute (IGM) an aerial photograph of Daular was taken.

COLOMBIA
Holiday Inn Express to arrive in Bogota and Cartagena
In the area of the Parque de la 93, a business sector par excellence in Bogota, the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will have its second national project. The first was a hotel in Medellin, which has been operational since last year. At the end of 2008, IHG will inaugurate its facilities within the business and hotel center, Oxo Center Bogota. This enterprise will be complemented with the ultra modern offices of the business complex, which will have state of the art technology. In addition, the expansion plan foresees opening another site in Cartagena at the beginning of 2010.

New Theme Park to be built in 2009
Aqualand will be built with an investment of 70 billion pesos. This attraction will revolve around water (slides, pools, waterfalls and a slow river, among others), a hotel, bungalows and a stage similar to the Media Torta stage in Bogota. The touristic complex will be built on approximately 13.8 hectares on a plot of land adjacent to the El Eden airport. Construction is planned for the beginning of 2009.

MEXICO
Aeromexico arrives in Queretaro
As of September 1st, Aeromexico will begin operations in the International Airport of Queretaro (AIQ), offering a daily direct flight to the city of Monterrey. With this flight, passengers will be able to use the connections available in the โ€œSultan of the Northโ€ to cities in the United States, such as Detroit, Chicago and Las Vegas. They also have connections from Monterrey to Madrid and Barcelona.

Palace Group sets first phase of Riviera Cancun Golf & Resorts
The first phase of the Riviera Cancun Golf & Resorts complex, which is being developed by the Palace Group of the Chapur Zahoul brothers, was set after a US$ 60 million investment was made in development works. The complex, which is being built in Cancunโ€™s hotel district, also includes a professional golf course and a club house, to which hotel projects will be added in the following phases, offering a total of 3,778 hotelier, tourism or condominium rooms.

PUERTO RICO
Marriott inaugurates hotel in Aguadilla
The international hotel chain, Marriott, inaugurated its first hotel west of Puerto Rico, under the brand name Courtyard by Marriott, whose exact location is on the former Ramey base of Aguadilla. This facility had been abandoned and was operating as a small hospital. The building was renovated at a cost of US$ 30 million. The new hotel will provide more than 125 jobs and will have 150 rooms, a casino, restaurants and conference rooms.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Tango On Board is a new touristic proposal

ARGENTINA
Tango On Board is a new touristic proposal
Tango On Board is a new, totally innovative touristic project in the country, especially for tourists and aims at the corporate sector. It proposes a tour in the El Galileo craft.

Aerolineas Argentinas signed state transfer
The Government and the Spanish group Marsans officialized the transfer to the State of the company Aerolineas Argentinas and its subsidiary Austral. The signing of the minutes of the agreement took place in the Ministry of Federal Planning and establishes the transfer of 94.41 percent of the shares of Aerolineas and 97 percent of the shares of Austral.

Lan Argentina will fly to Sidney on a shared code with Qantas
LAN will market 3 direct weekly frequencies between Buenos Aires and Sydney in flights operated by Qantas in a shared code agreement. The flights of the Australian company โ€“also member of oneworld- are foreseen to begin on November 24th with Boeing 747/400 and wait for the approval of the authorities from both countries.

CHILE
Air Comet temporarily suspends its flights to Balmaceda
Air Comet Chile suspended its flights to Temuco and Balmaceda. In a corporate communiquรฉ, it points out that the measure is temporary, due to the bad weather conditions that have been detrimental to the normal development of its operations in both cities, to which the increase in fuel costs has also been added.

BRAZIL
Rio de Janeiro Wi-fi free in Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro put into practice an initiative which enables tourists to enjoy wireless connection to internet โ€œwith a view to the seaโ€ from Copacabana. Although for now only a part of the beach is serviced by the connection, the initiative intends for the whole of the state of Rio de Janeiro to have coverage next year.

LAN increases frequencies to Australia
LAN will fly from Brasil to Australia in just 19 hours and 45 minutes. With 3 weekly frequencies, the operation will begin on November 24th from Guarulhos, in Sao Paulo.

Air China will cease to fly to the country in September
Air China informed that it will suspend its direct operation between Sao Paulo and Madrid as from September 14th, waiting to recommence the operation in the first quarter of next year.

BOLIVIA
LAB will fly as from July 31st
LAB will once again operate as from July 31st with regular flights in domestic routes. The airline already has the corresponding authorization to fly these routes.

PERU
Machu Picchu and Tipon distinguished as the maximum expressions of civil engineering
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) distinguished the citadel of Machu Picchu and the archaeological complex of Tipon as International Monuments of Civil Engineering.

Ancash Tello Obelsik returned to Chavin after 9 decades
The Tello Obelisk is once again in Chavin de Huantar, after remaining in Lima during approximately 90 years. After a special treatment, it has been moved to the recently inaugurated National Museum of Chavin and will be exhibited shortly.

LAN PERU will fly Lima-Cajamarca-Lima
On September 1st, LAN Peru will inaugurate the routes Lima-Cajamarca-Lima. It will be with a direct flight in the morning operated by modern Airbus 310 aircraft.

ECUADOR
Galapagos Islands receive award โ€œTo the Worldโ€™s Best Group of Islandsโ€ (โ€œAl Mejor Conjunto de Islas del Mundoโ€)
The Galapagos Islands received the award from the prestigious North American magazine โ€œTravel & Leisure, โ€œTo the Worldโ€™s Best Group of Islandsโ€ and โ€œTo the Best Group of Islands of Mexico, Central and South Americaโ€.

Cuenca Airport will close during the first two weeks of September
The Mariscal Lamar airport will close its operations for 15 days in the first week of September for the reconstruction of the highway. With the new restructuring of the air terminal the optimum functioning of the same is foreseen during the next 10 years.

MEXICO
Government suspends operations of 2 airlines
The Mexican Government decided to suspend the operations of the airlines California and ExpressJet, service provider for the North American Continental Airlines and Delta Airlines, for not verifying the royalties.

La Mar Restaurantsโ€“ Lan and Orient Express promote Peru
La Mar Restaurants โ€“ Lan โ€“ Orient-Express Peru will hold until August 21st the promotion in which for each US$ 500 in meals the diners will receive a coupon with a question and will participate to win a trip to Peru; LAN will award 2 air tickets in Business Class and Orient Express 2 nights in the โ€œMiraflores Parkโ€ hotel in Lima and 3 in โ€œLas Casitas del Colca.โ€

PANAMA
Copa Airlines will simplify charging system for excess luggage
Copa Airlines announced that as from September 1st it will simplify its charging system for excess luggage, as the same fare will be charged to and from all destinations with the exception of Brazil and the United States.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
GOL to fly to Salvador and Maceio
GOL announced 2 new flights to Salvador and Maceio from Buenos Aires this winter season.

Andes Lineas Aereas begins flights between Esquel and Madryn

ARGENTINA
GOL to fly to Salvador and Maceio
GOL announced 2 new flights to Salvador and Maceio from Buenos Aires this winter season.

Andes Lineas Aereas begins flights between Esquel and Madryn
On July 18th, Andes Lineas Aereas began flights between the Jorge Newbery Airport and the Esquel airport, with a technical stopover in Puerto Madryn. The flights will be operated with McDonnell Douglas MD 80 aircraft.

CHILE
LAN will start flying to Toronto in September
As of September 2nd, LAN will begin operations to Toronto, Canada. It will offer 5 weekly flights on the Santiago-New York-Toronto route.

URUGUAY
Third whale watching season launched
On Thursday, July 17th, Uruguay launched its third official 2008 whale watching season in a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports together with the Organizaciรณn para la Conservaciรณn de Cetรกceos (Whale conservation organization). The third season will last until October.

BRAZIL
Continental Airlines implements self check-in in Galeao
Continental Airlines is the first international airline to implement the automated check-in and other do-it-yourself terminal procedures. During the first stage, the service will be offered in the international airport of Galeao, in Rio de Janeiro, with 6 kiosks. In the near future, it will also be implemented in the Gualrulhos airport in Sao Paulo.

TAP to fly daily between Lisbon and Salvador
Beginning in October, TAP will once again make daily flights between Lisbon and Salvador, Bahia. It will no longer operate once a week between the capital of Bahia and Porto, Portugal.

PARAGUAY
TACA evaluates flying to the country
Daniel Ratti, president of Taca Peru, will visit Paraguay this week to continue the negotiations that began last year. He will hold meetings with the authorities of Dinac, Rediex and others from the private and public sector, with a view to extending the companyโ€™s services in the country. TACA has 3 hubs in El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Peru, with which the airline connects North, South and Central America.

BOLIVIA
AeroSur to fly to Madrid beginning August 8th
AeroSur will operate its first flight to Madrid this coming August 8th with the recently purchased Jumbo 747-300.

PERU
Cusco among the 10 most important cities in the world
In its latest edition, Travel + Leisure published its list of the most important tourism destination cities in the world, in which Cusco holds sixth place. The 13th edition of its Annual Worldโ€™s Best Awards Readersโ€™ Survey is the result of a study carried out among the magazineโ€™s readers. www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest

Machu Picchu among the 25 best destinations in South America
Mach Picchu was chosen number one out of the 25 best South American destinations by the readers of TripAdvisor in the Travelersโ€™ Choice Destinations Awards. The winners were chosen by travelersโ€™ favorite places and their popularity on the TripAdvisor website. The website lexplorer placed the Inca monument among the top 10 cultural destinations in the world. It also represents the most sold destination of the month in said portal.

Two Peruvian establishments on the list of the worldโ€™s 100 best hotels
Travel + Leisure magazine published a list of the worldโ€™s 100 best hotels in its latest edition, in which the Hotel Monasterio and the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel represent Peru, holding the 31st and 98th positions, respectively. www.travelandleisure.com80/worldsbest/2008/

Jorge Chavez Airport chosen second best in South America
The Jorge Chavez International Airport was named the second best of South America for 2008 by Skytrax Research, a market study consultant specializing in airports.

Tourists will travel quickly and safely in taxis with GPS systems
Tourists who travel in authorized taxis from the Jorge Chavez international airport to different locations in the city will arrive at their destination quickly and safely. This will be made possible by 20 modern GPS devices, which contain a detailed map of streets and avenues, as well as a programmable voice alarm, which can give advice regarding clear roads in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French and others.

Ornaments and clothing of Mochica figure on display in Lambayeque
Next month, an exhibition of the archaeological pieces discovered in the tomb of the priest-warrior of the Mochica elite is planned. This discovery took place in the archaeological project Huaca El Pueblo in Ucupe, a department of Lambayeque.

ECUADOR
Quito among the 25 best destinations in South America
Quito was chosen as one of the 25 best South American destinations by the millions of TripAdvisorโ€™s readers in the Travelersโ€™ Choice Destinations Awards. In its inaugural year, this competition recognizes the best destinations in the world based on travelersโ€™ criteria.

COLOMBIA
Taca inaugurates direct flight between Medellin and Lima
Taca began 4 weekly direct flights between Medellin and Lima. The operation will encourage commercial and touristic exchange with Lima and will enable the airline to increase its number of offered flights by 29 percent. The airline plans to increase passenger demand by 17 percent, representing the movement of approximately 10,000 people between the 2 cities.

Satena to begin flights to Central America and the Caribbean
In the second semester, Satena will begin flights to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama and other Central American countries. The flights will be operated with Embraer E 170 LR aircraft, with a capacity of 76 passengers.

HONDURAS
Copa Airlines resumes flights to the Toncontin Airport
Copa Airlines resumed daily flights to and from Tegucigalpa. The airline will continue operating flight numbers 824 and 825 to and from the Toncontin Airport with the same itineraries 7 days a week.

MEXICO
UNESCO adds 9 new World Heritage Sites
To the list of World Heritage Sites, UNESCO added Villa Protectora de San Miguel el Grande and the Sanctuary of Jesus Nazarene of Atotonilco in Guanjuato, as well as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in the states of Mexico and Michoacan.

Government exempts tax for cruise ship tourists
Due to the lack of infrastructure in the National Migration Instituteโ€™s different migratory offices, since July 1st, 2008 the government has not been charging the US$5 tax to foreign visitors arriving in the country on touristic cruise ships. Mexican authorities have decided to extend the term to September 30th at the latest.

PERU
American Airlines resumes flights to Los Angeles and Baltimore
The government announced that American Airlines has agreed to resume its daily flights connecting San Juan to Los Angeles (California) and Baltimore (Maryland). The Port Authority added that they are negotiating with the airline to resume daily flights to Orlando (Florida) and Washington DC.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Hilton Hotel to be inaugurated in 2009

ARGENTINA
Hilton Hotel to be inaugurated in 2009
More than 45 million pesos will be invested in the 5-star Hilton Hotel. It will have 167 rooms overlooking the coast of the Iguazu River and will cover 600 hectares, and will also have an 18-hole golf course.

BRAZIL
TAM to operate direct flights between San Pablo and Bariloche
TAM will begin operating in Rio Negro, and will make direct flights every Thursday and Sunday between San Pablo and San Carlos de Bariloche.

Copa Airlines to fly to Belo Horizonte
Copa Airlines announced the start of its new direct flight from Panama and hub cities from the American continent to Belo Horizonte beginning August 21. Belo Horizonte will be the airlineโ€™s 42nd destination and its fourth in Brasil, where Copa also offers flights to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Manaus.

Gol waives ski and snowboard transportation fee for winter season
During the winter season from June 15 to August 15, Gol passengers will be able to transport a pair of skis or a snowboard without paying an extra fee. These materials will be included in the luggage allowance, which is 23 kg per passenger for domestic or international flights. Beginning with the second pair of skis or the second snowboard, $50.00 will be charged per item. The fee exoneration will be valid for all of Golโ€™s national and international flights.

PERU
Chain Rio Sagrado to open 5-star resort at Cusco
The Peruvian owned company Rio Sagrado will open a 5-star resort in October, which will be located on the shore of the Urubamba River, 4 km from the province of the same name. Situated on an area of 20,000 m2, it will have 21 rooms, 2 villas, a restaurant, a bar, and a spa with an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi.

Museum of Contemporary Art to be build near Sacsayhuaman
The Archaeologistsโ€™ Association began the archaeological prospecting of the site where the future museum of the Instituto Americano de Arte (American Institute of Art, IAA) will be built. The museum will be located on an area adjacent to the archaeological park of Sacsayhuaman, and will be dedicated to contemporary Cusquenan art.

Taca to dynamize the market with the inauguration of new routes
Taca inaugurated three new direct flights to Medellin (Colombia), Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) and Guatemala, consolidating and expanding the connectivity of its hub in Lima with South and Central America. With these three new destinations, it makes 11 additional weekly frequencies available to its passengers leaving from Lima.

Cielos Andinos opens second route
Cielos Andinos, a company that has regularly operated the Lima-Andahuaylas-Ayacucho-Lima route since 2007, has just inaugurated its first regular flight to Trujillo. Cielos Andinos has flown 3 weekly frequencies on the Lima-Chimbote-Trujillo-Lima route since last week. The flights are made in Antonov 24 aircraft for 48 passengers. It currently has two airplanes. One is used for regular passenger flights, and the other for charter flights. The company has used this inaugural flight to launch its website, where they will serve their passengers.

Orient Express inaugurates exclusive โ€œLas Casitas del Colcaโ€ hotel
The exclusive โ€œLas Casitas del Colcaโ€ hotel was recently inaugurated. Built with US$ 7 million, it has 20 โ€œcasitasโ€ (cabins) with all the commodities of a 5-star hotel. โ€œLas Casitas del Colcaโ€ is built on 24 hectares in a privileged region of Colca. It has a spa of more than 600 m2 located almost on the shore of the river, where visitors can receive any type of treatment.

VENEZUELA
SBA Airlines increases frequency of Caracas-Miami flights
SBA Airlines began a second frequency on the Caracas-Miami route, an opening which will provide passengers with two daily flight options for this destination. The first flight from Caracas will take off at 6:00 am and the second at 3:30 pm, while from Miami passengers will be able to board at 11:15 am and at 8:45 pm.

CARIBBEAN
Oasis to manage three new luxury hotels
Oasis signed an agreement with Harlequin Hotels which will allow the Globalia chain to manage three new highly luxurious establishments in the Caribbean: one on San Vicente Island, another in the Dominican Republic and another in Barbados.

MEXICO
Nova Air to fly over Zacatecas
Nova Air will begin operations in Zacatecas on July 24th. They will be charter flights with destinations at Fort Worth, Texas and Mexico. The flight will cost approximately US$ 400 round trip, and will include a two-night stay, informed the Secretary of Tourism, Rafael Flores Mendoza.

Tourism this week in Latin America

LATIN AMERICA
Iberia to reduce routes and focus on Latin America

LATIN AMERICA
Iberia to reduce routes and focus on Latin America
Iberia will continue to reduce its offer of short and medium routes over the next three years to focus on flights in Latin America, informed sources close to the airline.

TAM to begin direct flights between Buenos Aires and Cabo Frio in July
TAM will fly non-stop between Cabo Frio, in Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires, Argentina once per week from July 5th to August 9th, with A-320 aircraft for 174 passengers. Currently, TAM flies 49 weekly frequencies to Buenos Aires from Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo. From June 19th to August 10th the airline will have extra flights to Buenos Aires with departures from Porto Seguro, Recife, Salvador, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. From July 3rd to August 10th TAM will operate direct flights from Sao Paulo to Bariloche, Argentina.

BRAZIL
Two new A-320s added
TAM has just added 2 Airbus 320 airplanes to its fleet, each with a 174 passenger capacity, bringing its total to 108 aircraft in operation, 105 of which are Airbus (15 A-319s, 73 A-320s, 3 A-321s, 12 A-330s and 2 A-340s) and 3 MD-11s. The airline will receive another two A-330s by the end of the year.

PERU
Andahuaylillas to be restored
The church of Andahuaylillas in the south of Cuzco received financial support from the World Monuments Fund to be almost completely restored. This support adds up to US$ 500 billion.

National Geographic to release documentary about the Lord of Sipan
National Geographic bought the Latin American broadcasting rights for the documentary entitled โ€œEl Senor de Sipanโ€ (The Lord of Sipan), a Spanish production directed by Juan Manuel Novoa. The film is based on the history of the Mochica culture, which flourished between the 1st and 6th centuries in northern Peru, their rituals and customs, and the discovery of the Lord of Sipan in the Huaca Rajada pyramid in 1987 by the archaeologist Walter Alva.

Star Peru to fly to Cuzco in the afternoon
Star Peru will fly to Cuzco in the afternoon. The flight leaves Lima at 2:30 and arrives in Cuzco at 3:50. The departure from Cuzco is at 4:20, arriving at Lima at 5:35.

Air Comet increases frequencies for Lima- Madrid- Lima route
Air Comet increased its Lima- Madrid- Lima frequencies to four weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Beginning September 15th it will add one additional frequency on Fridays.
TACA inaugurates direct flights to Rio, Medellin and Guatemala

Yesterday, Taca inaugurated direct flights to Rio, Medellin and Guatemala. It will fly four times per week to Medellin and Rio, and three times per week to Guatemala. Colombia and Brazil will be connected through 18 weekly flights.

Inkaterra to officially inaugurate two boutique hotels
This month, Inkaterra will officially inaugurate two boutique hotels, one in Cuzco and the other in Puno, with an investment of over US$3.5 million. The Cuzco project, called La Casona, is located in the Plaza Las Nazarenas, and consists in the restoration of a 16th century colonial house, whose original design and architecture was conserved.

Hotel Paracas to reopen in December
The Hoteles Libertador Peru chain will reopen its five-star hotel in the Bay of Paracas in December with an investment of approximately US$ 30 million. The hotel was rebuilt after the earthquake that shook the Sur Chico region of the country.

ECUADOR
Galapagos in time for a sustainable model
There is still time to apply a new sustainable model of conservation and development on the Galapagos Islands, said the director of the Charles Darwin Foundation. The Galapagos were declared a World Heritage in Danger by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) one year ago.

PANAMA
Government signs agreement with Canada to open air space
The Canadian government reached an agreement with Panama that will open air space to airlines of both countries. This will allow both the Canadian and Panamanian airlines to โ€œbe able to serve any point in the territory of the other with greater flexibility to establish prices, and greater certainty regarding operational aspects.โ€

COSTA RICA
Sansa promotes ecotourism in the south

The Corcovado National Park is a small area containing 4 percent of the planetโ€™s flora and fauna species. This argument justified Sansaโ€™s decision to promote ecotourism in this difficult-to-reach sector. Sansa operates daily flights to destinations in the southern part of the country such as Palmar Sur and Drake Bay, allowing tourists who take short trips to Costa Rica and want to enjoy the biodiversity of Corcovado to save time.

MEXICO
Delta Air Lines eliminates flights
Delta Air Lines announced that due to high fuel prices they will be obligated to eliminate or temporarily cancel up to 15 percent of their services to Mexico. The spokesperson for Delta Airlines informed that several routes will be temporarily suspended or eliminated as of August 18th.

Korean Airlines to inaugurate Seoul-Mexico flight in 2009
Next year, Korean Airlines will inaugurate a direct flight between Seoul and Mexico City. This initiative generated an excellent outlook among professionals of the Korean tourism sector for the increase of Asian visitors, mainly towards this tourism center.

Aeromexico temporarily resumes Puebla-New York flight
Aeromexico temporarily resumed its Puebla-New York flight, announced the CEO of the Hermanos Serdan International Airport of Puebla.

Cruise passengers may begin paying taxes on October 1st
It is possible that an extension may be granted until October 1st to begin charging taxes to cruise passengers, which should have been put into effect yesterday.

PUERTO RICO
Ecological tourism becomes one of the main attractions
New ecological tourism alternatives are expanding throughout the country with accommodations that have nature based activities as a main attraction, and are included in an international promotional campaign.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Two alternative airports to be selected in Bariloche in view of possible inconveniences

ARGENTINA
Two alternative airports to be selected in Bariloche in view of possible inconveniences
The government approved an initiative from businesspeople proposing alternative airports in view of possible flight inconveniences due to the Chaiten volcano. Neuquen and Puerto Montt will be the alternatives, and receptive operators will be in charge of transferring tourists to the city.

Sky Airline authorized to fly
The Secretary of Transport gave the approval for Sky Airline to operate the route linking Santiago de Chile with Mendoza and Cordoba, although they are not able to sell tickets for the route between Mendoza and Cordoba, or vice-versa, due to the protective regime of local transport airlines.

