
Chile has become a single territory for telecommunications and long distance calls with different rates for fixed lines will no longer exist beginning Saturday. This in practical terms will also means a 50% reduction on normal phone calls.

Ecuador's capital, Quito, was named South America's Leading Destination for the second year in a row at the 21st regional World Travel Awards gala, considered the Oscars of the tourism industry.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reminded the Venezuelan government that if it fails to settle debts with international airlines, the country would be isolated from the world; hence, the association urged Venezuela to reach agreements, and above all, to fulfill such agreements.

Haiti announced it has signed a multi-million dollar agreement with the US-based Carnival Cruise Lines to build a tourism port on the island of Latortue, north of the island. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said the 70 million dollars project will help improve the lives of the estimated 36,000 people residing in the area.

Germany's TUI Cruises, a joint venture of TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. are planning to spend as much as 2 billion Euros for four new vessels to meet increased European demand for cruise holidays. TUI Cruises expects Germany to overtake the UK as Europe's largest cruise market.

Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, announced that it has reached an agreement with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build a new ship, which will enter service in 2017.

There could have been few places where the old adage “worse things happen at sea” seemed more appropriate than a recent US Senate Commerce Committee hearing in which members were regaled with Caribbean cruise ship passengers’ horror stories of everything from rape and violence to seeping sewage and hallways lined with bags of feces.

The Falkland Islands have been nominated and are finalists in the Travel Agents Choice Awards sponsored by “Selling Travel Magazine” in the UK. (Previously known as Selling Long Haul Magazine), announced the Falkland Islands Tourism Board. The Falkland Islands have been nominated for “Best Destination for Wildlife and Nature”.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the Venezuelan government to honor the commitment it made in March to permit airlines to repatriate in full and at fair exchange rates airline funds being blocked in the country.

Falkland Islands Tourist Board (FITB) has been busy over the past weeks planning for upcoming events in the UK. The first event is in just three weeks when FITB will again be attending Bird Fair at Rutland Wildlife Reserve in Oakham, UK.