
Controversy has erupted in Punta Arenas as to the consequences for the cruise season of the damage suffered by the Mardones jetty after a container vessel crashed into its structure.

A significant drop in the number of calls and visitors is forecasted for this coming 2014/15 cruise season in Uruguay, according to tourism officials. While in the last season Uruguay received 238 cruise calls, beginning November the number is expected to drop to 187, this apparently because of the very high costs in the ports of Buenos Aires and Brazilian terminals.

During the upcoming Antarctic season, from November through March, 36,545 tourists are expected to visit, according to estimates compiled by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). That’s a slight dip from the 37,405 who visited in 2013-14, which was a 9 percent increase from the previous year.

The US dollar in Argentine money markets continued its rising path on Thursday with a new record climb to close at 13.20 Pesos. This so-called “blue” dollar had jumped 20 cents to 13.15 pesos on Wednesday, breaking its 13.06 Pesos record from 23 January.

July consumer prices index in Argentina according to the so called Congressional index, climbed 2,47% and 39.71% in the last twelve months. The same index marked 2.2% in June indicating a growing tendency.

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.