URUGUAY
Copa Airlines to increase frequencies
President Tabare Vazquez and Martin Torrijos signed an agreement for the expansion of Copaโ€™s air services as of December 15th. Vazquez stated his interest in Pluna beginning operations in Panama.

BRAZIL
Visas may be required for British travelers
The Minister of Foreign Affairs informed that they may require visas from British citizens if the United Kingdom reinstates this requirement for Brazilians. British authorities informed that they may suspend visa-free travel agreements with 11 countries if they do not find a way to halt illegal immigration in a maximum period of six months. The 11 countries are Brazil, Bolivia, Malaysia, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Togo, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mauritius.

Agreement between TAM and Swiss
TAM signed a memorandum of understanding with Swiss International to begin joint flights and the integration of its loyalty programs in the second semester. The agreement is the Brasilian companyโ€™s second in less than a week in addition to the one signed on similar terms with Air Canada.

TAM has three new international routes
Beginning September 15th, TAM will fly the San Pablo-Miami route. In October it will inaugurate its frequency to Lima, and in December it will begin operating the Rio de Janeiro-New York route. TAM will continue with its plan to receive 4 Boeing 777-300ERs between July and October, which will be used on the routes to Frankfurt and London, whereas another 4 will arrive by 2011.

PERU
Online security information for tourists
The Directorate of Tourism and Ecology (Dirture) of the National Police began a program to advise foreign tourists about their security from their countries of origin found at www.pnp.gob.pe in the Dirture link. There, the police offer a series of recommendations for vacations free of any unwelcome surprises.

Train to Machu Picchu among the six best train journeys in the world
In the first July issue of the travel magazine in the Sunday Times, readers will find out about the 6 best train journeys in the world, among which the trip to Machu Picchu is highlighted. The mentioned trips are the Trans-Siberian Express (Russia), the Blue Train (South Africa), the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (India), the Caledonian Sleeper (United Kingdom) and of course, the services which link Cusco with Aguas Calientes.

Blue Tree Hotels will manage hotel in Paracas
Peruvian businesspeople will invest approximately US$ 0 million in the construction of a luxury hotel. Once the Paracas Spa Hotel has been built, the Brazilian hotel chain Blue Tree Hotels will be in charge of its administration.

Sonesta Posada del Inca is finishing the renovation of its hotels
The Sonesta Posada del Inca chain is finishing a phase of important renovation of its hotels. El Sonesta Hotel El Olivar finished remodeling its 134 rooms, as well as the lobby and restaurant. The hotel in Miraflores has 16 of its 28 rooms finished, while Posada del Inca Valle Sagrado has completed 64 of its 84 rooms, and will carry out relocation works for the spa and the breakfast lounge. The hotel in Arequipa finished redesigning 32 of its 58 rooms while the hotel at Lake Titicaca has 50 of its 62 rooms finished.

ECUADOR
Whale Watching Season begins in Puerto Lopez
The Minister of Tourism, Veronica Sion de Joss, visited the regions of Puerto Lopez, Jipijapa and Montecristi in Manabi, where the Humpback Whale Watching Season 2008 began. The Minister highlighted the economic importance of this event as 23,000 tourists are expected during the 3 months in which the whales are there.

Aerogal in negotiations with Avianca
According to a source from Aerogal, โ€œNegotiations with Avianca are progressing positively,โ€ and the Colombian companyโ€™s proposal aims at acquiring more than 50% of the national airline.

COLOMBIA
Diversifies promotion of destinations
In addition to seasoned destinations such as Cartagena, San Andres and Bogota, Colombia will also promote destinations such as Santander, the Triangulo del Cafรฉ (Coffee Triangle), Bahia Solano and Nuqui. The diversity of locations, climates and cultures makes it possible for the country to offer options which include extreme sports in Santander, in the Andes region, eco-tourism in Bahia Solano, and Colombian gastronomy and history in the Triangulo del Cafรฉ.

PANAMA
Copa to increase flights
Copa plans to expand its operations in the Dominican Republic to include a daily flight to Punta Cana, to which it currently flies 5 times per week.

COSTA RICA
Taca โ€“ Avianca consolidate alliance
Taca and Avianca expanded their Shared Code operation agreement, in effect since June 13th, making new destinations, more connection options and easier travel available to their passengers, and thus becoming the best and most complete option for travel between destinations in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Central America.

GUATEMALA
TACA will operate new route between Peru and Guatemala
TACA will operate a new route between its hub in Peru and Guatemala. This new direct flight between the two destinations will be operated with aircraft from the Airbus fleet.

United Airlines to cease operations due to fuel costs
United announced the suspension of operations in Guatemala as of December 2nd, due to the crisis caused by the increase in petroleum. The sales manager for Central America and the Caribbean explained that rising crude oil prices had increased the high costs of operations, making it impossible to continue operating in the country

EL SALVADOR
Spirit Airlines postpones entry due to fuel crisis
The local Ministry of Tourism informed that Spirit Airlines has postponed the beginning of operations due to the price of fuel. The airline had planned on entering the country in August, but Spirit will now cut out some routes.

MEXICO
Mexicana to increase capacity
Mexicana de Aviacion will resume the flight hours that it reduced in May due to the increase in fuel costs. โ€œWe feel quite optimistic about the summer season because we are seeing that reservations are looking very positive,โ€ stated the airline.

CUBA
Carnival festivities in Havana
Carnival festivities will be held from August 1st to the 10th. The celebration will be dedicated to the anniversary of several traditional groups, among them El Alacran, and the hundredth anniversary of the Componedores de Batea. In addition, the 70th anniversary of La Jardinera is also emphasized, another popular group which will be present at this event.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
American Airlines to increase flights from New York
American requested authorization from the DOT to increase frequencies between New York and Buenos Aires, going from one daily flight to 12 per week. American, which will cease flying from Chicago to Buenos Aires on September 3rd as part of its cost-reduction plan, would resume flying the new route on December 18th.

ARGENTINA
American Airlines to increase flights from New York
American requested authorization from the DOT to increase frequencies between New York and Buenos Aires, going from one daily flight to 12 per week. American, which will cease flying from Chicago to Buenos Aires on September 3rd as part of its cost-reduction plan, would resume flying the new route on December 18th.

LAN will fly to Ushuaia
LAN announced that it will cover the route to Ushuaia with a daily frequency beginning July 11th. The route will be operated with an Airbus 320 aircraft. The airline stated that the flight to Ushuaia will be added to the beginning of operations to Neuquen and to the incorporation of more frequencies to Salta, Mendoza, Cordoba and Comodoro Rivadavia, in Chubut.

BRAZIL
Varig incorporates two new 737-700s
The airline added two new Boeing 737-700 Next Generations to its fleet. The aircraft, whose model is one of the most modern in its category, will be used in the shuttle service between Rio de Janeiro (Santos Dumont) and Sao Paulo (Congonhas).

Pluna presents expansion plan
Plunaโ€™s commercial director presented new routes, frequency expansions and aircraft. Pluna will fly the Rio de Janeiro-Curitiba-Montevideo route daily, with connections to Buenos Aires, Santiago, Cordoba and Rosario. The expansion plans to include destinations such as Porto Alegre, Brasilia and Belo Horizonte.

PERU
LAP will invest US$ 61 million in airport expansion
LAP announced that it is investing US$ 61 million in the second phase of expansion works at the Jorge Chavez airport, which will conclude in December. These works will prepare the air terminal to receive 10 million passengers per year.

Aerocondor will continue operating Lima-Cajamarca-Lima route and flying over the Nazca Lines
Aerocondor announced that it will continue operating the Lima-Cajamarca-Lima route and flying over the Nazca Lines. Regarding recent incidents which have forced them to temporarily suspend all operations with the Boeing 737-200 fleet, it stated out that they are currently being investigated by competent bodies.

LAN Peru will fly to Cajamarca
The inaugural Lima-Tumbes-Lima flight will take place on Wednesday, June 25th, while on Friday, July 25th, operations to Cajamarca will begin. LAN Peru will operate four additional Airbus 319 aircraft, which will be assigned to cover national and regional.

Casa Cartagena to open in August
The luxury hotel Casa Cartagena will open its doors in Cusco a short distance away from Plaza Nazarenas and the Hotel Monasterio, reprogramming its opening for the beginning of August. Casa Cartagena will be the new Italian chain Luxury Properties & Spaโ€™s first hotel in Peru.

Acqua Hotel Resort Spa plans to build 7 hotels
The 5-star Hotel Spa, in the Sacred Valley, Cusco, will have 115 rooms including 15 luxurious suites. It will offer the first spa of international quality in Peru with an area of more than 2,500 m2, which include 7 treatment rooms, 3 hydrotherapy pools, a Vichy shower, oxygenation room and rooms dedicated to fitness and yoga.

ECUADOR
Visas will not be necessary to enter for 90 days
The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, ordered that starting this month, visas will not be required for citizens of any nationality who intend to enter Ecuador for tourism and stay for a period of 90 days.

Avenida de los Volcanes implements tourism road signs
The municipalities of Ruminahui, Mejia and the metropolitan district of Quito form a territory with several touristic alternatives for activities such as mountaineering, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, camping, photography and educational activities, as well as services offered by the local population.

COLOMBIA
Continental Airlines to cancel Cali-Houston flight
The airline announced that the measure will be implemented as of September 3rd. It is one โ€œof the many difficult measures which Continental is adopting in order to respond to fuel prices,โ€ said the airline. Regarding its daily flights from Bogota to Houston and Newark, it said that they will be complemented with a second daily frequency from Houston beginning in October.

Spirit Airlines will fly from Bogota and Armenia to Florida

The airline informed that it will begin daily flights between Bogota and Fort Lauderdale starting July 24th. The route from Armenia would begin operating at the end of this year. The fourth destination to which it will fly in Colombia will be San Andres, in order to connect it with the United States as of May, 2009.

VENEZUELA
May require visa from Europeans
Migratory measures in the Old World would motivate a visa similar to the one put into effect this year for North Americans. The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned European Union nations that it would implement an entry visa for European citizens who wish to visit the country.

PANAMA
Copa Airlines receives new Boeing 737-800
Copa Airlines received a new Boeing 737-800. It is the largest aircraft of Copaโ€™s fleet with a 160 passenger capacity- 16 in business class and 144 in the main cabin. The aircraft has a spacious interior, with large overhead compartments, reclining seats and an entertainment system with 12 audio and video channels.

GUATEMALA
TACA will operate new route between Peru and Guatemala
TACA will operate a new route between its hub in Peru and Guatemala. This new direct flight between the two destinations will be operated with aircraft from the Airbus fleet.

Aerolineas may move its operations to San Pedro Sula, in El Salvador
The cancelation of international flights in the Toncontin airport would leave Tegucigalpa isolated, which would affect tourism. The airports of San Pedro Sula and Comalapa in El Salvador would benefit the most from the closure of Toncontin.

HONDURAS
Continental Airlines cancels operations in Tegucigalpa due to airport closure
Continental Airlines announced that it is temporarily canceling its services in the capital, adding that it will carry out its operations in the airport of San Pedro Sula, where it will offer 19 weekly flights.

MEXICO
Veracruz joins new touristic cruise ship route in the Gulf
Veracruz is ready for the permanent arrival of cruise ships, announced the Deputy Minister of Tourism Planning of the Federal government, who confirmed that the port not only has attractions, but also the necessary infrastructure to be one of the most important destinations.

Mexicana will fly between New York and Cancun
Mexicana de Aviacion announced that on July 1st, it will begin operating its New York-Cancun flight, a route which is estimated to have a potential annual market of over 1.9 million passengers, with an estimated yearly growth rate of 17 percent.

Westjet Canadian charters to increase operations
WestJet will increase its operations by expanding routes to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cancun in order to cover 14 new destinations on Aztec soil in 2008 and 2009. WestJet will immediately begin arriving at the new destinations with 7 new routes.

PUERTO RICO
JetBlue to increase daily flights to Puerto Rico before the end of the year
JetBlue Airways informed that before the end of the year it plans to add daily flights to Puerto Rico originating from New York, Orlando and Boston. It specified that at the beginning of September it will incorporate four daily flights between New Yorkโ€™s John F. Kennedy and San Juan, and announced a fifth daily connection in November, as well as the sixth and seventh connections in December.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Dental tourism has grown consistently over the past four years
Dental tourism has grown consistently. Varied benefits are offered, from teeth whitening to the fitting of veneers and aesthetic crowns, at prices up to three times more economical than elsewhere in the world.

Chapelco will invest in snow

ARGENTINA
Dental tourism has grown consistently over the past four years
Dental tourism has grown consistently. Varied benefits are offered, from teeth whitening to the fitting of veneers and aesthetic crowns, at prices up to three times more economical than elsewhere in the world.

Chapelco will invest in snow
Nieves del Chapelco will invest โ‚ฌ2.5 million in its ski resort infrastructure for this winter season. They emphasized that the efforts were focused on the purchase of two new ski lifts, three snow ploughs and infrastructure and slope improvements.

Infuetur to make agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas for more flights in winter
A contract between Infuetur and Aerolineas Argentinas will be signed for the financing of 8 flight frequencies under the special flights category for winter 2008 at the Ushuaia Bureau headquarters.

LAN Argentina celebrates third anniversary
It has been three years since LAN began operations and it is celebrating with a positive balance which reflects its constant growth in the countryโ€™s aviation industry and its effort to maintain the highest standards in security, quality and service.

TAM flights to Bariloche will begin in July
TAM confirmed the beginning of its regular operations between San Pablo and Bariloche for July 3rd with two weekly flights โ€“ Thursdays and Sundays โ€“ operated with A320 with a 174-passenger capacity.

Pluna inaugurates Rosario-Curitiba routes
Pluna will fly to Rosario and Curitiba beginning in June. It will inaugurate these routes with promotional fares of $38 and $59 per leg, respectively, for its destinations to Montevideo.

Neuquen has its first 5-star hotel
With an investment of US$30 million, the Casino Magic group inaugurated the first five-star hotel in the city of Neuquen. The Casino Magic Hotel has 31 rooms and is part of the gaming roomsโ€™ complex located on route 22. Casino Magic has been granted the casino in the city of Neuquen until 2016.

CHILE
Valle Nevado launches master plan for more than US$ 100 million
Valle Nevado announced a medium term US$120 million plan that includes the launching of the โ€œPueblo de Montana.โ€ The plan provides for the construction of at least one building per year for the next 15 years. The company anticipates an investment of US$22 million for the next five years and US$15 million more for the following five years.

LAN completes renovation of short-range fleet
The airline offers its passengers and freight clients in Latin America one of the most modern fleets in the world, operating all of its short-range flights in the new Airbus A320.

BRAZIL
TAM receives authorization to fly to Lima
TAM announced that it received authorization from the National Agency of Civil Aviation (ANAC) to begin offering daily flights to Lima. The frequency will begin operating on October 17th, departing from the Sao Paulo international airport to the Jorge Chavez terminal in Lima.

PERU
Arrival of foreign tourists increased by 12.3% in first quarter
In the first quarter of this year, Peru registered 502,942 arrivals of foreign tourists through the countryโ€™s borders, according to information provided by the General Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization (DIGEMIN) and analyzed by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

Inti Raymi will be translated into English, French and Spanish
For the first time, the Inti Raymi ceremony will be simultaneously translated into English, French and Spanish. Participants will receive translation equipment so that it will be easier for them understand this festivity, which is celebrated each June 24th. EMUFEC S.A., Cuscoโ€™s municipal company for festivities has placed 3,800 seats on sale to attend Inti Raymi in the esplanade of Sacsahuaman.

Historian maintains that Machu Picchu was discovered by a German in 1867
According to a study carried out by the historian Paolo Greer, the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was discovered by the German Augusto Berns 44 years before the North American explorer Hiram Bingham arrived in the area (in 1911).

LAN Peru will increase flights from Trujillo to the city of Tumbes
The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) informed that the airline Lan Peru announced its decision to operate flights to Tumbes. The flights will begin next June 25th and will be carried out as an extension of the flight that Lan Peruโ€™s aircraft currently make to Trujillo.

Cruz del Sur new routes
This Wednesday, Cruz del Sur will reopen the service Lima โ€“ Paracas โ€“ Ica โ€“ Nasca at 4.30 am (full day) and Nasca โ€“ Arequipa at 3 p.m. With these new frequencies, tourists and the general public will have more travel options besides those already existing to visit the circuit known as โ€œthe magical route of the south.โ€

Hotel Libertador Paracas will open at the beginning of 2009 after an investment of US$23 million
The inauguration of the new Hotel Libertador Paracas is scheduled for the first quarter of 2009 and will require an investment of US$23,055,752. It will have a constructed area of 17,197.88 m2 and 34,136.29 m2, with a new structure that will comply with the highest international standards.

ECUADOR
Galapagos registers new eruption from the Cerro Azul volcano
The Geophysical Institute (IG) of the National Polytechnic School in Quito informed yesterday that the Cerro Azul volcano, located on Isabela Island, has once again started to erupt. The volcano became active and produced new lava flows, which were detected in images via satellite. Authorities of the Galapagos National Park (PNG) flew over the area to evaluate the intensity of the new eruption.

Humpback whale watching season has begun
The Tenth Humpback Whale Watching Season was inaugurated. Representatives from the government, municipalities, tourism sectors, operators, press, students and special guests gathered that day at the State Coastal Buildingโ€™s Auditorium.

Volcanic activity of the Tungurahua attracts thousands of tourists
The recent increase in the volcanic activity of the Tungurahua volcano is bringing thousands of tourists to the city of Baรฑos de Agua Santa, who come to the area in order to visit the natural viewpoints at night and photograph the volcano glowing with lava, a natural phenomena that can only be observed in the darkness of the night and with a clear sky.

COLOMBIA
Avianca inaugurates flights between Bogota and Santo Domingo
As of June 14th, Avianca will begin its new service of direct flights on the Bogota – Santo Domingo – Bogota route. In this way, the Colombian airline connects Colombia with this Caribbean island with four weekly flights.

Direct flights to Washington
Avianca is expanding its network of connections to destinations in the United States with five weekly flights on the Bogota โ€“ Washington โ€“ Bogota route, effective as of Friday, June 13th. With the operation of this new route, Avianca will offer 80 weekly flights to those who travel to different parts of the United States. Passengers on-board will be able to carry on two pieces of luggage with no additional cost.

REP. DOMINICANA
Air Dominicana obtains authorization to fly
The certificate accrediting Air Dominicana as a Dominican Republic flight operator was granted by the director of the Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC).

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
The government of Buenos Aires will strengthen promotion of tango abroad

ARGENTINA
The government of Buenos Aires will strengthen promotion of tango abroad
The head of the Buenos Aires government and the minister of Culture and chairman of the tourism entity of the city announced the plan for participation in international festivals to continue strengthening and positioning tango abroad. The aim is to spread and coordinate the efforts and activities that make Buenos Aires a cultural destination to other countries.

LAN will have more flights to the interior of the country
LAN Argentina announced new flights between Buenos Aires and the cities of Neuquen and San Juan. In the first case, it will add two daily frequencies as of July 15th. The government of Neuquen announced that it is working on the specifications for the call for bids for new routes in order to have flights to the cities of Rincon de los Sauces and San Martin de los Andes. Flights to San Juan will begin in August with four frequencies per week.

Sur Lineas Aereas explores new routes
In order to increase connectivity between cities within the country, Sur Lineas Aereas presented its new plan of operations which covers the following initial destinations with charter flights: Ushuaia, Comodoro, Rivadavia, Rio Gallegos, Montevideo and El Calafate.

Celebrity will offer trips to Antarctica
For the first time, Celebrity will begin offering trips to Antarctica. The Celebrity Infinity, which holds 2,050 passengers, will operate two 14-night cruises from Buenos Aires. The first trip will depart on January 31st, 2010, and the second on February 14th.

CHILE
LAN re-evaluates its routes in view of cost increases
In a scenario in which petroleum has become 50 percent of flight costs, and almost 60 percent for longer flights, Lan is evaluating the routes that it operates and predicts less growth in its operations, said the companyโ€™s executive vice president.

Pluna inaugurates routes to Rosario and Curitiba
Beginning in June, Pluna will fly to Rosario and Curitiba with routes which will be inaugurated with promotional fares for its Montevideo destinations.

URUGUAY
Seeks to attract Iberia and Copa Airlines flights
The National Direction of Civil Aviation (DINAC) informed that Paraguay would be negotiating the entry of Iberia (Spain), Copa (Central America) and a third important Latin American airline into the country.

PARAGUAY
DGAC suspends AS flights
The General Direction of Civil Aviation (DGAC) once again suspended Aerolineas Sudamericanasโ€™ (AS) aircraft. The airlineโ€™s president affirmed that the company will present a corresponding complaint since โ€œit is an illegal and arbitrary measure.โ€

BOLIVIA
INC prepares comprehensive plan to reevaluate the Archaeological Complex of Kotos.
Huanucoยดs INC (National Culture Institute) will prepare a comprehensive plan for the revaluation of the Archaeological Complex of Kotos. The head of the institution specified that this initiative has the aim of โ€œrevaluatingโ€ the complex due to its importance for the country.

PERU
Launching of Inti Raymi Festivities
The Emufec released the Imperial Cityโ€™s program of festivities and the traditional Inti Raymi to Cusco, the country and the world.

Inka Rail and Andean Railways would operate route to Machu Picchu
Fetransa informed Inka Rail that it will proceed with an auction for the schedule it had requested, and will make the same announcement to Andean Railways on May 27th regarding the five schedules that it had asked for.

Inkaterra Titilaka Soft opening
Representatives of 10 of the countryโ€™s most important receptive tourism agencies inaugurated the new Inkaterra hotel on Lake Titicaca in a soft opening. Located about 30 minutes from Puno in Chacras, the project, among other things, seeks to reintegrate the former hotel on which it is constructed into the local landscape as well as into the community.

Accor will begin construction of three-star hotel
In the first quarter of 2009, the French hotel chain Accor, will begin the construction of a three-star Ibis brand hotel in Miraflores (Lima), announced the sales manager of Accor in Peru. The investment will be US$ 10 million.

ECUADOR
New TAME route from Guayaquil to Ambato
TAME will fly from Guayaquil to Ambato to cover commercial sector demand for the capital of Tungurahua, as well as touristic demand for the city of Banos, a beach town which receives more than a million tourists per year. This route would also cover the touristic and commercial needs of Puyo, the capital of Pastaza, which is located 90 minutes away from Ambato.

