Tourism

• Saturday, September 7th 2013 - 18:26 UTC

  How the Madrid 2020 Olympic dream was shattered to pieces

  

  The Spanish delegation arrived in Buenos Aires as favourites to host the 2020 Olympics in Madrid. They had top credentials: the future King (Prince Felipe) himself a sports enthusiast; the least demanding and irritating budget, (based on Brazil’s ongoing experience) and ample public opinion support in Spain despite the economic situation and record unemployment.

• Saturday, September 7th 2013 - 17:19 UTC

  Olympics return to Japan despite Fukushima; in final vote Tokyo defeated Istanbul

  

  Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympics on Saturday, capitalizing on its reputation as a “safe pair of hands” and defying concerns about the Fukushima nuclear crisis. Tokyo defeated Istanbul 60-36 in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul.

• Friday, September 6th 2013 - 01:42 UTC

  Debt-struck Madrid believes its modest budget will end hosting the 2020 Olympics

  

  Debt-struck Madrid is betting its penny-pinching bid to host the Olympics in 2020 will reap rich economic dividends for recession-hit Spain. The Spanish capital is banking on a low-cost 5 billion dollars Olympic bid that relies heavily on existing stadiums to surprise Tokyo and Istanbul when Olympic chiefs make their decision in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

• Thursday, September 5th 2013 - 03:35 UTC

  Falklands’ lawmaker has full round of political and business contacts in Uruguay

  

  “We have come for people-to-people contacts, to talk about business opportunities and for the resumption of the close and historic links between the Falkland Islands and Uruguay”, repeated Falklands’ lawmaker Dick Sawle during one of his many presentations in Montevideo.

• Thursday, September 5th 2013 - 03:23 UTC

  Labour dispute stops the construction of the St Helena airport in mid-Atlantic

  

  South Africans working at the British Overseas Territory of St Helena airport have gone on strike, in what is thought to be the first industrial action on the island in half a century, according to the local news. It is understood they are in dispute over employment terms and conditions.

• Monday, September 2nd 2013 - 20:02 UTC

  Uruguay no longer a magnet for Argentine funds looking for real estate investments

  

  Uruguay has ceased to be the magnet for Argentine funds looking for safe places to save and real estate investments since the Argentine revenue service AFIP, following on the neighbouring countries tax-data exchange agreement, could have access to that information, according to Uruguayan private financial and investment advisors.

• Monday, September 2nd 2013 - 02:29 UTC

  TAM and South African Airways sign codeshare agreement

  

  South African Airways (SAA) and Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement to increase access to destinations in both countries for both leisure and business travellers.

• Friday, August 30th 2013 - 01:55 UTC

  Argentina formalizes reciprocity request for Aerolineas in Chile and Brazil air markets

  

  Argentine officials publicly stated on Thursday there was no intention of expelling any commercial airline from the country because Aerolineas Argentinas is working well, but called on Latam to help the Argentine flag carrier with reciprocity in Chile and Brazil.

• Friday, August 30th 2013 - 01:02 UTC

  Falklands’ consultation on new deep port receives many suggestions and strong support

  

  The Falkland Islands government has released the findings of the public consultation document ‘Your Future – Your Say’ which show a very strong support for phased development of the new port, “to serve all its potential users,” according to an Executive Council paper.

• Thursday, August 29th 2013 - 17:08 UTC

  Mexico and Burkina Faso official hosts of World Tourism Day 2014 and 2015

  

  Mexico was selected to be the official host country for World Tourism Day (WTD) 2014 and Burkina Faso for WTD 2015. The respective themes will be “Tourism and Community Development” for 2014, and “One billion tourists, one billion opportunities” for 2015