Tourism

• Monday, January 25th 2016 - 09:56 UTC

  Tourists' arrivals grew 4.4% last year and forecasted to increase 4% this year

  

  International tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% in 2015 to reach a total of 1,184 million in 2015, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Some 50 million more tourists (overnight visitors) travelled to international destinations around the world last year as compared to 2014. 2015 marks the 6th consecutive year of above-average growth, with international arrivals increasing by 4% or more every year since the post-crisis year of 2010.

• Friday, January 22nd 2016 - 09:46 UTC

  As locals in Punta del Este, “we enjoy a dignified and happy life”

  

  London's The Guardian in an article credited to Oliver Balch argues that Punta del Este, Uruguay's main international summer resort has become a 'golden ghetto' for the rich where the poor can't afford staples or lodging. However Mayor Andrés Jafif openly disagrees with the reporting and argues that ”we might be poor (by European standards) but we are happy, we can live in Punta del Este, we have a good time, we surf, work and bask in beaches”.

• Wednesday, January 20th 2016 - 07:32 UTC

  Changes to the South Atlantic Air-bridge: Brize Norton-MPA Falkland Islands

  

  The Falkland Islands' government and the UK Ministry of Defense have announced that residents should be aware of recent changes to regulations related to travel on the South Atlantic Airbridge, Brize Norton/MPA.

• Saturday, January 16th 2016 - 10:31 UTC

  Dead fish and garbage in Rio's Guanabara Bay question Brazil's Olympic celebrations

  

  Thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of Rio’s Guanabara Bay during the week, not far from where events are being held at this year’s Olympic Games, environmental officials said. The incident was the latest involving water quality in the bay, where sailing, open water swimming, and triathlon races are due to take place during the Games in August.

• Saturday, January 16th 2016 - 10:05 UTC

  St Helena and its new airport get ready for tourism take-off

  

  The Guardian Weekly has published a piece on prospects for St Helena with the opening of its international airport, most probably next May, and which is expected to turn the mid Atlantic's island economy, particularly with tourism, since none less that Napoleon Bonaparte spent his last years until his death, almost two centuries ago.

• Wednesday, January 13th 2016 - 04:04 UTC

  IAATO Executive Director and Falklands' resident awarded the Queen's Polar Medal

  

  Dr Kim Crosbie, IAATO Executive Director, and IAATO Member Jérôme Poncet of Golden Fleece Expeditions who is a resident of the Falkland Islands, have been awarded the Queen’s Polar Medal. The announcement was made last week in The London Gazette.

• Tuesday, January 12th 2016 - 06:38 UTC

  Cruise ports and island-resorts funded by the same companies, boom in the Caribbean and Central America

  

  The Caribbean and cruise ship passengers alike are expected to benefit from at least four new cruise ports that are in the works to open in the region in the next few years. Cruise Fever reports that Harvest Caye in Belize will be the first up and running, with a scheduled opening date of February 16, when Norwegian Jade visits the port to take in the country’s eclectic mix of rainforests, jungle, and coral reefs.

• Friday, January 8th 2016 - 20:06 UTC

  US and Cuban universities sign cooperation and student exchange programs

  

  The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Havana that will allow the institutions to develop cooperative programs in a variety of academic disciplines.

• Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 02:47 UTC

  US bans imports of lion trophies; the majestic cats protected by USFWS Endangered Species Act

  

  In a move that is likely to put a major dent in South Africa’s canned hunting industry for lions — a practice involving the shooting of these majestic predators in fenced enclosures in a pay-to-slay arrangement— the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that it will institute important new measures to protect lions under the Endangered Species Act.

• Wednesday, December 30th 2015 - 02:22 UTC

  Busy weekend for Ushuaia: 8.000 cruise visitors

  

  Over 8.000 cruise visitors arrived in Ushuaia over the weekend when the Star Princess (2.600 pax), Norwegian Sun (2.400 pax), Infinity (2.400 pax) and the Seabourn Quest coincided in the extreme south port of Argentina in the peak of the Southern hemisphere season.