COLOMBIA
New flight to New York
After receiving official approval from the American Department of Transportation, Delta Air Lines announced that as of August 19th it will make daily flights to New York. The new New York-Bogota flight complements the already existing flight to Colombia from the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport of Atlanta.

Easyfly begins operations between Medellin, Bogota and Armenia
Easyfly took the risk of beginning operations at a time when more than half a dozen of the worldโ€™s major league airlines had closed due to their inability to withstand increases. It flies from Bogota to Barrancabermeja, Armenia, Arauca, Ibague, Neiva, Yopal and Cartago; and from Medellin to Armenia and Bogota.

MEXICO
San Luis Postosi inaugurates first Latin American museum hotel
In order to satisfy the increasing international demand for hotels, the Palacio de San Agustin was introduced in the beautiful colonial city of San Luis Potosi.

AeroMexico inaugurates route to Shanghai
AeroMexico announced its new route with two weekly frequencies to Shanghai, with which it will extend its coverage of the Asian continent.

PANAMA
US$10 million invested in the remodeling of Puerto de Colon
Panama is impatiently awaiting the visit of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, which would dock at the Puerto de Colon 2000 within the next seven months, and will top off the countryโ€™s recent good experience regarding cruise ship tourism. To this end, it plans to improve the portโ€™s infrastructures, which will be expanded with an investment of US$10 million.

TACA will operate direct flight to El Salvador
TACA announced that it will begin the operation of a daily direct flight between its hub in El Salvador and Panama City as of June 12th in order to offer a new service option to its clients.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Air Europa will open route between Madrid and Puerto Plata for the first time
This summer, Air Europa will begin a new route linking Madrid and Puerto Plata, announced the secretary of tourism after meeting with the chairman of the Globalia Group in Spain.

Air Dominicana ready to fly
The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) will grant certification authorizing Air Dominicanaโ€™s Boeing 737 airplane to fly after the plane has completed the 50 hours of required flight time.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Another increase of 18 percent authorized for air transportation costs
A little more than a month after the last adjustment granted to improve local companiesโ€™ incomes, the government decided to authorize another increase of 18 percent, on average, for air transportation fees.

LAN adds frequencies to Rio Negro in July and August

ARGENTINA
Another increase of 18 percent authorized for air transportation costs
A little more than a month after the last adjustment granted to improve local companiesโ€™ incomes, the government decided to authorize another increase of 18 percent, on average, for air transportation fees.

LAN adds frequencies to Rio Negro in July and August
LAN announced that in winter it will add frequencies on the route to San Carlos de Bariloche, operating up to seven daily flights from the Jorge Newbery Airport.

Air Comet will fly five times a week to Madrid
As of September 15th, Air Comet will offer five weekly flights โ€“ from Monday to Friday- between Buenos Aires and Madrid, planning to reach one daily flight towards the end of December.

Aerolineas Argentinas cancels flights due to ash
Aerolineas Argentinas suspended Australโ€™s departures of from the Bariloche and Esquel airports due to the ash plume of the Chilean crater

PARAGUAY
Iberia about to return
Iberia may be about to resume operating out of Paraguay, since the negotiations with Dinac are at such an advanced stage, said the assistant director of international operations in the plenary framework of the Foro de Conectividad (Connectivity Forum), adding that Iberia would be expanding one of the services which it offers from a point in South America in Paraguay.

BRAZIL
Beginning in July, TAM will operate new air route with Cuba
As of July a new air route will be opened between Sao Paulo and Havana through an operation led by the tour operator Sanchat Tour and TAM, in collaboration with Havanatur.

Luxury train began operations
Great Brasil Express, the first luxury train in the country, began operations this week on the route from Rio de Janeiro to Iguazu Falls. The package includes air, ground and railway transport, as well as accommodation and meals. The service will be offered until the end of the year with set departures.

CHILE
Website launched to market touristic offer
Tursivino.com was created with the goal of being the first platform for the touristic commercialization of national wine, and is 100 percent oriented towards wine tourism. The site offers the option to reserve and purchase touristic visits to Chilean vineyards online at the same value as if they had contracted them directly with the winery, from anywhere in the world.

Ski resorts count on good season after first snowfalls
Ski resorts dismissed the possibility that the season would begin late this year, since the amount of fallen snow will be sufficient for skiers.

BOLIVIA
LAB โ€“ AS sign agreement
LAB and AS signed a strategic alliance to optimize management, reduce costs and offer a better and more accessible service to customers, announced the presidents of LAN and AS.

PERU
European business sector demand would encourage entry of new airlines
The increase in the demand from the European business sector for direct flights to Peru could encourage the entry of new airlines into the country, LAP stated. The pressure asserted by German, English and French businesspeople on the airlines to establish direct flights with Peru could result in a greater amount of direct connections between the these countries.

Expansion of passenger terminal at Jorge Chavez airport will be inaugurated in November
In the first half of November, LAP will inaugurate the expansion of the passenger terminal in the Jorge Chavez International Airport with an investment of US$42 million.

Star Peru suspends flights definitively to Chiclayo and Trujillo
Star Peru informed that as part of the reforms and improvements being carried out by the airline, it definitively suspended flights to Chiclayo and Trujillo. It also announced that it began flights to Cajamarca.

Hotel Monasterio of Cusco among the most luxurious of South America
For the second consecutive year, the hotel Monasterio of Cusco was placed second among the most luxurious hotels in South America, according to the ranking drawn up by the quarterly travel magazine, Ultratravel.

ECUADOR
Minister of Tourism inaugurates first stage of the Santa Barbara Touristic Corridor
The minister of Tourism inaugurated the First Stage of the Santa Barbara Touristic Corridor project which includes touristic attractions from three regions of the province of Azuay: Gualaceo, Sigsig and Chordeleg.

US$570 thousand investment to rehabilitate Quito-Duran train
The Ministry of Tourism will contribute US$570,000 this year for the rehabilitation of the Ecuadorian Railway Network on the Quito-Duran route. Among its priorities, the government established the rehabilitation of the Ecuadorian Railway Network as a necessity, thus intensifying the works on the Quito-Latacunga leg, which will be inaugurated on June 25th.

COLOMBIA
Easyfly to have hub in Medellin
In six months of operations, the company has opened seven routes from Bogota, with destinations to Arauca, Armenia, Ibague, Neiva, Yopal, Cartago and Barrancabermejia. Easyfly would open routes from Medellin to Apartado, Monteria, Pereira, Bucaramanga and Barrancabermeja.

Country seeks to consolidate medical tourism as one of its most appealing products
The Colombian government will work intensively to strengthen and promote medical tourism. Colombia will put all its efforts towards gaining patients from all over the world, so that they can visit the country and take advantage of the competitive advantages of the health sector: esthetic, ophthalmologic and dental medicine.

COSTA RICA
Negotiating more flights to Liberia
The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (Costa Rican Tourism institute, ICT) is negotiating the arrival of more direct flights from Europe to the Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste. The Minister of Tourism confirmed that for this purpose, he is in talks with the main airlines of the European markets (Germany, Spain, England and France), for the country. Only First Choice airline flies directly from London to Liberia once a week.

HONDURAS
Nikki Beach will invest US$200 million in hotel for celebrities
The international hotel chain Nikki Beach will invest US$ 200 million in the construction of a hotel โ€œfor celebritiesโ€ on the island of Roatan, in the Honduran Caribbean. The hotel โ€œwill not only be five-star, but also luxurious for celebrities.โ€

Aeromexico to fly to Tegucigalpa
Aeromexico will expand its services to Tegucigalpa. Its figures reveal that 42 percent of passengers that board planes at the Ramon Villeda Morales airport in San Ramon Sula (Honduras) are from the capital.

MEXICO
Revisions will be intensified
As of Friday, international passengers arriving in the country by air from Central and South America, but who take connecting flights to reach their final destination in Mexico or abroad, will have to submit their hand luggage and documentation to an additional revision to the one undergone at the airport of origin.

New routes opened from airport
The director general of Alma de Mexico airlines announced that as of June 2nd, the company will begin flights to Aguascalientes, Bajio, Puebla and Torreon from the Toluca airport. In July, another six will be added to Ciudad Victoria and Manzanillo, among others.

CUBA
Wedding segment increases by 12 percent
Each year, Sol Melia Cuba welcomes more couples who wish to make their wedding a romantic experience at a passionate destination. In 2007, the Spanish companyโ€™s hotels and resorts held 1,070 weddings in this country, which represented an increase of 12 percent in comparison to the previous year, whereas the income associated with this service increased by 10.8 percent.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Tam strengthens scheduling from Buenos Aires in winter
This winter, the airline will add seven new frequencies per week, linking Buenos Aires with different points of Brazil. From June 19th to August 10th, it will add departures from Ezeiza to Recife, Porto Seguro, Salvador, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Andes Lineas Aereas to arrive at Esquel

ARGENTINA
Tam strengthens scheduling from Buenos Aires in winter
This winter, the airline will add seven new frequencies per week, linking Buenos Aires with different points of Brazil. From June 19th to August 10th, it will add departures from Ezeiza to Recife, Porto Seguro, Salvador, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Andes Lineas Aereas to arrive at Esquel
Thanks to an agreement signed between the government of the province of Chubut and Andes Lineas Aereas, as of June 29th Esquel will be integrated in the aero commercial route whose current destination is Puerto Madryn. Andes will carry out two weekly flights on the Buenos Aires- Puerto Madryn -Esquel- Buenos Aires route.

First boutique hotel will be opened in Rosario
On December 10th, with the opening of the Savoy, Rosario will have the first prototype boutique hotel, with the renovation of the former San Lorenzo and San Martin building and a large part of its furniture.

Hilton will open new hotel in Bariloche
Imocom will make an investment of more than US$120 million in a hotel, which will be managed by Hilton and will have 210 rooms. The Hilton Bariloche โ€“ Patagonia will be located within the โ€œCircuito Chicoโ€ with a shore on the Moreno Este Lake.

Blue Tree Hotels will open third hotel
Blue Tree Hotels announced that before the end of the year, it would set the opening of its third establishment in Argentina. It informed of plans to open a hotel in Buenos Aires, which will be added to the one operating in the Recoleta and Bariloche neighborhood.

BRAZIL
Tam will begin flights between Rio-Miami in September
The president of Tam informed that the flight between Rio de Janeiro and Miami would begin in September.

Delta Air Lines flights to Sao Paulo โ€“ Atlanta
Since Monday the 5th, Delta Air Lines has been operating the Sao Paulo-Atlanta-Sao Paulo route in two of its seven weekly frequencies.

OceanAir will cease flying to twelve destinations
OceanAir will cease flying to 12 national destinations, concentrating its operations in 25 destinations with the aim of accelerating the uniformization of its fleet. OceanAir will no longer operate in Vitoria da Conquista, Macae, Uberaba, Sao Jose dos Campos, Juazeiro do Norte, Joao Pessoa, Natal, Aracatuba, Iguazu Falls, Goiania, Palmas and Cascavel.

Varig cancels flights to Spain after 5 months of operations
Varigโ€™s final flight between Madrid and Sao Paulo departed on May 12th after the company decided to cancel this route, which began operating in the Barajas airport in December.

Korean Air to operate again in the country
After a meeting held in Brasilia between the president of Embratur and the manager of Business Development and Marketing of Korean Air for Latin America, the return of the airline to Brazil was confirmed. As of June 3rd, Korean Air will link Sao Paulo and Los Angeles three times per week.

CHILE
LAN and TAMโ€™s frequent flyer program agreement
Frequent flyers of LAN and TAM will be able to accumulate mileage and points, respectively, and earn rewards for the flights operated by both companies. This is part of an agreement reached last year whose aim is to expand the services offered to their clients. LANPASS members will accumulate mileage from their flights with TAM and will be able to earn rewards for flights operated by that airline.

PERU
Copa increases daily flights from Lima
As of August 11th, Copa Airlines will have a fourth daily frequency to Panama City. The airline made this announcement as part of an aggressive growth plan using its Hub of the Americas in Panama City as a connection center with the rest of the continent.

LAN inaugurates Lima-Medellin route
Lan inaugurated a new route between Lima and Medellin, with a stopover in Quito.

Luxury hotel will be constructed in Pucallpa
Inversiones Turisticas de la Amazonia (Amazon Tourism Investments) will build โ€œthe largest and most modern hotel of the Peruvian Amazonโ€ in Pucallpa. The construction will require an investment of US$12 million.

Fares for the Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes route will increase
The Conseltur Machu Picchu consortium announced the increase of its fares for the transportation service from Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) to the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and vice versa, which will be put into effect on June 1st. The company indicated that the cost per foreign adult for roundtrip service will be US$ 14, while the price per foreign child will be US$7.

Decameron will begin construction of resort in Punta Sal in August
In August, Decameron will begin the construction of a resort in Punta Sal (Tumbes). The Blue Marlin business association announced the US$65 million investment this year in hotel projects in different locations throughout the country.

Casa Andina will open three-star hotel next year
The Casa Andina hotel chain will open a three-star hotel in Trujillo (La Libertad) in the first quarter of next year, informed its Marketing manager.

The News & Observer recommends Peruvian beaches for surfing
The United States newspaper โ€œThe News & Observerโ€ recommended that surfers from abroad come and surf the beaches of Peru, and that they to try and find the world champion Magoo de la Rosa.

COLOMBIA
Avianca will inaugurate Cali-Medellin-Caracas route
As of yesterday, Avianca has been operating the Cali-Medellin-Caracas route. The connection will be operated with four weekly frequencies. The airline thus completes a total of 43 Colombia-Venezuela-Colombia frequencies per week and will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

VENEZUELA
Pestana inaugurated hotel in Caracas
Pestana inaugurated its 11th establishment in South America, the five-star Pestana Caracas, which was added to the nine hotels operating in Brasil and the Pestana Buenos Aires.

CUBA
Domus Selecta incorporates its first establishment
Domus Selecta, the Hotusa Hotelsโ€™ โ€œestablishments with charmโ€ brand, incorporated its first establishment in Cuba, the Hotel Santa Isabel, an exclusive hotel located in Old Havana.

MEXICO
Costa Maya begins recovery of cruise ship dock
The general director of the Port Authority of Quintana Roo (Apiqroo) announced that the cruise ship dock of Costa Maya, located in Mahahual, could be operational in September after having been damaged by hurricane โ€œDeanโ€ last August.

Cancun will refund VAT to foreign tourists
As of this summer, the state of Quintana Roo will refund the VAT to foreign tourists, thereby hoping that the purchasing segment will increase by 15 percent, announced the general director of Premier Tax Free.

Cancun seeks to position itself as a comprehensive tourism offer
Cancun launched its international campaign โ€œCancun, profoundly uniqueโ€, and as part of this, a Caravan to South America will be held. Its goal is to position Cancun as a comprehensive tourism offer where segments such as culture, adventure, nature, business and conventions, gastronomy and spas combine to make Cancun a premium destination.

PANAMA
Celebrity Cruises will expand trips offers to the Panama Canal
Celebrity Cruises will offer more trips to the Panama Canal in the 2009-2010 season with 8 new offers of 13 and 16 nights. Cruise ships will depart from the ports of Fort Lauderdale, Miami, San Diego, Seattle and Valparaiso, in Chile, aboard the Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Mercury ships. The trips will also include visits to several touristic destinations of interest in the Caribbean region, such as Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
300 hotels under construction throughout the country

ARGENTINA
300 hotels under construction throughout the country
At present, there are more than 300 hotels under construction involving investments of US$925 million. These investments in touristic infrastructure are growing together with a higher influx of foreign visitors to the country, as well as a 30 percent increase in total tourists expenditures which in 2007 added up to US$4.15 billion. The most important hotel projects are those of the Hilton, Starwood, Marriott and Hyatt chains.

Hilton Buenos Aires presents personalized websites
Hilton Buenos Aires presented the POG website system which is available in all of the hotels of the chain. Every event with rooms included qualifies for free access to a personalized web site. In this way, detailed information about a certain event will be available to those invited to it through access to the site. In addition, they will be able to reserve their rooms with the groupโ€™s special fares.

Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral cancel flights due to volcanic ash
Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral are maintaining the cancellation of flights to Trelew, Neuquen, Bahia Blanca and San Carlos de Bariloche due to the cloud of ashes coming from the Chilean volcano, Chaiten. American Airlines and United Airlines have joined this measure, suspending 6 flights between the two of them to and from the United States.

LAN to double Salta-Buenos Aires flights
LAN announced that it will double its services on the Salta-Buenos Aires route, which will provide the province with a smooth connection to the Federal Capital.

URUGUAY
Pluna receives IOSA certification
The airline was able to pass the remaining percentage of items in the IATA audit, thus completing the 100 percent necessary to achieve IOSA certification. This guarantees passengers that the airline will comply with the highest standards of the international aeronautics industry.

BRAZIL
Sol Melia includes new hotels
Sol Melia signed two new projects, which will enable it to include 2 establishments in the country: the Jacuma Beach Resort in Rio Grande do Norte, and another in Brasilia. These initiatives demonstrate the expansion policy of the Mallorca hotelier, which plans to include approximately 80 establishments between 2008 and 2010, giving special importance to European cities, North America, the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin.

Azul will begin operations in January 2009
The airline will begin operating next January under the name Azul Lineas Aereas Brasilenas with the first three of a total of 76 Embraer 195 airplanes which were ordered from the manufacturer. It will be the first Latin American airline to offer live television on individual screens by means of a satellite transmission system.

PERU
Immigration Control will now last only 10 seconds
This new system which verifies the Immigrations and Warrants databases in ten seconds will facilitate the work of the Department of Immigration and Naturalization (Digemin) during the arrival of the delegations coming to our country for the V ALC-UE Summit.

Jorge Chavez Airport has staff specialized in the handling of aircraft hijacking and hostage rescue
Members of the National Police’s special tactics unit (SUAT, for its Spanish acronym) began operations in the Jorge Chavez international airport, completing the security plan that the country will offer the heads of state and other authorities arriving for the V ALC-UE Summit.

The New York Times highlights Peruโ€™s coastline as ideal surf destination
The New York Times highlighted the Peruvian coastline as a privileged surfing destination. The article written by the journalist Julia Chaplin highlighted beaches such as Punta Rocas, Mancora, Los Organos, Chicama, and Lobitos, among others. It also emphasized the increase of tourists attracted by the offer of good Peruvian waves.

Hotel Miramar to be inaugurated
The hotel Miramar (Lima) will open its doors in the first half of May in the building where the hotel Bruce in Miraflores used to operate.

ECUADOR
Jose Joaquin de Olmedo airport will suspend flights
Due to runway repairs, flights of the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport will be suspended for a period of 5 hours; only the terminal and other services will operate until the repairs are completed. This will be the second preventive maintenance intervention on the runway, with the aim of keeping it operational for aircraft take-off and landing.

COLOMBIA
Best Western shows interest in the country
The North American hotel chain Best Western, with 4,200 worldwide establishments, plans to expand in Colombia through its principal franchise in Mexico, which currently manages 81 hotels in eight countries.

Avianca inaugurates second frequency to New York
A new frequency on the Bogota-New York-Bogota route is available in reservation systems, travel agencies and the airlineโ€™s points of sale. Avianca will have 12 flights available per week with the best schedules between the countryโ€™s capital and New York. Hoping to serve the demand of business and tourism travelers between these two cities, the airline will begin its second flight frequency on the Bogota-New York-Bogota route this Friday.

VENEZUELA
Avior will continue operating Carupano-Caracas route
The authorities of the Jose Francisco Bermudez de Carupano airport and Avior personnel categorically dismissed claims that this transport company is considering closing its daily service between Carupano and Caracas. The explanatory statement was given in response to information rendered by Daniel Gonzalez, AD Member of Parliament, in front of the Legislative Council in Cumana, who stated last week that Avior would cease operating because of the low profitability in carrying out the route twice a day. The source indicated that on the contrary, we are once again operating the 9.30 a.m. and 4.40 p.m. schedules with destination to Caracas at just one rate.

COSTA RICA
Satellite touristic map, new tool for tourists
Tourists who visit the country will have access to a satellite touristic map available on the Internet through GPS to find their location and travel from one place to another. The site offers the location and basic information about approximately 4,000 touristic companies such as hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping centers and car rentals, as well as all types of services and commerce.

MEXICO
Aeromexico will fly to Italy
Beginning July 25th, Aeromexico will offer direct flights between Rome and Mexico after two decades in which no airline has covered that route. Aeromexico will fly to the Federal District twice a week, with a stopover in Monterrey. This new route reflects the growing level of the bilateral relationship.

Tourism this week in Latin America

LATIN AMERICA
Grupo Posadas has busy expansion plans Latin American hotelier

LATIN AMERICA
Grupo Posadas has busy expansion plans Latin American hotelier
Grupo Posadas plans to open 15 new hotels this year. โ€œWith a portfolio of 104 hotels and 19,042 guestrooms in fifty of the most sought after beach and city destinations throughout Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, Grupo Posadas has well established its positioning as Latin America’s leading hotel operator,โ€ says the company in a press release. The group opened seven hotels last year, including the debut of its modern lifestyle brand AQUA at AQUA Cancun. Scheduled to debut this spring is the Caesar Park Buenos Aires Obelisco, named for its location in front of the 220-foot monument standing in the heart of Buenos Aires. In the business and economy categories, Posadas’ Fiesta Inn and One Hotels will have 13 openings this year. A hospitality concept designed to meet the needs of frequent business travelers, Fiesta Inn will expand its portfolio from 58 to 66 offerings. The brand promotes comfort at affordable prices.

ARGENTINA
Strong investment for ski season
Nieves del Chapelco invested more than โ‚ฌ 2.2 million to improve the quality of service at the San Martin de los Andes ski center and ensure customerโ€™s enjoyment of skiing and the snow. Among the announced improvements, 8 snow-making machines will be purchased which will guarantee snow cover from 1,600 m to the base, an important area for skiers and snowboarders when the weather does not naturally provide enough coverage.

Aerolineas Argentinas increases frequencies to international destinations
After cancelling flights to Mexico and Cancun, and the temporary suspension of flights to New York, the scheduled itinerary for July foresees an increase of frequencies to almost all international destinations. Flights to Madrid will increase from 8 to 11 per week, to Barcelona from 2 to 3, to Rome from 4 to 5 and the intercontinental flight will be increased from 3 to 4. There will be 6 flights to Miami and the flights to New York will be resumed with 4 frequencies per week. Flights to Caracas will increase from 4 to 6 and to Bogota from 3 to 4.

Andes inaugurates flights to Tucuman
The Benjamin Matienzo airport received the inaugural flight of ANDES airlines. The aircraft transported 167 passengers including senators, officials, journalists and businessmen who had been invited by the company.

Entry of foreigners to the Amazon will be limited to protect ecosystem
The minister of Justice has recently informed of an immigration bill, which seeks to control the entry of foreigners into the Amazon to prevent them from committing illegal acts.

BRAZIL
Air Europa will end flights to Rio de Janeiro
The airline informed that as of May 9th it will no longer operate the three frequencies between Madrid and Rio de Janeiro due to low occupancy. The four frequencies between Madrid and Salvador will continue, and the airline is negotiating new frequencies from Recife.

BOLIVIA
LAB announces resumption of operations
The general manager of LAB announced that the airlineโ€™s operations will be resumed within 10 days. The Superintendent of Transportation delivered the renewed license, valid for two years, to LAB executives, enabling the company to operate national and international commercial flights.

PERU
More than 350 thousand tourists travel from Urubamba to Machu Picchu by rail per year
Andean Railways informed that more than 350 thousand tourists take the train from Urubamba to Machu Picchu annually. The company plans to operate the route as of July with reduced fares. Urubamba has the highest concentration of hotels. This service will focus on responding to the demand of intermediate sector tourists that travel the route to Machu Picchu.

Promotion of experiential tourism in Colca Valley to attract more visitors
Experiential tourism in the Colca Valley (Arequipa) is a reality thanks to the support of the AECI (the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation) which has enabled the restoration and preparation of 15 lodgings to accommodate visitors. The district is promoting the Sibayo touristic corridor, which includes not only the experience of living with a rural family for a few days, but also sharing their home, food and customs. Furthermore, there will be canoeing, trekking and visits to the archaeological sites of the district. The accommodation service will be US$ 20 per night.

Casa Andina enters northern Peru
The hotel chain Casa Andina concluded negotiations to begin redesigning its first property in Trujillo. The hotel belongs to the Casa Andina Classic brand and will be inaugurated next year.

San Agustin Chain would open hotels in the north and the jungle in the next two years
The San Agustin Hotel Chain is assessing its entry into the north and the jungle between 2009 and 2010 due to the increased flow of tourism. Possibilities in Trujillo, Cajamarca, Madre de Dios, Tarapoto, Junin and Ilo are being studied.

Resumption of Aerocondorโ€™s operations in Nasca and Ica Authorized
Aerocondor resumed its operations in Nasca and Ica. The airline complied with the suspension of its operations as determined by the DGAC (the General Directorate of Civil Aviation) who applied the laws and strict proceedings as a means to restrain the problems occurring in the touristic service of that area.

COLOMBIA
Hotel chain projects continue to develop
Projects in the hotel sector continue their course. Within this outlook, the investments made by chains such as Royal, Accor and Marriot, among others, stand out. They have decided to aim at the local market through construction, land acquisition and employment generation. So far this year, the average hotel occupancy in the country has been 65 percent and the regions in which the 5-star category stands out have been Bogota with 70.8 percent, Cartagena with 66.5 percent, Norte de Santander with 62.5 percent and Antioquia with 58 percent. Regarding expansion and investment in new establishments, Cotelco states that a total of 72 hotels will be constructed between 2008 and 2011, with the entrance of 7,918 rooms in the national market, enabling the promotion of the countryโ€™s touristic activity.

US$ 500 million would be invested in hotels between 2008 and 2010
Approximately 15,000 new rooms are being planned for those years, which is a 20 percent increase in the hotel offer since there are currently 120,000 rooms in the country. The president of the Hotelier Association affirmed that almost US$ 500 million are being invested in hotel construction and remodeling.

Aero Republica will offer flights between Medellin, Bogota and Caracas
As of May 24th, Aero Republica will offer direct connections between Medellin and Caracas, as well as between Bogota and Caracas.

VENEZUELA
Aeropostal resumes national operations
Aeropostal resumed operations of national flights after the INAC (the National Institute of Civil Aviation) ordered the temporary suspension of its services until it complied with its air safety manuals.

PANAMA
Enlargement of the Panama Canal will increase passage of cruise ships
The traffic capacity of cruise ships will increase with the enlargement of the Panama Canal, informed the Panama Canal Authority (ACP, for its acronym in Spanish). According to its estimates, with the passage of new Postpanamax embarkations, the capacity of passenger traffic via the inter-oceanic route will increase by 52,600 passengers during cruise season, which lasts from October to May.

CUBA
Qatar will invest US$ 70 million in luxury hotel
Cuba and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding to build a five-star hotel worth US$ 70 million in Cayo Largo del Sur, one of the most beautiful islets of the Cuban archipelago. Three other sites in Cuba have been identified for future undertakings.

1,000 tourists visit Cienfuegos daily
Cienfuegos is a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. Daily, more than one thousand visitors are attracted to this place where several investments in tourism are planned. The industry authorities have stated that this is because visitors arrive for the patrimonial attractions, beaches and the beauty of the Jagua Bay. Investments are planned for the San Carlos hotel, the incorporation of new facilities in the Hoteles Encanto project, and foreign investments in urban areas.

Tourism this week in Latin America

LATIN AMERICA
Spanish hoteliers will invest US$4.8 billion
The main Spanish hotel chains met in Inverotel to coordinate their international investments with an amount of US$4.8 billion in three years. The investments will be concentrated in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Costa Rica.

Big plans for Novotel

LATIN AMERICA
Spanish hoteliers will invest US$4.8 billion
The main Spanish hotel chains met in Inverotel to coordinate their international investments with an amount of US$4.8 billion in three years. The investments will be concentrated in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Costa Rica.

Big plans for Novotel
Accor Hospitality will form a Novotel Latin America network. At present, it has 16 operational branches in Brazil, Chile, Peru and Mexico, four more under construction, and it expects to have 25 more establishments by 2012. The branches in Brazil are Novotel Cuiaba and Novotel Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont. In Argentina, the hotel will be in Buenos Aires, while in Peru it is being built in Lima.

ARGENTINA
Tax Free purchases increased by 13%
Tax Free purchases grew by 13 percent compared to last year, with an increase of 4 percent in the already existing shops. European tourists as a whole represented 26 percent of the total and increased by 24 percent compared to February of 2007.

Aerolineas Argentinas would cancel flights to Mexico
Aerolineas Argentinas would suspend flights to Mexico and Cancun, coinciding with the low demand season. The airline is working on a more ambitious itinerary that will include frequencies to Miami, Caracas and Bogota, among other destinations.

Trump evaluates entering the hotel business
Donald Trump would enter the hotel business together with the Fen Hotels chain to become the local representative of one of the main real-estate developers in the world. The Fen partners met with the businessmanโ€™s daughter and vice president of the Trump Organization in order to reach an agreement.

5-star hotel planned in Tigre
The construction of a hotel in Tigre, “Buenos Aires,” will require an investment of US$15 million. The construction would begin during the second half of this year, with a construction period of 18 months.

URUGUAY
Pluna will have new routes
Pluna will fly directly between Montevideo and the Argentine cities of Rosario and Bariloche starting June 10th. The Montevideo-Rosario route will be covered by six weekly flights, while the Montevideo-Bariloche route will have one weekly frequency.

PARAGUAY
Regional Paraguaya Lineas Aereas finalizes details to start operations
Regional Paraguaya Lineas Aereas would begin operations at the end of July. The investment would be US$10 to 12 million in a project which would last three years. The routes would be Asuncion-Ciudad del Este-Buenos Aires and Ciudad del Este-Asuncion-Santiago and others that will be opened in the following months, and for which flight agreements have already been signed with two European and three North American companies.

BRAZIL
Pluna will have more flights between Sao Paulo and Montevideo
As of June 16th, Pluna will add six more weekly flights between Sao Paulo and Montevideo.

Varig signs agreement with Taca
The agreement signed between VRG and Taca initially foresees flights in the Sao-Paulo-Lima-Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro-Lima-Rio de Janeiro routes. In a second stage, this could also include other destinations in Brasil as well as in Peru.

Gay Pride parade has website
On the occasion of Sao Pauloโ€™s Gay Pride parade, to be held on May 25th, Embratur launched loveland.net, a website with touristic and cultural information and related links for the homosexual community. With this site, they expect to promote Brazil as a gay friendly destination and encourage tourists coming to the event to visit other destinations in the country.

CHILE
Taca announces flights to Medellin and Guatemala
Taca announced new flights Santiago-Medellin and Santiago-Guatemala, both connecting through Lima, which will operate as of July 1st.

PERU
Peru Travel Mart 2008 held
Peru Travel Mart 2008, which was held on April 23rd to the 27th in Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machupicchu and Cusco, received tour operators from several countries. The President of the Republic, Alan Garcia, welcomed the participants.

Inka Rail and Andean Railways are the new operator on the Cusco-Machupicchu route
Fetransa authorized railway access for the route from Cusco to Machupicchu presented by Inka Rail. Also, the MTC confirmed access for Andean Railways to operate the Cusco-Machupicchu route, enabling the entry of another competitor in this sector.

โ€œLas Casitas del Colcaโ€ began operations with an investment of US$4.5 million
โ€œLas Casitas del Colcaโ€, of Orient Express, located beside the Valley of the Volcanoes in the Colca Canyon, began operating. The investment has been US$4.5 million until the present.

ECUADOR
Canar Railway makes progress in rehabilitation project
The touristic circuit of the Tambo โ€“ Banos del Inca โ€“ Coyoctor (Canar) route will be operational in July, with an investment of US$1 million. The touristic circuit will begin its journey at the Archaeological Museum, where pieces of the Canari and Inca cultures are exhibited.

COLOMBIA
21 new certified taxis for tourism
In Bocagrande, 21 new taxis were certified as being of Touristic Quality. Six months ago, the Hilton hotelโ€™s station was certified with this distinction. The Las Americas hotelโ€™s station is currently undergoing this process.

PANAMA
Proposal to charge taxes to passengers in transit through Tucumen airport
The ACI for Latin America proposed charging an additional fee of US$10 to passengers in transit through the Tucumen airport.

Bern Hotels & Resort will open new hotel in 2009
Bern Hotels and Resort will open a new hotel, scheduled for 2009, as a result of a written agreement with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The investment will be US$25 million.

MEXICO
6.0% airfare increase
The National Chamber of Air Transport estimates that a 6.0 percent increase in airfare will be necessary to cover the rise in fuel costs.

Cancun, 38 years as tourist destination
38 years have passed since Cancun placed itself as the countryโ€™s international destination capital with a large touristic offer. It receives three million tourists annually, and attracts an important amount of foreign currency. In 2007 it obtained US$3.073 billion, contributing 32 percent of Mexicoโ€™s touristic income. It also contributes substantially to the GDP of Quintana Roo.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Vik Hotel Chain presented new hotels in the Dominican Republic, the Canary Islands, Chile and Uruguay
Vik Hotels acquired 50 percent of two hotels in Punta Cana, the first being the 4-star Vik Hotel Arena Blanca and the second, the 5-star Vik Hotel Cayena. Furthermore, it will begin launching 4 and 5-star establishments located in the Canary Islands, the Dominican Republic and future openings in Chile and Uruguay. The hotels were presented at the Date tourism fair.

CUBA
Touristic bus expands its fleet in Varadero
Eight vehicles will be included in the proposal for the Touristic Bus. The Varadero Beach Tour travels along the peninsula with the purchase of a ticket valid for the whole day. The number of stops will be increased to 17, with 25 minutes between buses. The Hop-On Hop-Off Touristic Bus system also runs with smaller vehicles in the touristic areas of Trinidad, Jardines del Rey, Cuardalavaca, Vinales and Baracoa.

Inauguration of new hotel in Historic Center
Habaguanex will expand its accommodation capacity with the opening of the Marques de Prado Ameno hotel in Old Havana. This four-star establishment boasts a privileged location very close to the famous Plaza de Armas and Cathedral. The opening is scheduled for May.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
18 percent increase for shipping authorized
The government authorized an 18 percent increase in fares for freight flights whose price has been regulated since 2002, and was previously adjusted just once by 20 percent in October 2006.

Pluna will link Mar del Plata with other Latin American cities

ARGENTINA
18 percent increase for shipping authorized
The government authorized an 18 percent increase in fares for freight flights whose price has been regulated since 2002, and was previously adjusted just once by 20 percent in October 2006.

Pluna will link Mar del Plata with other Latin American cities
Pluna will operate direct flights between Mar del Plata and several Latin American capitals, which would make up part of the promotion of the main Argentine resort town.

TAM will fly weekly from Bariloche to Brazil
In mid-June, there will be two direct flights per week from Bariloche to Sao Paulo with an Airbus 320 on Thursdays and Sundays. This will enable rapid connections with the northern hemisphere, particularly with Europe and the United States.

URUGUAY
Pluna plans hub in Montevideo
Pluna plans to convert the airport of Montevideo into a regional hub and transport passengers to it from inside Argentina, as well as reinforce the shuttle service between Buenos Aires and Montevideo and offer some promotions starting from US$ 7 per flight.

PARAGUAY
Iberia would fly to Asuncion
Iberia is studying the possibility of returning to Paraguay due to the improvement of airport taxes which is being carried out through the formation of an Inter-Institutional Commission. Its objective is to promote and strengthen commercial air traffic in order to place Paraguay as a center for air distribution of cargo and passengers.

BRAZIL
VRG suspends flights to Europe
VRG will stop flying to Madrid on May 21st and to Paris on June 9th, thus suspending all of its flights to Europe. Gol announced the suspension of operations to Mexico City as of May 11th as part of a plan to restructure the international network which will try to adapt VRG to market conditions and expand its presence in the local market and in South America.

Pluna requests authorization to fly between Curitiba and Montevideo
Pluna requested authorization to fly daily between Curitiba and Montevideo as of June 18th, with an extension to Buenos Aires.

OceanAir will stop flying to Mexico
OceanAir temporarily suspended its flights to Mexico. In addition, it will transfer part of its fleet to Avianca, as part of an integration process of both companies.

Destination Brazil Showcase in Rio
The Destination Brazil Showcase, an event organized by the Brazilian receptive tourism industry, will be held in Rio de Janeiro on June 16th and 17th. http://www.destinationbrazil.com.br

Taca, expansion in the country
Taca informed that it will fly directly from Rio to Lima and that its expansion within the country will begin in Rio de Janeiro with operations planned to fly to Porto Alegre, Manaus and the northeast, as well as alliances with Brazilian airlines.

Luxury train departs on April 23rd
Great Brasil Express will begin services on the 23rd of this month. The train can transport small groups and the cost of a 7-day, all-inclusive package with destination to Iguazu Falls, accommodation in hotels in route, and visits to Morretes, Vilha Vela, Cascabel, among other attractions, as well as the classic trip to the Falls, will be approximately US$ 3,500.

PERU
MachuPicchu among the 10 places in the world that all travelers must see
TripAdvisor published the list of the โ€œTop 10: Places that all travelers must see.โ€ List: 1. Paris, France -2. Cairo, Egypt โ€“ 3. Venice, Italy โ€“ 4. Maya Ruins, Mexico- 5. Stonehenge, United Kingdom โ€“ 6. Athens, Greece โ€“ 7. New York, United States โ€“ 8. The Great Wall, China โ€“ 9. The Gran Canyon of Colorado, United States โ€“ 10. Machu Picchu, Peru.

Luxury Properties will open its first hotel in Cusco
Luxury Properties, a new Italian group, will open its first hotel in Cusco. In May, 16 luxury suites will increase the locationโ€™s offer for this sector of the market. It will include a three-floor spa and a gourmet restaurant. Additionally, they also hope to open a hotel in Lima as well as in the Patagonia and other Latin American destinations.

ECUADOR
Archaeological park inaugurated in Quito
The Tulipe archaeological site and museum in northwestern Quito was inaugurated. The museum offers information about the culture of the Yumbos, ancient inhabitants of the region.

COLOMBIA
Flights to Lima by LAN and Taca
LAN and Taca will connect Medellin with Lima; the first will have a stop-over in Quito (Ecuador), while the second will go directly to Lima (Peru).

PANAMA
Iberia will operate new frequency to Madrid
The new flight, which will arrive on May 5th, completes Iberiaโ€™s offer, which used to fly to Panama on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. With the new frequency there will be 14,000 new seats available weekly on the Madrid-Panama route, an increase of 27 percent.
9,000 rooms expected to be built in the next five years
Panamaโ€™s tourism industry is planning the construction of 9,000 rooms in the next five years, informed the president of the Hotel Association.

$10 million hotel begins operations
Playa Tortuga Hotel and Beach Resort began operations in Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro with an investment of over US$ 10 million. It has 119 rooms, two restaurants, two auditoriums for its events and meetings, and a gymnasium, among other attractions.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Air Dominicana will begin flights on May 2nd
As of May 2nd, Air Dominicana will begin flights with two Boeing B737s which will be based in Punta Cana, from which they will operate flights to Venezuela and Colombia, and after three months, they will arrive in Puerto Rico and Miami.

Construction of hotel with US$ 240 million investment
With an investment of US$ 240 million, the luxury hotel chain Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will construct a 225 room hotel in the Roco Residential and Tourism complex. The Fairmont Roco Ki will include a Fairmont Residences complex with condominiums and villas and the private club Fairmount Heritage Place.

GUATEMALA
Taca will begin direct connection with South America
At the beginning of July, Taca will open a new direct connection between Guatemala and Peru. This will enable its passengers to connect with the rest of the South American countries. Three frequencies per week are being planned for the route. The airline will open new direct routes between Lima and Rio de Janeiro and Lima-Medellin.

MEXICO
Hilton will invest US$ 210 million
Hilton Hotels Corporation will invest US$ 210 million in the next few years for the opening of 14 new hotels in Mexico. The openings will belong to the Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites and Hampton Inn brands.

United would fly from Los Angeles
The United States DOT suggested authorizing United Airlines to begin new flights between Los Angeles and San Jose del Cabo. The service would be functional as soon as Frontier Services suspends its flights before the end of the month.

AeroMexico would make direct flights to China at the end of May
The first direct flight between China and Mexico will be inaugurated on May 29th, according to an official from the AeroMexico air company in Shanghai.
CUBA
Melia Habana being redesigned
The hotel Melia Habana of La Habana is redesigning its facilities in response to an interest in adding new amenities to improve the image offered to vacationers.

PUERTO RICO
New web site will offer information to tourists
The countryโ€™s Tourism Company launched a web site which will offer users information about the destination and its different regions, as well as the possibility of booking accommodation and airfare by electronic reservation.

LATIN AMERICA
Lonely Planet will review its tourist guides
Lonely Planet has been forced to review three of its editions for Latin America, after one of its contributors confessed in a book to having invented entire sections of the guide to Brazil.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Lan Argentina with new plane
Lan Argentina announced the incorporation of an Airbus 320 on which it has replaced its name for that of OneWorld on the fuselage. The new aircraft has the same image as the ten international airlines which form the alliance.

Avenida de Mayo has cultural programs

ARGENTINA
Lan Argentina with new plane
Lan Argentina announced the incorporation of an Airbus 320 on which it has replaced its name for that of OneWorld on the fuselage. The new aircraft has the same image as the ten international airlines which form the alliance.

Avenida de Mayo has cultural programs
On Saturdays and Sundays until May 18th, cultural events will be offered for both tourists and Buenos Aires residents on Avenida de Mayo. The schedule combines events on the main public roads with activities in Notable Bars and other representative buildings of the area.

International Congress of Adventure Tourism in Mendoza
From September 14th to the 20th, the province of Mendoza will be the world capital of adventure tourism, thanks to the International Congress of Adventure Tourism, an essential meeting for suppliers, exhibitors, and professionals in the sector. The first part will be held in the City of Mendoza on September 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th, and the second in the City of San Rafael on the 18th, 19th and 20th.

URUGUAY
Pluna hopes to add new destinations
The airline is preparing to expand in the regional market by flying from Montevideo. โ€œIn a radius of 3,000 km, departing from Montevideo, there are many cities that are not properly serviced, which are difficult to access. We want to insure an effective connection in the region,โ€ stated the general manager of the company.

PARAGUAY
Fรซn Hotels in Asuncion
Fรซn Hotels inaugurated its first Esplendor establishment in Asuncion. A US$3 million investment was made to update this 5-star hotel and make it operational. Fen Hotels contributes its experience in hotel management and with this, the Esplendor brand will become the first Argentine chain to expand abroad.

BRAZIL
BNTM had 362 international operators
The 17th BNTM (Brasil National Tourism Mart) was held in Salvador de Bahia. This is the largest business fair in Brasil in which tourism professionals from the Brazilian north-east and the international market participated, with the aim of encouraging business and promoting the region. Participants included 80 tourist representatives of Bahia, 362 international operators, of which 50 percent were from the European market, 35 percent from South America and 15 percent from North America, as well as 243 hoteliers and travel agents, 80 journalists and 27 Ministers of Tourism.

Rio de Janeiro will invest US$ 187 million to develop tourist attractions
The program aims at improving the infrastructures and recovering the historic and natural appeal of several areas, including the coast, with the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi and the beach resorts of Angra dos Reis and Parary, Buzios and Cabo Frio.

ACCOR will construct 20 new hotels
Accor announced the signing of a โ€œjoint ventureโ€ with Walter Torre, one of the largest real-estate investors in Brasil, for the construction and operation of 20 hotels of the Ibis and Formule 1 chains. The investment would be US$295.1 million.

CHILE
LAN will purchase 32 ecological Boeing 787s
This is the largest investment in the airlineโ€™s history, which has been named the leading company in Latin America in environmental protection. The decision was disclosed at FIDAE (the International Air and Space Fair), where IATA launched an unprecedented initiative to reduce all forms of air pollution, in both CO2 emissions and noise reduction.

BOLIVIA
LAB plans to begin non regular flights
LAB informed that it intends to begin non regular flights, for which it doesnโ€™t require authorization from the Superintendence of Transport, but it does require authorization from DGAC (General Directorate of Civil Aviation), which has not made an announcement yet. The general manager of the airline indicated that the company had officially sent the request to DGAC with a schedule of between three and four daily flights on several national routes.

PERU
Chinese government will begin promotion as touristic destination
The head of the National Administration of Tourism of China, present at APEC, announced that China will begin the promotion of Peru as a touristic destination in its country. During the next few months, they will meet with the representatives of Mincetur in China to organize and coordinate the promotional activities of the Peruvian Destination in that country.

Surfing opportunities
The Australian representative of APACE stated that Peru offers great potential for Australian tourists who surf. โ€œPeru has a great potential for tourism. One of the areas that has not been mentioned until now is surfing, where the opportunities between Australia and Peru are excellent.โ€

Inka Rail will request access to the Cusco-Machupicchu railway line
Representatives of Inka Rail and Ferrocarril Central Andino (Fetransa) met to evaluate the formerโ€™s request for access to the Cusco-Machupicchu railway line, which is operated by the latter. โ€œAfter informing them that they should indicate the specific schedule they wanted and the number of coaches they would use, as well as the date on which they intended to bring them, we agreed that they would resubmit their request with said modifications,โ€ commented the director of Regulatory and Legal Services of Fetransa.

ECUADOR
Quito expects to exceed 1 million visitors
A new strategic tourism plan was presented which proposes that this year 1.8 million tourists will visit the city. The proposition consists in the creation of new touristic products, the professionalization of those who work in the tourism industry, and the improvement of the conditions of touristic attractions.

Tame begins route to Manaus
As of May 14th, Tame will begin operations on the Guayaquil-Manaus, Brazil route which will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays. It will analyze an agreement with TAM Linhas Aereas to market the frequencies with connections in Manaus arriving in Salvador, Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Rio with TAM.

PANAMA
KLM-IPAT launch new campaign
Ipat and KLM reached an agreement to promote the Amsterdam-Panama flight, which has been operated by the airline since March 31st, in Europe. Ipat will contribute 50 percent of the US$ 1.2 million publicity campaign, which will have greater intensity in Holland, Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

MEXICO
Oaxaca recovers touristic activity
The secretary of Tourism of Oaxaca stated that this city has almost recovered in regards to this activity and hopes to end 2008 with hotel occupation of close to 55 percent. He also stressed that the new Aeromexico flights to this city can contribute to the increase in tourism.

American Airlines flies between Dallas and Tampico
American Airlines inaugurated the new route which will link Dallas with Tampico, in the state of Tamaulipas. The operations, which will increase the number of the companyโ€™s destinations in Mexico to 15, will be covered by American Eagle.

Mexicana de Aviacion to join OneWorld
Mexicana de Aviacion will join OneWorld in order to strengthen its international flights, adding that this alliance will increase its routes because the participating companies will have access to 700 destinations in approximately 150 countries, with a combined fleet of 2,350 aircraft which will operate 9,500 flights per day and will transport 333 million passengers, representing an annual income of US$100 billion.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Airlines request routes
Mexicana de Aviacion, Delta Airlines and Avianca are hoping to obtain new routes to and from the Dominican Republic. Although Delta Airlines already has established routes from Santo Domingo to Miami and New York, it requested authorization to operate from the Dominican capital to Atlanta.

Modernization of Puerto Plata will cost US$150 million
Puerto Plata is once again showing signs of a boom and renewal in its touristic offer thanks to the governmental investment of more than US$150 million in remodeling projects of beaches and hotel infrastructures.

CUBA
Paradisus Varadero among 100 most popular establishments in the world
The Paradisus Varadero hotel was added to the Gulet Touristik list which gathers the 100 most popular establishments of its kind in the world. This company makes up part of the World of TUI, the principal European wholesaler of this industry, based in Germany.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Cultural tourism increases in Buenos Aires
640,000 foreign tourists โ€œinvadedโ€ the city in the summer of 2008, 11 percent more than in 2007. Cultural tourism grows each year and now places Buenos Aires among attractive cities such as Paris, New York and Madrid. The city attracts Europeans and North Americans, as well as tourists from neighboring countries.

ARGENTINA
Cultural tourism increases in Buenos Aires
640,000 foreign tourists โ€œinvadedโ€ the city in the summer of 2008, 11 percent more than in 2007. Cultural tourism grows each year and now places Buenos Aires among attractive cities such as Paris, New York and Madrid. The city attracts Europeans and North Americans, as well as tourists from neighboring countries.

Airlines increase flights
In the past few months, international airlines increased the frequency of flights, adding more options for passengers. The latest additions have been made by Air Canada, Qantas and British Airways, which will launch direct flights, or more dynamic flights with a stopover this year.

Air Canada daily flights to Toronto
Air Canada will offer non-stop flights between Buenos Aires and Toronto from December 1st of this year until April 1st, 2009. The airline, which currently operates one daily flight between both cities with a stop-over in Santiago de Chile, will thus have five weekly flights.

Bus tour
It has always been said that Buenos Aires is the most European of the Latin American capitals. Although there are many differences, as tourism grows in the city new options arise, making it more similar to the large capitals of the world such as Paris, London or Madrid. Buenos Aires already offers the option of taking an open-air bus ride.

URUGUAY
Hyatt is interested in Hotel Carrasco
The Hyatt chain stated its interest in participating in the bid for the Hotel Casino Carrasco. The consortium hopes to manage a five-star hotel with a private casino. The investment will surpass US$50,000,000 and will be ready within two years.

BRAZIL
TAM’s plans for this year
The airline’s president informed that in order to maintain leadership in the domestic and international market, the company will increase the seating offer by 14 percent and 40 percent respectively. TAM estimates that domestic demand will increase from 8 to 12 percent and that average occupation will reach 70 percent. It is also planning to begin three new frequencies to international destinations.

Aloft, new brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts for South America
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Latin America will meet with investors and businesspeople to present its expansion strategy and brand portfolio for the development of future projects, as well as launching the new brand Aloft for the South American market. The company confirmed more than 20 new hotel projects in Mexico, Central America and South America. This year Starwood Latin America will inaugurate eight new hotels, consolidating more than 60 initiatives in the region.

CHILE
Open Skies with England
Official sources reported that Chile and England have signed an โ€œopen-skyโ€ agreement, which includes passenger traffic as well as cargo. The agreement will enable the airlines from both countries to operate between anywhere in the world and these two countries without restrictions, as detailed in a communiquรฉ by the Civil Aviation Board (JAC, for its acronym in Spanish).

BOLIVIA
Indigenous population will promote Madidi and Pilon Lajas
โ€œEslabonโ€ is the first indigenous tour operator of Bolivia and offers clients different touristic services managed by communal and indigenous companies, informed the director of the project and founder of the eco-touristic lodge, Chalalan. The enterprise promotes the attractions of the Madidi national park (La Paz) and the Pilon Lajas Biosphere Reserve (Beni) in the local and international market.

PERU
Discovery of pre-Hispanic wall in the subsoil of the Historical Center of Cusco
A pre-Hispanic wall was discovered in the subsoil of the Historical Center while works to install drainage pipes were being carried out, informed the National Culture Institute (INC for its Spanish acronym). The wall was discovered by workers from a local potable water company in the Limapampa Grande square, situated a block away from the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. INC โ€“ Cusco specialists have not yet determined if the discovery belongs to the Inca or pre-Inca period, and the subject is under investigation.

Luxury hotel prices would increase by 20 percent next year due to the fall of the dollar
Four and five-star hotel prices would reflect an increase of 20 percent next year as part of a strategy to reduce the effects of the fall of the exchange rate, the hotel chain Casa Andina commented today. It should be noted that the price of the dollar fell by 8.2 percent in the first quarter of the year, in view of low exchange market pressure due to the important input of foreign currency from exports and the weakness of this currency internationally.

COLOMBIA
IHG will open Holiday Inn Express in Cartagena
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) will open the Holiday Inn Express Cartagena Hotel & Suites, the groupโ€™s first property in Cartagena. The new 32 floor hotel will be part of a mixed-use complex in the modern city center, only 20 minutes from the Rafael Nuรฑez International Airport.

Avianca renews fleet with its own resources
Avianca informed today than an โ€œimportantโ€ part of the more than US$7 billion that it will invest in the renewal of its fleet in the next few years will come from its own resources, although it is also investigating other methods of financing. The airlineโ€™s president, Fabio Villegas, informed that this year the airline will invest close to US$300 million in the incorporation of new aircraft. The director commented that they is deciding between London and Frankfurt for a new European destination to add to Madrid and Barcelona.

MEXICO
Rebirth of Huatulco
The Mexican government launched a project for the Rebirth of Huatulco as an international destination. President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa affirmed that different actions will be carried out to achieve the growth of the community and of the local and national tourism sector. To achieve this goal, the Inter-Institutional Agreement was signed by 12 Ministries of State and Federal Government organizations, as well as the State Governments of Oaxaca and the Municipality of Santa Maria Huatulco and the members of the private initiative, which highlights the joint effort to convert this into one of the countryโ€™s main destination.

CUBA
Discovery of new caves in reserve
New caves were discovered in the Caguanes National Park of Yaguajay, in the central-southern Espirituan territory, which is considered a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture. On the floor of one of these large caves food remains, mostly sea mollusks, were found and it was proven that it had been inhabited by natives of the Early Mesolithic or Siboney Guayabo Blanco, informed Hose Chirino, speleologist and organizer of the expedition.

Tourism this week in Latin America

LATIN AMERICA
HILTON Expansion plans

LATIN AMERICA
HILTON Expansion plans
In April, the chain will inaugurate the Hilton Princess San Pedro Sula in Honduras and the Hilton Princess Managua in Nicaragua. This completes an agreement to convert three properties that began with the Hilton Princess San Salvador in 2004. In 2007, Hilton announced its plans to inaugurate a hotel in Ushuaia, Argentina and this year will open a new 5-star resort in Puerto Iguazu.

ARGENTINA
Domestic airfares could increase up to 40%
The government would assess a considerable increase in the cost of airfare in order to compensate a sector which lost profitability due to labor and fuel costs, among other items. Increases of between 30 and 40 percent have been mentioned. The increase would form part of a package of measures which would also include a subsidy for aircraft fuel.

Bird sighting in Rio Negro
The Ministry of Tourism of the Rio Negro province has just launched a new touristic project related to bird sighting. The ecosystem surrounding Rio Negro is the habitat of some 200 bird species that can be observed along the almost 800 kilometers that covers this expansion of water, from west to east in the northern part of the province.

Brazil
Marriott and Renaissance leave Costa de Sauipe
As of June 1st, the hotel operator SHR (Sauipe Hotels & Resorts), administrator of the complex, will take over the management of the Costa do Sauipe Marriott Resort & Spa and Renaissance Costa do Sauipe Resort hotels, which will be known respectively as Costa do Sauipe Golf & Spa and Costa do Sauipe All-Inclusive Resort.

Founder of JetBlue will launch new airline
The founder of JetBlue Airways, United States, announced plans to launch a new low-cost airline. It will begin to fly with a fleet of three aircraft at the beginning of 2009 with reduced prices, and will use a point to point structure which transports passengers from one city to another without stopovers.

Delta Airlines will have extra flights from June to August
From June 15th to August 15th, Delta will have extra flights from Brazil to the United States, adding one additional daily flight between Sao Paulo and Atlanta.

Alitaliaโ€™s flights from Rome could begin in October
Alitaliaโ€™s new direct flight from Rome could begin in October. It would operate five direct flights per week between Galeao and Rome.

CHILE
Sky Airlines will fly to Bolivia

Sky Airlines is planning to land in La Paz, as informed the president of the airline. Another of the emblematic destinations which the company is aiming for is Peru, where it hopes to shortly land in Lima.

BOLIVIA
AEROSUR launched two flights a week to Cusco
AeroSur began flying to Cusco from Santa Cruz de la Sierra twice a week.

PERU
More than 25 protected natural areas with potential for touristic development
The National Institute of Natural Resources (Inrena) estimated that the country has more than 25 protected natural areas with touristic development potential, covering an area of 7.2 million national hectares. There are approximately 63 protected areas in the country which correspond to 18,43,379 hectares, representing 14.04 percent of national territory. Cusco and Madre de Dios have 70 percent of the existing potential areas in the country.

PromPeru reinforces the country as a luxury destination
PromPeruโ€™s strategy to strengthen the interest and demand for luxury tourism is reflected in the recent association of this institution, as a โ€œPreferred Destination,โ€ in the network of the most prestigious travel agencies in the world, the Virtuoso network.

Andean Railways began negotiations to access railway line to Machu Picchu
Andean Railways informed that it is ready to begin its operations and compete on the railway line to Machu Picchu, and began technical negotiations with the current concessionaire of the route, Ferrocarril Trasandino, with the aim of establishing the conditions of its access to the line.

Casa Andina inaugurated five-star hotel in Arequipa
The hotel chain Casa Andina inaugurated its fifth five-star hotel with the Casa Andina Private Collection brand, in the former Casa de la Moneda, with an approximate investment of US$6 million. The hotel has 41 rooms, 5 of which are suites, as well as 38 higher level rooms. It has two colonial patios, a gourmet restaurant, an elevator, air conditioning, heating and shortly a site museum where some pieces found during the excavations will be exhibited.

ECUADOR
US$13 million allocated to bi-national route with Peru
The minister of Tourism of Ecuador affirmed that US$13 million have been allocated for the development of a touristic route with Peru; this will be known as โ€œLa Ruta del Espondiloโ€ whose goal is to generate income for the involved communities.

MEXICO
ACCOR wants to go from six to 60 hotels
The Accor group announced an expansion plan in Mexico, where it now has 6 hotels and 5 more under construction, aiming to reach 60 by 2012.

Barcelo will invest more than US$600 million
Barcelo will invest US$600 million in the next two years in the hopes of increasing the amount of hotel rooms in different touristic destinations in the country. The goal is to increase the number of rooms from 5,350 to 10,000. To do this, it is negotiating the purchase of two hotels in Cancun and two in Playa del Carmen.

CUBA
Fitcuba 2008 in May
The XXVIII Fitcuba 2008 will be held from May 5th to the 9th in the Morro-Cabaรฑa park. The invited country on this occasion is Italy. www.fitcuba.com
Plans to construct 30 hotels with investment from Spain and China
Cuba plans to construct 30 new hotels by 2010 with capital from Spain and China, which will increase its hotel capacity by 21.7 percent, according to a report published on the Ministry of Tourismโ€™s web site (www.cubatravel.cu).

Maria La Gorda becomes a diving destination
The Cuban beach of Maria la Gorda became a diving destination after the approval of an extension project of 100 new hotel rooms which will be added to the 54 existing rooms. This will enable the arrival of a larger amount of visitors, whether they are tourists or scientists. Recently, visitors have arrived by road and boats bringing about the construction of a marina to service the new navigation route to Cubaโ€™s most western peninsula.

SPAIN
EUROAL establishes best audio visual award for touristic promotion
For this year, EUROAL has included the granting of the โ€œSol de Oro de Torremolinosโ€ award to the best touristic destination promotion video. The granting of this prize is included in the novelties already announced by the organization of this touristic fair of Latin American destinations to the European market.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Foreign tourism increased by 9.7 percent in January
The number of foreign tourists who entered the country increased by 9.7 percent in January, with 259,265 tourists arriving and 112,034 leaving the country. The total movement of tourists involved 10.2 percent more people than in January of 2007. The average stay was 16.9 days and average expenditures were US$ 81.6.

ARGENTINA
Foreign tourism increased by 9.7 percent in January
The number of foreign tourists who entered the country increased by 9.7 percent in January, with 259,265 tourists arriving and 112,034 leaving the country. The total movement of tourists involved 10.2 percent more people than in January of 2007. The average stay was 16.9 days and average expenditures were US$ 81.6.

Alan Faena will open his second five-star hotel in Bariloche
The investment group led by the Argentine developer bought a 47.5 hectare plot of land on the shore of Lake Perito Moreno for US$ 14.5 million, where a 140 room luxury hotel will be constructed with an investment of US$ 70 million.

Air Canada expands winter services
This winter, Air Canada will expand its services to principal South American destinations with the introduction of non-stop flights to Buenos Aires and Santiago, as well as the employment of a Boeing 777-300ER on its daily flights to Sao Paulo. The flights to Buenos Aires and Santiago will begin on December 1st, and end on April 1st, 2009, with five weekly frequencies.

LAN includes flights to Mendoza
With a new daily frequency to Buenos Aires, LAN reinforces its presence in Mendoza. Currently, the three daily flights place the province as the fourth most serviced destination by the airline, after Iguazu, Bariloche and Cordoba.

PARAGUAY
Pluna has the most modern fleet in South America
The first of the seven aircraft which Pluna purchased arrived at the Carrasco International Airport. In January 2009, Pluna will receive the seventh aircraft, thus becoming the airline with the most modern fleet in South America. The investment for the purchase of these aircraft is US$ 177 million.

Construction authorized for ecological hotel on Gorriti Island
The Ministry of Tourism authorized the construction of a luxury โ€œecological hotelโ€ on Gorriti Island, opposite Punta del Este, the countryโ€™s main beach resort. The project will cost US$ 10 million. The hotel will have only 30 rooms and will operate on solar energy. Its water supply will come from wells on the island.

URUGUAY
Airlines could double in number in 2008
After the countryโ€™s aerial seclusion, there are possibilities of significantly expanding the offer of flights due to the return of Pluna, the beginning of operations of the Aerorregional Paraguay and Aerosur Paraguay companies, as well as the arrival of Avianca, Copa and Taca. Likewise, TAM plans on expanding its connections, as indicated by the deputy director of International Air Traffic of the Dinac.

BRAZIL
Gol modernizes its fleet with 40 Boeing aircraft
GOL announced that it increased its orders from Boeing by 40 aircraft and that it will put a plan into action to accelerate the modernization and renewal of its fleet. The airline signed a new contract with expected deliveries of between 2012 and 2014, bringing its total amount of orders to 161 pieces of equipment.

BNTM brings together approximately 400 international operators
The 17th Brasil National Tourism Mart will be held from April 10th to the 13th in Salvador (Bahia). 9,000 business meetings are planned, with the expectation of generating US$ 186 million, 32.3 percent more than last year.

BOLIVIA
LAB registers another aircraft to resume flights
Last week, LAB received the airworthiness certificate for a Boeing 727-200 with which it hopes to resume operations before the end of this month. At first, LAB would operate with this Boeing 727 and gradually incorporate new aircraft into its fleet, until all six with which it intends to fly as of next June are incorporated.

AEROSUR two weekly flights to Cusco
Last week Aerosur began to fly two weekly flights to Cusco from Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

PERU
Lima would receive more than 2.7 million tourists in 2012
As a result of new investments in the hotel industry and strategies to promote Peru abroad, Lima would receive approximately 2,723,000 tourists in 2012, an increase of 91 percent with respect to last year, when it received 1,425,000 visitors, the CCL indicated. They added that there are 54 new hotel construction projects and 17 more for redesigning and expanding those already existing throughout the country. These projects would be carried out in the medium term, with an investment of US$ 500 million.

Radisson Hotels open their doors
The Radisson Hotel chain began operations in the country with its two new hotels in which it invested more than US$ 11 million. The Radisson Hotel & Suites in San Isidro has a five-star rating, while the Radisson Decapolis in Miraflores has four stars. With both hotels, the country hopes to improve its hotel offer and secure the commitment for the development of new projects in the local market with Nuevo Mundo and the international chain Decameron.

Aqua Expeditions media Launch in New York
On March 11th, Aqua Expeditions celebrated the launch to the US specialized media at Per Se, known as the best restaurant in the city. They introduced their new luxury vessel navigating the Amazon in conjunction with Inkaterra, who were presenting their new properties in Cusco and Lake Titicaca.

COLOMBIA
El Dorado will be demolished to construct a completely new air terminal
The National Government accepted the proposal suggested by the Opain consortium. The new international airport will be ready in 2012, pending the definition of the exact value of the new construction works. On March 20th, the second stage of construction should begin.

AeroRepublica increases fleet with new Embraer 190
Aero Republica has just purchased its ninth Embraer 190-HK 4508 with which it positioned itself as the youngest and most modern fleet in Colombia after twelve months of airline operations.

MITM in Cartagena de Indias
The 14th edition of MITM Americas, Meetings and Incentive Trade Market, the first and oldest incentives and conventions fair in the Americas, will be held in Cartagena de Indias on November 24th and 25th with the support of the Corporacion de Turismo of Cartagena de Indias and Proexport. [email protected]

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Record increase of 9.14 percent in tourism this winter
The Dominican Republic has beat historical records in tourism during the winter season, reaching 725,238 visitors during the first two months of 2008, signifying an increase of 9.14 percent compared to the previous year.

CUBA
Nautical tourism, a new way of traveling
The private villa of Baracoa has among its nautical proposals an option for those interested in tourist attractions. In April 2003, the Nautical Club of Rumbos began this initiative with trips on the areaโ€™s waters. On this route, geographical accidents such as the Yara Terraces are pointed out; this being a site of great archaeological and speleological interest.

SPAIN
The 3rd โ€˜Euroalโ€™ Touristic Fair will offer a โ€˜market of vacationsโ€™ for travel agents
Large European and Latin American emissive and receptive tour operators will carry out a special collaboration with retail travel agencies this coming May 31st and June 1st, 2008 in Torremolinos (Costa del Sol), Spain. It will be in the framework of the 3rd Latin American and European Fair of Tourism, Art and Culture, โ€˜EUROALโ€™ that will be held in this Spanish city, and which will bring together the main tourism promoting institutions and entities of Latin America.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Foreign tourism increased by 9.7 percent in January
The number of foreign tourists who entered the country increased by 9.7 percent in January, with 259,265 tourists arriving and 112,034 leaving the country. The total movement of tourists involved 10.2 percent more people than in January of 2007. The average stay was 16.9 days and average expenditures were US$ 81.6.

ARGENTINA
Foreign tourism increased by 9.7 percent in January
The number of foreign tourists who entered the country increased by 9.7 percent in January, with 259,265 tourists arriving and 112,034 leaving the country. The total movement of tourists involved 10.2 percent more people than in January of 2007. The average stay was 16.9 days and average expenditures were US$ 81.6.

Alan Faena will open his second five-star hotel in Bariloche
The investment group led by the Argentine developer bought a 47.5 hectare plot of land on the shore of Lake Perito Moreno for US$ 14.5 million, where a 140 room luxury hotel will be constructed with an investment of US$ 70 million.

Air Canada expands winter services
This winter, Air Canada will expand its services to principal South American destinations with the introduction of non-stop flights to Buenos Aires and Santiago, as well as the employment of a Boeing 777-300ER on its daily flights to Sao Paulo. The flights to Buenos Aires and Santiago will begin on December 1st, and end on April 1st, 2009, with five weekly frequencies.

LAN includes flights to Mendoza
With a new daily frequency to Buenos Aires, LAN reinforces its presence in Mendoza. Currently, the three daily flights place the province as the fourth most serviced destination by the airline, after Iguazu, Bariloche and Cordoba.

PARAGUAY
Pluna has the most modern fleet in South America
The first of the seven aircraft which Pluna purchased arrived at the Carrasco International Airport. In January 2009, Pluna will receive the seventh aircraft, thus becoming the airline with the most modern fleet in South America. The investment for the purchase of these aircraft is US$ 177 million.

Construction authorized for ecological hotel on Gorriti Island
The Ministry of Tourism authorized the construction of a luxury โ€œecological hotelโ€ on Gorriti Island, opposite Punta del Este, the countryโ€™s main beach resort. The project will cost US$ 10 million. The hotel will have only 30 rooms and will operate on solar energy. Its water supply will come from wells on the island.

URUGUAY
Airlines could double in number in 2008
After the countryโ€™s aerial seclusion, there are possibilities of significantly expanding the offer of flights due to the return of Pluna, the beginning of operations of the Aerorregional Paraguay and Aerosur Paraguay companies, as well as the arrival of Avianca, Copa and Taca. Likewise, TAM plans on expanding its connections, as indicated by the deputy director of International Air Traffic of the Dinac.

BRAZIL
Gol modernizes its fleet with 40 Boeing aircraft
GOL announced that it increased its orders from Boeing by 40 aircraft and that it will put a plan into action to accelerate the modernization and renewal of its fleet. The airline signed a new contract with expected deliveries of between 2012 and 2014, bringing its total amount of orders to 161 pieces of equipment.

BNTM brings together approximately 400 international operators
The 17th Brasil National Tourism Mart will be held from April 10th to the 13th in Salvador (Bahia). 9,000 business meetings are planned, with the expectation of generating US$ 186 million, 32.3 percent more than last year.

BOLIVIA
LAB registers another aircraft to resume flights
Last week, LAB received the airworthiness certificate for a Boeing 727-200 with which it hopes to resume operations before the end of this month. At first, LAB would operate with this Boeing 727 and gradually incorporate new aircraft into its fleet, until all six with which it intends to fly as of next June are incorporated.

AEROSUR two weekly flights to Cusco
Last week Aerosur began to fly two weekly flights to Cusco from Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

PERU
Lima would receive more than 2.7 million tourists in 2012
As a result of new investments in the hotel industry and strategies to promote Peru abroad, Lima would receive approximately 2,723,000 tourists in 2012, an increase of 91 percent with respect to last year, when it received 1,425,000 visitors, the CCL indicated. They added that there are 54 new hotel construction projects and 17 more for redesigning and expanding those already existing throughout the country. These projects would be carried out in the medium term, with an investment of US$ 500 million.

Radisson Hotels open their doors
The Radisson Hotel chain began operations in the country with its two new hotels in which it invested more than US$ 11 million. The Radisson Hotel & Suites in San Isidro has a five-star rating, while the Radisson Decapolis in Miraflores has four stars. With both hotels, the country hopes to improve its hotel offer and secure the commitment for the development of new projects in the local market with Nuevo Mundo and the international chain Decameron.

Aqua Expeditions media Launch in New York
On March 11th, Aqua Expeditions celebrated the launch to the US specialized media at Per Se, known as the best restaurant in the city. They introduced their new luxury vessel navigating the Amazon in conjunction with Inkaterra, who were presenting their new properties in Cusco and Lake Titicaca.

COLOMBIA
El Dorado will be demolished to construct a completely new air terminal
The National Government accepted the proposal suggested by the Opain consortium. The new international airport will be ready in 2012, pending the definition of the exact value of the new construction works. On March 20th, the second stage of construction should begin.

AeroRepublica increases fleet with new Embraer 190
Aero Republica has just purchased its ninth Embraer 190-HK 4508 with which it positioned itself as the youngest and most modern fleet in Colombia after twelve months of airline operations.

MITM in Cartagena de Indias
The 14th edition of MITM Americas, Meetings and Incentive Trade Market, the first and oldest incentives and conventions fair in the Americas, will be held in Cartagena de Indias on November 24th and 25th with the support of the Corporacion de Turismo of Cartagena de Indias and Proexport. [email protected]

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Record increase of 9.14 percent in tourism this winter
The Dominican Republic has beat historical records in tourism during the winter season, reaching 725,238 visitors during the first two months of 2008, signifying an increase of 9.14 percent compared to the previous year.

CUBA
Nautical tourism, a new way of traveling
The private villa of Baracoa has among its nautical proposals an option for those interested in tourist attractions. In April 2003, the Nautical Club of Rumbos began this initiative with trips on the areaโ€™s waters. On this route, geographical accidents such as the Yara Terraces are pointed out; this being a site of great archaeological and speleological interest.

SPAIN
The 3rd โ€˜Euroalโ€™ Touristic Fair will offer a โ€˜market of vacationsโ€™ for travel agents
Large European and Latin American emissive and receptive tour operators will carry out a special collaboration with retail travel agencies this coming May 31st and June 1st, 2008 in Torremolinos (Costa del Sol), Spain. It will be in the framework of the 3rd Latin American and European Fair of Tourism, Art and Culture, โ€˜EUROALโ€™ that will be held in this Spanish city, and which will bring together the main tourism promoting institutions and entities of Latin America.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires hosts the South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference
HVS is organizing the โ€œ1st South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conferenceโ€ which will be held on September 29th and 30th in the Hotel Hilton Buenos Aires.

Howard Johnson largest chain in the country

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires hosts the South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference
HVS is organizing the โ€œ1st South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conferenceโ€ which will be held on September 29th and 30th in the Hotel Hilton Buenos Aires.

Howard Johnson largest chain in the country
Howard Johnson has become the largest chain in the country by inaugurating its 22nd hotel. The Howard Johnson Plaza Parana has 130 rooms and suites, all of which have an incomparable view of the Parana River.

QANTAS begins flights to Buenos Aires
As of November, the Australian airline will begin to fly between Sydney and Buenos Aires, with three flights per week using a Boeing 747-400.

Mall Group would invest โ‚ฌ450 million in resort
The president of the Mall Group has met with the President of Argentina to inform her of his plans for investment in the country, where he is studying the possibility of promoting a residential touristic resort similar to the one being developed in the Mexican State of Campeche. The project will probably be undertaken in the Patagonia and will have an investment of โ‚ฌ450 million.

URUGUAY
FIEXPO In June, in Montevideo
At the Fiexpo Latin America edition, not only will the representatives of the Secretaries or Ministries of Tourism participate as exhibitors, but also international hotel chains, convention centers, organizing companies and service and technology suppliers for events, which will show the world the regionโ€™s potential in this growing market.

BRAZIL
UNITED Confirms flights without stopovers from Rio to Washington
Due to the achieved success, the โ€œseasonalโ€ flight which departs from Rio de Janeiro towards Washington will again be operational as of October 27th.

Sol Melia Will have two new resorts in 2010
In June, Sol Melia will begin construction of the next two resorts which will be inaugurated in 2010. The project in Praia de Guarajuba is planned as a mega resort with three hotels of 1,200 rooms.

TAM has become one of the best aviation companies
TAM presented the guidelines for its re-positioning to consolidate itself as one of the main companies of the world aviation market. TAM has just become the leader in operations and transported passengers in the Southern Hemisphere, and according to a study, there was an average of 21,800 operations per month last year and 2,251 million passengers transported per month.

VRG Interline agreement with TAP
VRG announced an agreement to establish an interline with TAP Portugal. The passengers of the airline will have access to other destinations through the routes of the TAP network, including Portugal, Denmark, England, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

KOREAN AIR will fly to Sao Paulo
Korean Air will fly to South America, re-establishing the route between Seoul and Sao Paulo, an operation which was suspended after a decrease in traffic.

AEROMEXICO More flights
Aeromexico informed that it will expand its operations to Brazil with two new routes, one linking Sao Paulo and Cancun and the other Rio de Janeiro and Mexico.

PERU
Lima will promote Caral citadel as main touristic destination

The citadel of Caral will be promoted as the countryโ€™s main touristic destination during the APEC meeting. The archaeological complex caught visitorsโ€™ attention in view of the protests registered in Cusco and its consequences on the arrivals to Machu Picchu.

Luxury tourism will increase by 20 percent
This year, 240 thousand luxury tourists could arrive to the country, representing an increase of 20 percent with respect to those who arrived last year. Lima Tours pointed out that these tourists spend almost US$ 500 per person daily.

Inauguration of four-star hotel in Puno
The hotel chain Jose Antonio inaugurated its first four-star hotel (Puno). The hotel will have 131 rooms, and had an investment of US$ 7.5 million.

JW MARRIOTT Will construct a five-star hotel in Cusco
The JW Marriott chain will construct a five-star hotel in Cusco, with an investment of US$ 18 million and US$ 20 million. The project is the process of being evaluated by the INC, after which it will move to the district municipality of Cusco for the corresponding authorization.

COLOMBIA
AVIANCA will undertake Ocean Air operation
The president of the Sinerg Group informed that Avianca will assume operation of Ocean Air. The decision is part of a unification plan of the consortiumโ€™s air companies. Both companies are expanding their fleet of aircraft with the contracted purchase of 90 Airbus and Boeing craft, seventy of which will be for the Colombian airline.

Civil Aviation authorized 47 new local and international routes
Avianca returns to the Dominican Republic, while Aerorepublica aims at Panama as a connection center. A Sam, Aires, ADA and Spirit Airlines were also allocated frequencies. Avianca received the authorization for seven frequencies between Bogota and Mexico and some others between the countryโ€™s capital and Santo Domingo.

AVIANCA presents first Airbus A320 aircraft with which it will begin the renewal of the fleet
The new aircraft is part of the modernization to which another 59 airbus and 10 Boeing will be added, thus up-dating the fleet during the next 5 years.

DELTA AIR LINES will fly between New York and Bogota
Delta Air Lines informed that the Department of Transport of the United States gave its preliminary authorization to begin operating daily flights between the John F. Kennedy and Eldorado airports.

MEXICO
MEXICANA DE AVIACION will open two flights between Monterrey and New York
As of May 1st, Mexicana de Aviacion will begin two daily flights connecting Monterrey and New York. These flights will be operated with Airbus A319 with a capacity of 120 passengers.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
AIR DOMINICANA will begin to fly in May
The Minister of Tourism informed that in April the first Boeing 737 will arrive, with which Air Dominicana will begin flights to the United States and South America in May.

China Town countryโ€™s new touristic attraction
In April, China Town will be inaugurated as the countryโ€™s new tourist attraction. The coordinator of China Town informed that from the 17th to the 20th of April the Chinese community residing there will be able to display their traditions before local and international personalities who will be invited to the big event.

Tourism grew 9.14 percent during the first two months of 2008
This yearโ€™s increase in tourism could surpass that of 2007. During the first two months of 2008, 9.14 percent more tourists arrived compared to the same period last year.

CUBA
Barcelo will reach 5,000 rooms
Barcelo Hotels & Resorts plans the expansion of its presence, incorporating seven establishments between now and 2010. The chain foresees the opening of a 629-room lodging in Cayo Santa Maria, another with 186 rooms in La Habana in the Monte Barreto area, and a third of 358 rooms in Varadero, the Barcelo Arenas Blancas.

EL SALVADOR
SPIRIT will fly between Florida and El Salvador as of August
Soon, the Salvadorian market will also have access to the low prices offered by Spirit Airlines which could begin operations in August. The news was confirmed by the Minister of Tourism during the 2nd Touristic Education Congress which is being held in this country.

SPAIN
60 European travel companies will be present at the 3rd Fair of Latin American Tourism
Close to 60 travel companies, among them European agencies and tour operators, will participate in the business roundtable or workshops of the 3rd Fair of Latin American and European Tourism, Art and Culture. โ€˜EUROAL 2008,โ€™ the new acronym for what was until now EUROCOTAL, will be held in the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones, or Congress and Expositions Palace, of Torremolinos (Costa del Sol), Spain, from the 29th of May to the 1st of June.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
NEUQUEN El Chanar will have the provinceโ€™s only luxury hotel
In April, Valle Perdido Wine Resort will open its doors, offering the highest quality of services, just like its wines. The hotel has just been included in The Small Luxury Hotels of the World network.

TEN RIVERS & TEN LAKES incorporates establishment in Bariloche

ARGENTINA
NEUQUEN El Chanar will have the provinceโ€™s only luxury hotel
In April, Valle Perdido Wine Resort will open its doors, offering the highest quality of services, just like its wines. The hotel has just been included in The Small Luxury Hotels of the World network.

TEN RIVERS & TEN LAKES incorporates establishment in Bariloche
The Boutique Hotel chain Ten Rivers & Ten Lakes incorporated a new establishment in Bariloche: The Cascada Hotel. This makes a total of three hotels in the Argentinean touristy city.

VRG VIP lounge in Ezeiza
Varig has a VIP lounge in the Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires called the Sala de las Americas.

URUGUAY
GOL signed agreement with Hotel Conrad
Gol signed an agreement with the hotel of Punta del Este to establish two weekly charter flights between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and the Uruguayan beach resort, with an investment of US$ 4 million. The flights will be offered until January 2009 and will be sold by the Hotel Conrad of Punta del Este. The commercial director for GOL informed that, as of June, the airline will establish charter flights from Brasil to Bariloche, Argentina.

BRAZIL
VRG Changes aircraft for flights to Bogota
Since last Saturday, the daily flight from Varig to Bogota has been operated with a Boeing 767, rather than the Boeing 737-800 used until now, with Executive Class.

VRG Interline agreements with European airlines
Varig signed interline agreements with six other European airlines โ€“ Aegean (Greece), Air Comet (Spain), Air Moldova (Moldavia), CSA Czech (Czech Republic), Lot Polish Airlines (Poland) and Ukraine International Airlines (Ukraine). In addition, the airline has agreements with Gol, Air France (France), Air One (Italy), Delta (United States), El Al (Israel), Hahn Air (Germany), Iberia (Spain), Jal (Japan), KLM (Holland), Korean Air (South Korea), Malev (Hungary), Mexicana (Mexico) and Qatar Airways (Qatar).

CHILE
SANTIAGO Inauguration of modern Argentine tourism office
With the presence of Argentinaโ€™s Minister of Tourism and the president of CENCOSUD, an Argentine tourism office was inaugurated in Santiago in order to promote Chilean visits to that country. The office is located in the โ€œAlto Las Condesโ€ commercial center, in the eastern sector of the Chilean capital, which receives more than 20 million people.

BTM EVENTS, Business Travel Meeting
BTM will enable more than one million potential travelers to be represented by general managers, Human Resources, Marketing and Sales managers of more than 2,000 Chilean companies. This event will take place during the 11th, 12th and 13th of June in Casa Piedra situated in San Jose Escriva de Balaguer 5600, Vitacura Santiago, Chile. Information: www.btm2008.cl

BOLIVIA
New offers inaugurate better service
With the beginning of AS operations, the strengthening of TAM, the probable resumption of LAB flights and the preparation of the state airline Boa, the air transportation system enters a new stage, marked by a climate of greater competency which aims to put an end to almost two years of dominium by AeroSur.

Creation of islands to attract tourists
The promotion of Lake Titicaca as a natural wonder of the world in the competition sponsored by the New Seven Wonders foundation has been the pretext employed by Bolivian locals to create three floating islands, very similar to the totora islands built and inhabited by Uro dwellers since time immemorial in the internal bay of Puno.

PERU
AYACUCHO Hotel reservations for Holy Week reach 60 percent
The hotel reservations for Holy Week reach 60 percent and approximately 14 thousand visitors are expected, informed Dircetur. The director of Tourism explained that the 17 hotels which are duly classified and categorized by Dircetur โ€œare already fully booked.โ€

Inauguration of site museum dedicated to important discovery
The Seรฑora of Cao, the only female governor that ancient Peru is believed to have had, and whose tattooed mummy has supposedly been the most important archaeological discovery in recent years, will be put on public display in July, when the El Brujo museum is inaugurated.

TACA informed that entry to El Salvador requires yellow fever vaccination
Taca informed that El Salvador will request travelers to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate as a requirement for entry into the country. Countries which must comply with these requirements are: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and the African continent.

COLOMBIA
SPIRIT AIRLINES begins operations to Cartagena
This companyโ€™s aircraft began to fly the Fort Lauderdale-Cartagena route. In the opinion of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, the fact that the new connection is with Cartagena โ€œhelps because it decentralizes the offer towards Bogota, which will suffer with the construction works of the Eldorado airport and because it will enable them to diversify the promotion of other destinations of the country abroad.โ€

VENEZUELA
INTERCONTINENTAL Will open a hotel in Maracaibo at the end of the year
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) will open its fourth hotel in Venezuela in Maracaibo. The establishment, which will belong to the InterContinental brand, foresees its opening at the end of 2008.

COSTA RICA
Confirmed as most competitive country in Latin America
Costa Rica managed to position itself in first place as the most competitive country with regard to touristic matters for the second consecutive year, as informed by the Minister of the sector. This is taking into account the results of the study carried out by the World Economic Forum, which evaluated 130 countries throughout the world, including six more than those considered in 2007.

QUINTANA ROO Aims for 18 percent of premium tourism
In the Mexican Caribbean more rooms are being built than in Los Cabos and Vallarta together; these being the other fashionable Mexican destinations. The annual growth fluctuates between 8 and 10 thousand rooms yearly, according to statistical reports from the state Ministry of Tourism. Companies like Mandann Oriental, Maroma, The Ritz Carlton, Paraiso de la Bonita, Royal Hideaway, Tres Rios, Le Blanc, Aqua, and Coral Beach offer services for a market looking for exclusivity.

Hoping to attract more German and European tourism
Sectur informed that its representative traveled to Berlin to promote this countryโ€™s attractions and offers in the International Tourism Market, looking to increase the influx of visitors from this important emitting market, since it is very interested in increasing the number of visits of Germans to its territory.

CUBA
VARADERO Receive more than 29,000 tourists
Varadero has received 42.6 percent of the tourists that have arrived on the island and has reached its highest occupancy numbers. In fact, during the second half of February, the touristic town registered a total of more than 29,000 foreign tourists accommodated in the city, bordering on 30,000.

SPAIN
TORREMOLINOS Prepares for the 3rd โ€˜Euroalโ€™ tourism fair, bringing together Latin American destination offers
The Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones, or Congress and Expositions Palace, in Torremolinos (Costa del Sol), Spain, will be the setting for the 3rd Fair of Latin American and European Tourism, Art and Culture from the 29th of May to the 1st of June, 2008. โ€˜EUROALโ€™ is organized by the precinct itself, together with the Town Hall of this municipality โ€“a leader in Spanish tourism- and has the support of several Andalusian and international touristic institutions and entities, such as the UN World Tourism Organization.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires registered high levels of occupancy in January and February
Hotel occupancy continues to register very high levels in Buenos Aires. According to a report from Ente Turimso of Buenos Aires, Januaryโ€™s average reached 67 percent in all categories, while in February levels were even higher and reached an average of 70 percent.

Iguazu will have another 5-star hotel

ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires registered high levels of occupancy in January and February
Hotel occupancy continues to register very high levels in Buenos Aires. According to a report from Ente Turimso of Buenos Aires, Januaryโ€™s average reached 67 percent in all categories, while in February levels were even higher and reached an average of 70 percent.

Iguazu will have another 5-star hotel
Iguazu will have another 5-star hotel complex due to the occupancy permit granted by the provincial government to the Cristal Towers Developers company.

International flights increase from domestic airports
During 2007, more than eight million people traveled on international flights to and from Argentina, of which one million entered and exited directly through the domestic airports of the country; this represented an increase of 10 percent with respect to the previous year.

Aerolineas Argentinas has two A320/200 for Lima and Rio de Janeiro
Following the arrival of the first two A320/200, Aerolineas Argentinas awaits the third for March 30th, forming part of an initial package of six aircraft expected for this year, four of which will be included in the fleet during the first semester. The cities that will benefit from the incorporation of the A320 will be Lima and Rio de Janeiro.

Change of airport Terminal of Ezeiza
Aerolineas Argentinas changed terminals in the Ezeiza International Airport, moving from Terminal A to Terminal B. The assigned counters for check-in are 201 to 222.

BRAZIL
ANAC releases airfare to South American countries
As of March 1st, new fare regulations that will contribute to the reduction of ticket fares to other South American countries came into effect. The so-called โ€œgradual release of faresโ€ will, in principle, only benefit destinations in South America.

Sao Paolo will expand airport
The expansion works of Viracopos will enable this terminal to attend up to 90 million passengers per year.

VRG signed an agreement with Iberia and KLM
VRG signed shared code agreements with Iberia and KLM, enabling passengers of the new Varig to purchase tickets in Brazil to all destinations operated from Europe by Iberia and KLM. Meanwhile, Iberia and KLMโ€™s passengers will be able to purchase tickets for all flights operated by Varig from Brazil.

GOL Sales via internet during 2007 increased by 15%
GOL announced that it closed 2007 with a strong increase in its internet sales, with an increase of 15 percent in its sales at www.voeqol.com.br

CHILE
Santiago, main destination for foreign tourists this summer
Santiago and its outskirts was the main touristic destination for foreigners who visited Chile this summer, representing 46.8 percent of preferred sites. In second place were Valparaiso and Viรฑa del Mar. In this 2008 season, 750,000 tourists came from abroad, representing an increase of 13.6 percent with respect to the 2007 season. The obtained earnings amounted to US$ 417 million with an increase of 11 percent.

Spanish chain Vik will construct luxury hotel
Next summer the Spanish chain Vik will open its first luxury hotel in the framework of a program of aggressive internationalization which includes the purchase of two establishments in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and the construction of another two in Punta del Este, Uruguay. These luxurious boutique hotels are directed at a public with a high spending power, who are prepared to pay more than US$ 1,000 per night. The Chilean hotel will be called Vik Bodega and will be in Millahue, in the VI Region. It will have only 22 rooms.

PERU
In 2007, passenger flow surpassed 11 million
According to Corpac, 11,244,571 domestic and international passengers moved through different airports last year, Jorge Chavez of Lima being the one which handled the most movement with 7,119,270 passengers. This is two million more than in 2006.

Inauguration of VIP area in Cusco airport
The Alejandro Velasco Astete international airport now has a modern and comfortable VIP departure lounge, including a cafeteria, a bar, Internet service, and a sales stand, among other services.

Lan Peru intends to increase offer during 2008
The general manager of Lan Peru announced investments for this year of US$130 million; the purchase of 4 new aircraft, new routes and an offer increase of 40 percent.

Miraflores Park Hotel โ€œBest of Latin Americaโ€
In its January-February edition, โ€œLatin Tradeโ€ magazine published the results of its annual survey, โ€œBest of Latin America.โ€ In the hotel category, the Miraflores Park Hotel was honored for the excellence of its service.

ECUADOR
TAME will fly to Guayaquil-Manaus as well as to Lima and Iquitos
Tame announced the beginning of regular flights between Guayaquil and Manaus, in the middle of the Brazilian Amazon, on April 30th. The flights will be on Wednesdays with eventual chartered flights on Sundays. Furthermore, the airline is considering the possibility of including Iquitos, in Peru, in the Guayaquil-Manaus route, also foreseeing beginning regular flights to Lima as of April 30th.

COLOMBIA
Influx of foreign tourists increased by 7.4% in January
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism informed that in the first month of 2008, 96,502 visitors of other nationalities arrived in Colombia, 6,697 more people than in the same month of 2007.

PANAMA
KLM resumes flights
An official source of KLM informed that it will resume its flights to Panama in March, after seven years of suspended operations. The AAC authorized KLM to offer passenger, cargo and postal air transport services. Operations could begin in mid March with direct flights on the Amsterdam-Panama-Amsterdam route, with a frequency of three days per week.

EL SALVADOR
COPA Offers more flights
The Civil Aviation Authority authorized Copa Airlines to begin the operation of a new flight, Panama-El Salvador-Panama. The airline hopes to โ€œshortlyโ€ put this route into action, Copa informed. The new operation will benefit passengers of this route because they will have more flight and schedule options.

MEXICO
Aeromexico to Start Detroit-Monterrey Service in April
Aeromexico on April 6 will begin nonstop service between Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Monterrey, Mexico, with continuing service to Mexico City. The flights will operate three times per week aboard Aeromexicoโ€™s Next Generation Boeing 737 aircraft.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Venezuelans are big spenders

ARGENTINA
Venezuelans are big spenders
Venezuelan tourists are discovering the advantages of shopping in Buenos Aires. According to a private survey, purchases carried out by foreign consumers in January increased by 3.2 percent in relation to the same month in 2007. The greatest increase was in the operations carried out by Venezuelan tourists, whose purchases doubled in the annual average per capita. In addition, Venezuelan visitors are already situated in fifth place in the foreign purchasers ranking, behind Brazilians, North Americans, Spaniards and Mexicans.

Aerolineas Argentinas renews and extends fleet
The company incorporated the first Airbus A320/200 aircraft, which will be used for domestic and regional traffic. A new Airbus of this model will arrive within 15 days, while another two aircraft, similar to that mentioned, will arrive in Buenos Aires during the next few months. In addition, Aerolineas will add the new A-330, wide-fuselage and the Extra Wide-Body A-350 and A-380 to the fleet. The Airbus A320/200 is a short and medium-range aircraft that enables the operation of domestic and regional flights. It has 164 seats.

URUGUAY
New routes for Pluna
The general manager of Pluna informed that in order to expand they are aiming at new routes, although at first they wonโ€™t be profitable, โ€œin order to encourage people to try them.โ€ Pluna foresees opening Bariloche, Foz de Iguazu, Curitiba, Brazilia and other cities within Argentina and Brazil, incorporating a total of 24 destinations. On March 24th, in the Carrasco airport, the airline will officially present the first CRJ900 of the series of seven that it is considering incorporating in a brief period of time.

BRAZIL
Tam launches new international website
Tam launched the international version of its website. The first country to have this service is Argentina at www.tamairlines.com (with a Spanish version). The following implementation stage will be in Europe in March, and will have personalized contents, in their respective languages, for each destination operated by the airline (Paris, London, Milan, Frankfurt and Madrid).

Tam incorporates services with Lufthansa
The frequent flyer programs of Lufthansa (Miles & More) and TAM (Fidelidade) enable passengers to collect and exchange miles as of February 15th. The agreement also includes coordinating air connections and offering services jointly in the VIP lounges.

CHILE
Sonesta arrives in Calama and Osorno
Sonesta Collection will arrive in Calama and Osorno, after having been chosen to manage the casino hotels that the Panamanian group Latin Gaming is currently constructing. The chainโ€™s international deputy president will visit the site of the Casino del Sol in Osorno on March 3rd, when they will sign the contract with representatives of Latin Gaming.

Evergreen announces 5-star hotel
The Chilean-German company, Evergreen, is already looking at new projects after the inauguration of the Transpacific train, a tourist luxury railway made up of ten German wagons from the 30โ€™s, which runs from Santiago to Puerto Mont in 14 days with tickets costing US$7,500.

BOLIVIA
AS receives flying license
The airline received the Commercial License from the Transport Supervisor and as of March 3rd will begin to operate on national and international frequencies. The Commercial Certificate will enable the company to operate on regular frequencies on main and international routes with passenger, cargo and mail transport, which will place it as the third commercial airline in the country.

PERU
Lan Peru requests a new route
Lan Peru requested the extension of its frequencies in order to be able to have , seven weekly frequencies that link Lima-Quito-Medellin and vice versa in addition to its route to Bogota.

Decameron and Nuevo Mundo group will invest US$65 million
The Blue Marlin business association, made up of the Hoteles Decameron chain and the Peruvian group, Nuevo Mundo, announced their decision to invest US$ 65 million this year in hotel projects in different locations in the country.

Hoteles Libertador begins construction of the first Westin of South America
Hoteles Libertador Peru began the construction of the Westin Libertador Lima which will be 118 meters tall, becoming the highest building in the country and the first Westin in South America. The inauguration is scheduled for the first semester of 2010. The investment for this construction is US$100 million. It will have an area of 72,000 m2, 30 floors and 5 lofts.

qp Hotels will inaugurate boutique hotel in Cusco with an investment of US$ 3 million
In the second semester of this year, the Peruvian chain QP Hotels and Resorts Worldwide will inaugurate a boutique hotel in Cusco, which required an investment of approximately US$3 million. The construction works could begin in July, and the hotel would begin to function in the second semester of the year.

ECUADOR
New Quito airport would receive US$20 million more in April
In April, the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) will grant a further US$ 20 million to continue the construction of the Nuevo Aeropuerto Internacional of Quito. To date, the corporation has paid US$160 million. Quiport (the concessionaire) will deliver the finished project in October 2010.

COLOMBIA
Taca wants more routes from Costa Rica
Taca requested new routes to Cali and Medellin. According to the president of the airline for Costa Rica, the company hopes to successfully conclude the negotiation.

Avianca begins Bogota-San Jose route on the 29th
The airline will carry out four direct weekly Bogota-San Jose (Costa Rica) flights, and vice versa as of February 29th. A Fokker-100 aircraft will cover the route, with capacity for eight passengers in Executive Class and 89 in tourist class.

Avianca receives its first Airbus A320 aircraft
Aviancaโ€™s first Airbus A320 has the capacity to transport 150 travelers, 12 of these in Executive Class and 138 in Economy Class or Coach. The aircraft will serve routes within the country, including connections between Bogota, Barranquilla, Medellin and Cartagena, as well as the Cali-Miami-Cali connection.

EL SALVADOR
Flight offers to this country will soon expand
The offer of direct flights to El Salvador will soon expand, as confirmed by the Minister of Tourism, who assured that โ€œnext May 8th, the service between Milan and San Salvador will begin on a regular and permanent manner; and will be operated by Livingston Air.โ€

Barcelo puts emphasis on hotel search
Barceloโ€™s wishes to enter the hotel market in El Salvador are still valid. Two of the chainโ€™s executives paid a visit to the country and met with investors, hoping to recommence operations in the Salvadorian territory after its brief experience with the Siesta hotel, and in this manner resume its plans of offering its services.

MEXICO
Continental hopes that route to Houston transport 450,000 people per year
This week, the first flight of Continental Airlines left from Terminal 2 of the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City (AICM) with destination to the North American town of Houston. It is hoped that this route will offer service to approximately 450,000 people annually, according to projections from the authorities at the air terminal.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Air Dominicana takes flight in May
Air Dominicana will begin flying next May, according to an announcement from the director of the Instituto Dominicano de Aviacion Civil. To start, Air Dominicana will fly to the United States and some Latin American countries with three aircraft with capacities of 125 passengers.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
The worldโ€™s most famous rally will be run in this country
The traditional off-road competition Dakar Rally will run from January 3rd to 18th, 2009, between Argentina and Chile, with start and finish in Buenos Aires.

Creation of Ice Museum will contribute to the tourist offer

ARGENTINA
The worldโ€™s most famous rally will be run in this country
The traditional off-road competition Dakar Rally will run from January 3rd to 18th, 2009, between Argentina and Chile, with start and finish in Buenos Aires.

Creation of Ice Museum will contribute to the tourist offer
It will be located in El Calafate and will cover an area of 2,000m2. There are only two museums of this category in the world, but, according to its creator, โ€œit wonโ€™t be a copy of either one.โ€ The President Cristina Kirchner has already given her approval.

This year 124 cruise ships will arrive in Buenos Aires
This year, 124 cruise ships will arrive in Buenos Aires (25 more than in 2007); especially large ships, which mostly come from the Caribbean.

New luxury hotel in Puerto Madero
With an investment of US$ 52 million, the project which will have 160 rooms and suites. This hotel will form part of the Starwood Hotels chain, owner of the Sheraton. It will be the third five-star hotel that is being constructed in the area.

Lan increases its virtual Check-In registry
The Check-In Web service in LAN.com increased by 300 percent last year. During 2007, there were more than 300,000 passengers registered in Argentina who carried out their Check-In by Internet.

Ten Rivers & Ten Lakes incorporate hotel in the Patagonia
The chain of Boutique Hotels and Lodges Ten Rivers & Ten Lakes incorporated its eleventh establishment in the Argentinean Patagonia: El Puma Hosteria โ€“ Lodge, situated in el Chalten, Santa Cruz Province.

BRAZIL
Gol reconsiders operations in South America
The company will exclusively suspend the direct flights from Sao Paulo to Lima and vice-versa as of February 11th and to Santiago as of March 1st.

Net income of Gol increased by 42.5 percent in the fourth quarter
Gol totaled 1.4 million reales in net income in the fourth quarter of 2007, with an increase of 42.5 percent in relation to the same period of the previous year.

JetBlue Airways wishes to form a new airline in Brazil
The founder of JetBlue Airways wishes to form a new airline in Brazil and is negotiating with Embraer for the purchase of 36 medium-range passenger aircraft. The president of JetBlue may have obtained US$ 200 million for the new company. In addition, he may have already purchased a small Brazilian airline called Cheta, with the governmentโ€™s authorization to operate in the country.

CHILE
Lan is the best airline of Latin America
Lan was chosen as the best airline in the region, according to the Lo Mejor de America Latina 2008 ranking from the Latin Trade magazine. The company obtained the highest score among a total of 12 airlines.

BOLIVIA
Tam incorporates two Chinese aircraft
Last week, two Chinese aircraft destined to strengthen the fleet of aircraft of the Transporte Aereo Militar (TAM) arrived. The capacity of these aircraft was planned โ€“ initially โ€“ for 60 people; however, it was decided to make a configuration for 52 passengers.

American registered an increase in the route to Miami in 2007
American Airlines registered an increase from 25 to 30 percent in the demand of its destination to Miami in 2007.

PERU
Arrivals of foreigners grew by 21.4 percent in January
During January, the arrivals of foreigners to the country increased by 21.4 percent in comparison to the same period last year. In January this year, 87,508 passengers arrived at the Jorge Chavez international airport, compared to 72,072 last year.

Continentalโ€™s operative permit is renewed and modified
The Ministry of Transport and Communication (MTC) granted Continental Airlines the renewal and modification of the operative permit of the international regular air transport service of passengers, cargo and mail, for a period of four years, as of January 22nd, 2008. The MTC authorized the airline to carry out flights between New Jersey and Lima in seven weekly frequencies, the same as between Houston and Lima.

qp Hotels inaugurates first boutique hotel
The qp Hotels and Resorts Worldwide chain inaugurated its first boutique hotel under a new concept of โ€œAn All Suites Boutique Hotelโ€. The qp Hotels โ€œA quality place to stayโ€ became a reality with an investment of USA$ 3 million. It has 33 suites.

Inkaterra inaugurates boutique hotel in April
In April, the Peruvian group Inkaterra will inaugurate a boutique hotel in the Plaza Las Nazarenas in the city center of Cusco. The project required an investment exceeding US$ 2 million. This boutique hotel consists of the renovation of a colonial-style home constructed in 1585. It has been up-dated, maintaining its architectural style but adding unconventional features.

COOMBIA
Airports concession on stand-by
The concession of the Bucaramanga, Cucuta, Valledupar and Barrancabermeja airports has not yet begun and is threatening to fail. The deficit which the countryโ€™s four main east air terminals register annually is making the director of Civil Aviation delay in making his decision. He foresees little interest on behalf of the private sector in this bid.

VENEZUELA
will fly twice a week to Madrid
As of June, the official airline of Venezuela will begin flights to Spain, beginning with two weekly flights.

CENTRAL AMERICA
Campaign to attract European tourism begins
Coral reefs, beaches, volcanoes, lakes, colonial architecture and gastronomic richness are some of the Central American touristic attractions which will be promoted with the aim of drawing European tourism.

MEXICO
Government creates National Investment Fund
The Secretary of Tourism informed that the federal government created a National Investment Fund, through which it will allocate 270 billion pesos in the next years.

Passenger traffic grew by 12.5 percent in January
The Mexican airport operator GAP informed that the passenger traffic in its terminals increased by 12.5 percent in January, compared to the same month in 2007, boosted by the increase in local travelers and a rebound in international travelers.

Continental Airlines will fly from Terminal 2 of Mexico City
As of the 19th of this month, Continental Airlines will operate its flights from Terminal 2 of the International Airport of Mexico City.

NH will open hotel in Mexico Cityโ€™s airport
A five-star hotel is being constructed in Terminal 2 of the International Airport of Mexico City; NH Hotels will be in charge of its administration. Its opening is foreseen for the end of this year.

DOMINICAN REPUBLC
Expected growth of tourism this year to be of 3 percent
The Secretary of Tourism said that although there is a slightly negative outlook, due to the economic recession of the United States, they calculate an increase of between 3 and 4 percent in touristic activity in the Dominican Republic in 2008. Last year, the tourism increase in the country was of 1.7 percent.

Government will speed up works on routes which link touristic destinations
The pesident of the Dominican Republic verified for himself the poor conditions of the routes that link touristic destinations in the country and is willing to speed up the existing works and build new ones.

JAMAICA
increases by 17.1 percent with arrival of visitors
The arrival of tourists to Jamaica in the first week of February underwent an increase of 17.1 percent, this being the largest registered in the last years in this period, according to the information gathered from official statistics, which consider this increase as promising for the sector.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Tourism is the third source of countryโ€™s income
The thousands of Chileans, Brazilians, Europeans and North Americans, among other foreigners, who arrive every month to visit Argentina, have become the third source of the countryโ€™s income.

Tours of US$1900 to see poverty

ARGENTINA
Tourism is the third source of countryโ€™s income
The thousands of Chileans, Brazilians, Europeans and North Americans, among other foreigners, who arrive every month to visit Argentina, have become the third source of the countryโ€™s income.

Tours of US$1900 to see poverty
The 2001 crisis put Argentina on the map of tourist operators who offer, for example, a week in Buenos Aires to better understand the collapse of the neoliberal project, be familiar with the social movements and the self-managed factories.

New Boeing 737-500 for Aerolineas Argentinas
Aerolineas Argentinas included a new Boeing 737/500 aircraft to its fleet, thus complying with the Commitment Plan to increase the aircraft availability, for domestic flights as well as for regional and international flights.

URUGUAY
Will offer facilities to tourists in low season
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.

Pluna will begin renewal of its fleet
Pluna will add the first of seven medium freight aircrafts for regional flights. The new Bombardier CRJ 900, with 90 seats, will be aimed at increasing the frequencies to Buenos Aires and San Pablo, as well as servicing new routes to Rosario and Cordoba, in Argentina, and Brasilia.

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

Tam will fly from Rio to Miami and New York
The airline will fly from Rio de Janeiro to Miami and New York, in the framework of the agreements between Brasil and the United States.

CHILE
Tourism leads activity in America
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 Viรฑa del Mar are the most visited areas.

BOLIVIA
Aerolineas Sudamericanas complied with permit requirements
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.

PERU
Pyramidal center of the Vicus culture discovered
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.

Hilton assesses beginning construction of hotel in Cusco
The North American chain assesses beginning the construction of a hotel in Cusco next year. The feasibility of defining this project depends on the conclusion of the chainโ€™s other projects such as the inauguration of the Resort in Paracas, among others.

Dico Group interested in constructing resorts
The Spanish group Dico would be interested in constructing five-star beach resorts in Mancora and Tumbes. This company is focused on luxury tourist projects such as resorts, golf courts, among others.

PeruRail launches new on-line reservation software
PeruRail announced the launching of an on-line reservation software through its Internet site. This new service will enable direct customers of PeruRail to reserve and pay for the train tickets for their trips in the country, even before their arrival in Peru. www.perurail.com

PeruRail begins improvements in Ollantaytambo
As from the beginning of the year, PeruRail began with a new system of frequencies on the Ollantaytambo-Machupicchy route. The objective is to offer greater possibilities to the numerous tourists that wish to visit the citadel, having the possibility of boarding and disembarking in Ollantaytambo.

ECUADOR
International airlines offer more flights
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 Tourismโ€™s promotional material.

Swisshotel among the top hotels in Ecuador
The website of Internet Trip Advisor carried out the qualification of Ecuadorโ€™s main hotels. The Internet site decided to grant first place to the Quito Swisshotel, followed by the Four Points by Sheraton Quito, the Patio Andaluz hotel, JW Marriott, the Quito hotel and Los Alpes.

COLOMBIA
Easyfly will purchase 5 aircraft from British Aerospace
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
Airlines multiply air connections
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).

PANAMA
Meridien extends its presence
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.

MEXiCO
Mexicana will open new DF-Edmonton route
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.

Delta will inaugurate three new routes from Cancun
The airline announced that as from this month it will open three new routes between several cities of the USA and Cancun. The new flights began on February 2nd, with the Cancun-Orlando and Cancun-Raleigh Durham, in North Carolina, routes. On April 12th, it will begin to operate the Cancun-Hartford, in Connecticut, route.

Xcaret will invest 100 million pesos in 2008
The Xcaret Park, in Quintana Roo, announced that for 2008, it will invest near to 100 million pesos in the development of new attractions and the maintenance of its natural resources. The aim for this year is to attract more than 1โ€™100,000 visitors in comparison to the 1โ€˜065.000 that arrived in 2007. www.xcaret.com/

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The country with greatest tourist potential in the Caribbean
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 โ€œgreatest potential in tourist matters within the Caribbean area.โ€

CUBA
International Tourism Fair Havana 2008
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 Cabaรฑa historic tourist complex between May 5th and 9th. The new edition of the fair will be dedicated to the integration between culture and tourism.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Preferred tourist destination

ARGENTINA
Preferred tourist destination
Buenos Aires, the Patagonia and the Argentinean North are the most sought after destinations in the most important tourism fairs in the world, the outstanding preferences being wine, gastronomy, adventure and cultural tourism, and Tango as an expression of Buenos Airesโ€™ culture. In 2007, Argentina positioned itself as the leading touristic destination in the region, having received more than 4.5 million visitors.

New hotel in Abasto
With an investment of US$2.5 million, the construction of the 26 room hotel, Abasto Lofts, will begin in the port district of Abasto.

URUGUAY
Increase of travelers from Europe and North America
The country has the best air connections, favoring the arrival of a greater amount of travelers from Europe and North America, at a rate of 17 percent in the last two years. The number of travelers coming from the rest of America also increased. Uruguay receives almost 2 million tourists each year, the majority coming from Argentina.

PARAGUAY
Tam requested route to Venezuela
The director of the National Institute of Civil Aviation received the visit of TAM MERCOSUR representatives. The visit was aimed at the official delivery of documents and bonds for the beginning of air operations from Paraguay to Venezuela with a halfway point which would probably be Brasil.

BRAZIL
Varig will only fly to Paris and Madrid
As of March, Varig will concentrate its long range service in Europe, Paris and Madrid, offering connections to other destinations through alliances with other airlines, such as Air France-KLM, Air Europa and Iberia. This new strategy comes before the suspension of direct flights to London as of March 1st and to Frankfurt and Rome as of the 29th. On the other hand, it will continue its daily flights to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico, intending to commence flights to the United States this year.

CHILE
Air Comet connects Madrid and Fortaleza
The route will have twice weekly flights; in 2009 there will likely be an increase to five weekly flights.

Passenger traffic registered highest increase in 10 years
In 2007, national and international air traffic registered growth rates of 21.2 percent and 16.1 percent, respectively, obtaining the best results of the last 10 years. In the January-December period, 9 million passengers were transported, an approximate growth rate of 18.4 percent with respect to 2006.

Air Comet took seventh frequency to Lima from LAN
Air Comet Chile allocated to itself the first frequency to Lima that will remain in the hands of an airline other than LAN. Although LAN allocated to itself the other six frequencies, with which it already has 21 frequencies to Lima, the seventh passed into the hands of Air Comet.

Lan increases earnings by 27.8 percent in 2007
The airline obtained profits in the amount of US$ 308.3 million in 2007, 27.8 percent more than in 2006.

PERU
Revolutions Peru will construct luxury boutique hotel
Revolutions Peru, using North American and Irish capital, intends to begin the construction of a seven-star boutique hotel in the Sacred Valley next year. The company will commence construction of the new projects only after beginning construction of its project in the Asia beach resort, south of Lima.

Hilton will inaugurate resort in Paracas
In August, the North American chain will inaugurate a five star resort named Double Tree Guest Suite in Paracas. The resort will have 124 luxury suites.

Lan Peru will fly to Medellin
As of March, Lan Peru will fly to Medellin, with a stopover in Quito. Furthermore, via an agreement with Avianca, it will facilitate the arrival to other destinations in Colombia, going farther than Bogota.

Air Cometโ€™s A380 would arrive in Lima in 2010
According to the General Manager of Air Comet in Peru, one of the A380 recently ordered by the airline would arrive in Lima as soon as it is included in the fleet.

New helicopter company
A new air transport company called Coyotair received the commercial aviation operation permit in the special air transport category to operate between the Jorge Chavez International Airport and heliports of hotels in Lima, among other locations in the country.

ECUADOR
Ecuadorian residents will promote tourism
The Minister of Tourism held various work meetings with groups of Ecuadorian residents in Spain with the aim of establishing agreements and alliances to incorporate them into the Ecuadorian touristic promotion efforts.

Ecuador Travel Mart-2008
The edition of ETM-2008 will be held in Ecuador, on April from 20fs to 23rd, 2008, and it will join tourism operators from five continents interested to show worldwide the new products of the tourism of Ecuador as a new effort of integration with the world in a mutual profitable business opportunities. If you like more details about ETM-2008, contact to this e-mail: [email protected] or fax: 00 593 7 283 3047

Record profits and sales in Avianca
During 2007, Avianca achieved unprecedented results in their balance sheets. Sales were of US$ 1.423 billion, with a 31 percent increase during the year. Likewise, the operational profits came close to US$ 200 million with net profits of 100 million.
AeroRepublica will request permission to fly from Barranquilla and Pereira to Panama
AeroRepublica will request permission to fly from Barranquilla and Pereira to Panama, with the aim of increasing the connectivity and the number of tourists to the Coffee Growerโ€™s Axis.

COLOMBIA
Spirit Airways will begin flights to Cartagena in March
The North American airline was authorized by Civil Aviation to operate the Fort Lauderdale (South of Florida) โ€“Cartagena route as of March 20th, with accessible prices for the clients of this route. The company will carry out five weekly flights.

VENEZUELA
INAC does not rule out subsidizing Aeoropostalโ€™s rescue
The director of INAC does not rule out the possibility that the Venezuelan State will subsidize Aeropostal once they present recuperation plans in which they explain that it could improve both economically and operatively.

Santa Barbara announces more frequencies with Spain
The airline company decided to strengthen its operations in Spain with the increase of an additional weekly flight in its Caracas-Madrid-Caracas route. Santa Barbara will establish five weekly direct flights.

CENTRAL AMERICA
Tourism increased by 7.68 percent in 2007
The arrival of tourists to Central America increased by 7.68 percent in 2007, receiving a total of 7,571,310 foreign visitors; 516,375 more than in 2006.

PANAMA
Airports will invest US$ 4.5 million
The Civil Aviation Authority assigned US$ 4,575,000 this year for the construction, reparation and maintenance of the countryโ€™s airport installations.

EL SALVADOR
Taca announces a second flight to Miami
As of Wednesday, April 2nd, Taca will operate a second flight between El Salvador and Miami, Florida, expanding its network of routes in the Americas. The flight will be operated with Airbus 320 aircraft.

Iberia and Comet Air assess flying to this destination
Spain and El Salvador could be connected through a direct flight. The airlines decided to assess the possibility of establishing a direct flight between both countries.

MEXICO
Mexicana will fly to Calgary
As of June 1st, Mexicana de Aviacion will open a new route to Calgary, its fourth destination in Canada. The route will have a frequency of four weekly direct flights to and from Mexico City. The airline calculates that it will transport more than 20,000 passengers per year via this route.

Hotusa opens boutique hotel in Mexico City
Hotusa has just opened its third establishment in Mexico City; the Eurostars Suites Reforma. It has 36 suites, decorated with a combination of colonial and classical-contemporary styles.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Promotes โ€œPuerto madreโ€ concept
The touristic authorities are aiming at the development of cruise tourism, promoting the concept of โ€œpuerto madreโ€ in the country, dedicated to the boarding of cruise ships and their departure point towards trips in the Caribbean.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Promotion of large-scale events

ARGENTINA
Promotion of large-scale events
The Minister of Culture and president of the Tourism Entity of Buenos Aires signed a treaty with representatives of ArteBa, the Week of Art, Gallery Nights, the Book Fair, the Night of Museums and the International Festivals of the City of Buenos Aires to strengthen and create synergize with the promotion and positioning of the city as a cultural destination abroad.

Record of passengers in 2007
Almost 18 million people passed through the airports administered by Aeropuertos Argentinos 200.

URUGUAY
Promotes cultural tourism
The International Cinema Festival of Punta del Este, that will be held between February 17th and 24th, will generate cultural tourism in this edition.

BRAZIL
First gay cruise departs from Rio during the carnival
A virtual travel agency will carry out Brazilโ€™s first gay cruise. The twelve-day route of the Infinity cruiser will depart from Rio de Janeiro, where it will stay during the three carnival days, stopping over in Buzios, Santos, Porto Belo and Florianopolis, continuing on to Punta del Este and Montevideo, in Uruguay, to arrive in Buenos Aires.

Gol signed an agreement with KLM
Gol signed an interline agreement with KLM, effective as from January 17th, by which KLM passengers will be able to buy tickets for the 60 destinations served by Gol.

BOLIVIA
Tourist infrastructure will be expanded
Oruro began the expansion of its tourist infrastructure with the implementation of eight new projects, such as the network of rural complexes, museums, recreational centers, parks and others which are included in an investment stage.

LAB-AS on stand-by to fly
In the first days of February, AS and LAB could commence their operations, prior granting of their commercial licenses.

PERU
Received 160 thousand luxury tourists in 2007
Peru received approximately 160 thousand luxury tourists in 2007, who spent an average of US$1,000 daily.

US$70 million investment planned for hotels
In the next two years, Cusco will benefit with an investment in luxury hotel infrastructure of at least US$70 million.

Sky Airline receives a frequency to Lima
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Peru granted Sky Airline the authorization to operate seven weekly flights to Lima in the Santiago-Iquique-Lima route. It also received an increase in the frequencies that it actually operates between Arica and Arequipa, going from three to four per week.

Eco Inn Cusco will be inaugurated in February
Econ Inn Hotels will inaugurate its four-star hotel in Cusco on February 15th. It is a minimalist style hotel and has 167 ample rooms.

Radisson Hotels will open hotels in Lima
The chain announced the coming opening of two new hotels: on February 15th, it will open the Radisson Decapolis Hotel Miraflores, in Lima, while the Radisson Hotel & Suites will also open in the middle of next month.

Peru Rail among the 25 best world adventures
The International Society of Train Travelers, of the United States, published in its magazineโ€™s special edition the list of the 25 best world train adventures, among which are the Hiram Bingham and the Andean explorer, of Peru Rail, in Peru.

ECUADOR
International arrivals increased in 2007
Ecuador closed 2007 with 953,196 arrivals of foreign visitors, a 13.40% increase with respect to 2006.

COLOMBIA
Traffic between Colombia and Spain increased
At the end of 2007, Iberia transported 208,000 passengers between the two countries, 10.2 percent more than the previous year.

Avianca will fly between Bogota and San Jose
Avianca is preparing to open a Bogota-San Jose (Costa Rica) route, after receiving a temporary three month permit to start operations.

Count down
The countryโ€™s most important tourist event is finalizing details for the celebration of its twenty-seventh edition which will take place in Corterias from February 25 to 27.

PANAMA
New governmental entity
A new independent state entity will govern Panamaโ€™s booming tourist industry. The law draft plan that establishes the Panamanian Tourist Authority, in place of the Panamanian Tourism Institute, was handed over to businessmen of the sectorโ€™s different branches for their suggestions.

Participation in Fitur
Panamanian hotel representatives, real estate projects and tourist operators will participate in the International Tourism Fair.

NICARAGUA
Government promotes works
The government plans to promote tourism in the coastal localities of Managua Lake, with an investment of more than one million dollars.

EL SALVADOR
Expansion of airports
The Autonomous Port Executive Commission will invest US$39.1 million in the expansion of the passenger terminal of the international airport between 2008 and 2009.

United suspends operations
The airline gave instructions to its reservation staff to inform that it will not be able to fly from El Salvador to Los Angeles, USA as from March 1.

COSTA RICA
Entry of tourists increased
Last year, Costa Rica received 1.9 million tourists, an 11.59% increase compared to 2006.

Air Caraibesโ€™s first flight landed
The French airlineโ€™s first flight arrived at the Juan Santamaria, of San Jose, airport. The airline will offer two weekly flights to the country, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Investment in new hotel complex
The construction of the Hyatt Regency Azulera hotel complex in the Brasilito beach, in Guanacaste, in which US$300 million will be invested, was started. The complex will have 215 rooms and 100 condominiums.

Tourist Investment Fair
In February, the tourist authorities and businessmen will carry out the third edition of the Costa Rican Fair of Tourist Investment. The event will take place on February 20th and 21st.

HONDURAS
Roatan will receive 500,000 cruise travelers
The island, the only Central American tourist destination recommended by the North American newspaper The New York Times to visit in 2008, will this year receive 500,000 tourists that will be transported by 12 different companies.

MEXICO
Hotel chains will invest US$500 million
Local and international hotel chains such as Grupo Posadas, Intercontinental Hotels and Marriott will invest this year more than US$ 500 million for the construction of new establishments in Merida.

Aeromexico will enter the charter flights market
Aeromexico will enter the charter flights market with the forthcoming beginning of the airline specialized in this area of the market: Aeromexico Travel. As yet there is no exact date for the beginning of the service.

Tourism this week in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Tourist arrival grew by 15 percent in 2007
The arrival of foreign tourists grew by 15 percent last year, reaching the amount of 2.2 million visitors. Most tourists to visit Argentina during 2007 came from Brazil, the United States, Chile, Spain and Italy.

British Airways will fly daily from London to Buenos Aires

ARGENTINA
Tourist arrival grew by 15 percent in 2007
The arrival of foreign tourists grew by 15 percent last year, reaching the amount of 2.2 million visitors. Most tourists to visit Argentina during 2007 came from Brazil, the United States, Chile, Spain and Italy.

British Airways will fly daily from London to Buenos Aires
As of October 26th, the airline will fly daily from London to Buenos Aires.

URUGUAY
Arrival of tourists grows by 17 percent during the first days of January
The influx of tourists during the first two weeks of January grew by 17 percent, with respect to the same period in 2007, with the arrival of 68,425 visitors.

BRAZIL
TAM began Caracas-Brazil flight
TAM began its Caracas-Brazil flight, with a daily frequency, which has an advantage in comparison to its main competitor Varig, in that it has two stopovers during the seven-hour flight.

OceanAir signs agreement with Mexicana
OceanAir finalized an agreement with Mexicana to distribute its passengers in a wider range than Mexico City, thus being able to connect for destinations such as Acapulco, Cancun, Guadalajara and Merida, among others, in Mexicana flights.

TAP New destinations
TAP will operate five weekly flights between Lisbon and Belo Horizonte as of February 11th; as of this date it will offer 65 weekly frequencies between Portugal and Brazil. They will also offer the new route between Porto (Portugal) and Salvador, starting at the beginning of April.

British Airways will return to Rio
The airline will once again have direct flights to Rio de Janeiro from London, three times a week, starting October 26th.

CHILE
New five-star hotel
BBVA Real Estate has on file millionaire projects in Chile for its 47 hectare property located in the Las Tacas area in the Coquimbo Region. It involves an initial investment of approximately US$15 million.

LAN Arrival in Brazil is a priority decision
The president of LAN affirmed that their arrival in Brasil is a โ€œpriority decision since, objectively, due to its size, the Brasilian market is always going to be of interest to us. However, the method and the opportunity have to be considered.”

BOLIVIA
AS begins to operate with charter flights
Aerolineas Sudamericanas (AS) began flights with charter flights between Santa Cruz and La Paz. The company will receive the authorization to begin regular flights from the Superintendency within 10 and 15 days.

TAM has a new aircraft
In Bolivia, TAM Mercosur employed for the first time an Airbus-320 with a flight that departed from the Jorge Wilstermann international Airport with destination Asuncion, connecting to Brasil, the United States and Europe. This was the first time that the TAM Mercosur Airbus has carried out a commercial flight in Bolivia.

PERU
Projects that two million tourists will visit the country
This year two million tourists are expected to arrive in the country, this amount being superior by 11 percent to that registered in 2007. This would mean an approximate income of US$2.2 million for the concept of receptive tourism.

Orient Express invests US$4 million in receptive tourism
The chain announced that it will inaugurate a five-star resort in the Caรฑon del Colca in April. The investment is of US$ 4 million.

NH Hotels aims to enter the country in three years
The chain plans to enter the country in approximately three years with a hotel project which will be located in Lima.

Cuzco aims to be the pioneer department of luxury tourism
Cuzco aims to be the pioneer department in the area of luxury tourism and boutique hotels, having complied with all the required conditions, declared the general manager of the Hotels of Peru Society.

COLOMBIA
Web site for tourism
More than 10 tourist plans are being commercialized on a travel agencyโ€™s web site, which is seeking to formally place the country on the international tourist map of the LGBT community.

CENTRAL AMERICA
Joint promotion in the USA and Europe
The Central American Tourism Association will open an office in the United States for the joint promotion of the region and there will be a joint effort in the tourism fairs of Europe.

EL SALVADOR
Coffee producing cooperatives will open new tourist complex
This month, the Coffee Producers Cooperatives Consortium of Guanacaste and Montes de Oro R.L. will open a new tourist complex where the qualities and characteristics of coffee will be displayed. This group of nine cooperatives puts to use the installments of what used to be the Tilaran Cooperative (Coopetila), which declared bankruptcy in July, 2005.

COSTA RICA
Opens all-inclusive hotel
Hilton Hotels Corporation opened its first establishment in Costa Rica, the Hilton Papagayo Resort Costa Rica, with an all-inclusive system, with 202 rooms.

MEXICO
Passenger movement during 2007 increased
The Benito Juarez Ciudad de Mexico International Airport mobilized 25,881,662 local and international passengers in 2007, with a 4.7 percent increase with respect to the 24,727,296 passengers in 2006. From January to December of last year, 16,592,422 local passengers and 9,289,240 passengers from other parts of the world used the capitalโ€™s airport.

Private investment increases
Private investment in Mexicoโ€™s tourist industry increased by 11.12 percent during 2007 compared to 2006. The amount of the investment was of US$ 3,463 million, of which 56.24 percent came from Mexican capital and 43.75 percent from foreign investors.

GUATEMALA
New AeroMexico terminal
AeroMexico inaugurated its new Terminal 2 in the International Airport of Mexico City, which will allow it to expand its range of services, offering greater circulation with its different levels in its arrivals and departures areas and an Aerotren system for connecting flights between terminals.

Record growth in tourism
Governmental authorities announced an income increase of 18.4 percent, as well as an 8.4 percent increase in the number or foreign tourists that visited Guatemala during 2007. The income that the tourist industry generated amounted to US$1,199 million. Last year, 1,627,552 tourists visited the country.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Opens the Edenh Real Arena
The Edenh Real Arena, situated in the Punta Cana area, is already operative. This becomes NH Hotelsโ€™ first establishment in the Dominican Republic.

Jetblue begins operations
Jetblue Airways began its operations between the John F. Kennedy Airport of New York and the General Gregorio Luperon Airport of Puerto Plata.

CUBA
FITCUBA 2008 May 5th to the 9th
The historical Morro-Cabaรฑa Park of Havana will reopen its doors to the 28th edition of FITCUBA 2008, the most important event of the tourist industry in the biggest island of the West Indies. From May 5th to the 9th, professionals and visitors will enjoy the varied offer that characterizes Cuba as a tourist destination.

Tourism this week in Latin America

LATIN AMERICA
Record numbers of tourists

LATIN AMERICA
Record numbers of tourists
The summer season in the Southern peninsula started with good perspectives, with expectations for Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay to receive a record amount of local and foreign tourists. In Argentina, the resorts of the Atlantic Coast, with Mar del Plata in the lead, await a season which will exceed the activity of the 20.2 million tourists received during the past summer throughout the whole country. For 2008, Uruguay expects a record increase in Brazilian tourists and a marked increase in Argentinians. Chile foresees that during January-March of 2008, 700,000 foreign tourists will visit the country.

ARGETINA
Closes 2007 with a record number of visitors
Buenos Aires closed 2007 with 2.3 million foreign visitors, 40 percent from neighboring countries, but also with a strong presence of Europeans (22.5 percent) and the rest of America (27 percent).

Austral will fly to Chile and Air Comet Chile to Argentina
Air Comet Chile requested authorization to fly to Buenos Aires, in so far as Austral already has the approval to fly to Santiago of Chile. Both companies could begin flights in March.

Sky Airline is authorized to land
Sky Airline informed that it already has the authorization to go to Argentina and that the destinations will be Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Mendoza. It also added that they are already flying to Arequipa, Peru and now they are aiming at Lima.

URUGUAY
Tourism recovering
The Ministry of Tourism published official figures on the amount of tourists who visited the country in 2007, which reflect a 2 percent increase with respect to 2006. Said activity brought in US$ 800 million during 2007.

Treaty with Japan
The Ministry of Tourism and the Institute for Japanese Cooperation signed a treaty. It is the second stage of the Uruguay-Japan project, which seeks to promote the arrival of Japanese tourists to Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. They will work on of the arrival of an airline from Japan and the completion of a tourist package. The Ambassador of Japan suggested the possibility that Japan airlines arrive at San Pablo and Montevideo.

BRAZIL
Government establishes fewer taxes for hotels
The government published the Provisional Decree 413 that foresees acceleration in the depreciation of consumer goods. With this measure, hotels will pay less income tax.

Beginning of shared code agreement with LAN Peru
Recently, TAM and LAN Peru began the implementation of their shared code agreement, which will permit TAM passengers to connect with LAN Peru flights to different destinations within Peru, as well as for LAN Peru passengers to fly to different Brazilian cities that are part of the TAM network.

Construction of the Radisson begins
The construction of the Radisson Maceiรณ hotel of Atlantica Hotels International, which will have 195 rooms, has begun. The establishment will become functional in 18 months.

CHILE
Air Comet announced new routes
The general manager of Air Comet Chile and Aerolineas Argentinas announced the route to Puerto Natales as well as to Arica and the aim of arriving at Easter Island. Furthermore, they are studying Osorno and Copiapo to begin flying there before the end of 2008.

BOLIVIA
LAB recovers confidence of travelers
LAB continues to operate charter flights while it awaits the renewal of its Commercial Certificate to renew flights with a regular itinerary.

BoA will begin operations in April
Boliviana de Aviacion (BoA) will begin its operations at the end of April. At first it will cover local routes, mainly on the principal routes and later the secondary ones will be served. In the long term, BoA will begin to fly the international routes that are no longer covered by LAB, such as Madrid, Miami, Colorado, Argentina, Chile and Brasil.

PERU
Number of foreigners that entered the country increases by 8.9 percent
The number of foreigners that entered the country in November 2007, amounted to 182,806 people, which is 8.9 percent superior to that registered in the same month in 2006. The foreigners that entered during that month mainly came from Chile (31.4 percent), the United States (19.4 percent), Ecuador (9.9 percent), Spain (7.2 percent), Argentina (4.9 percent), and Bolivia (4.5 percent), among others.

LAN Peru will arrive in Brazilian cities
The passengers of LAN Peru will be able to arrive at Bahia, Fortaleza, Recife, Florianapolis and Iguazu thanks to the shared code agreement with TAM that will soon be put into practice. The passengers of TAM will be able to fly to Cuzco and Arequipa, with more of the countryโ€™s cities included at a later date.

Clabe Andina would construct four 5-star hotels
The group evaluates the construction of four five-star hotels in the next four years, after having consolidated its first hotel Sumaq Macchpicchu in Aguas Calientes. The possible projects would be located in the Urubamba Valley, Cusco, Arequipa and Puno.

ECUADOR
ETM 2008 has begun
The Executive Committee of the Bolsa Internacional de Turismo del Ecuador, BITE, is fulfilling a busy agenda as the organizer of the most important commercial touristic event, Ecuador Travel Mart 2008, which will be held in Cuenca from April 19th to the 22nd. The fair will bring together wholesale and small scale tour operators from the main markets of the five continents for the commercialization of the touristic services of Ecuador.

COLOMBIA
Fifth most attractive country of Latin America in 2010
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism said that in 2010 Colombia will be the fifth most touristy country of Latin America, increasing the number of international tourists to 4 million and generating a great impact in the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), because of the 100 percent increase in the actual level of income for this concept.

Air transport of foreign tourists increased by 13 percent in 2007
According to the statistics of Civil Aviation, the Colombian air sector had a good year in 2007, with increases in the transport of local and foreign tourists. The increase in the transport of foreigners was of 13 percent and of 8 percent in local transport.

Easyfly reinaugurates Santa Ana de Cartago Airport
The airline inaugurated the Bogota-Cartago-Bogota route. After six years without passenger transport, the Santa Ana de Cartago Airport reopens its doors to locals and tourists who wish to choose air transport to this city. It is expected that 7,730 passengers will use the airport in this first year.

PANAMA
Cruise tourism will be promoted
Panama expects the arrival of 300,000 travelers from cruises for the 2007-2008 period, with a ship expected every 15 days, foreseeing the arrival of at least 135 craft of this sort. Each passenger spends approximately US$95 during their brief stay.

COSTA RICA
Agreement with China to promote tourism
Canatur signed an agreement between Costa Rican and Chinese authorities to promote tourism from the Asian country towards the Central American one.

MEXICO
7.4 million tourists arrived in 2007
The Mexican Caribbean received 7.4 million tourists during 2007, 60 percent of which were foreign visitors. This figure exceeded the 5.9 million tourists who visited this country in 2006 by 24.9 percent. This sector received an income of US$5 billion from the visitors.

This month, Delta begins direct flights between Queretaro and Atlanta
Delta pointed out that in the middle of this month it will begin direct flights between Queretaro and Atlanta, with a frequency of five weekly flights.

CUBA
30 new establishments until 2010
Starting this year and continuing until 2010, Cuba plans to construct 30 new hotels to include more than 10,000 rooms to the islandโ€™s tourist infrastructure.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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