Tourism

• Thursday, August 2nd 2012 - 22:57 UTC

  Argentina’s noose on Falklands: Buenos Aires province bans UK flagged vessels

  

  In what is seen as another step of Argentina’s noose-tightening of the Falkland Islands’ economy and development, the Buenos Aires Province Senate passed a law on Thursday banning British flagged vessels from calling at Argentina’s largest province ports.

• Wednesday, August 1st 2012 - 22:28 UTC

  Brazilian tourists swamp Chilean winter resorts; 30% more in first half of 2012

  

  Chile’s Under Secretary for Tourism Jacqueline Plass reported that the arrival of Brazilian tourists had soared 30% in the first half of the year, attracted mostly to the ski centres along the Andes Mountains and to Patagonia.

• Wednesday, August 1st 2012 - 07:38 UTC

  Brazil will open social automatic cashiers for the exchange of foreign currency

  

  In anticipation of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, Brazil has decided to simplify foreign money exchange for residents and tourists through the use of specific automatic cashiers in pre-determined places.

• Friday, July 20th 2012 - 19:46 UTC

  Falklands ready for a 5 star hotel, says Islands Tourist board director

  

  The new managing director of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board Tony Mason says that Stanley needs a 5 star hotel and anticipates a boom in tourism to the Islands in the next five years.

• Tuesday, July 17th 2012 - 19:07 UTC

  Mexican group sells 15 Caesar Park hotels in South America to French operator

  

  Mexican hotel operator Grupo Posadas said Monday it reached an agreement to sell its properties and management contracts in South America to French hospitality company Accor for 275 million dollars.

• Saturday, July 14th 2012 - 07:12 UTC

  Tourist arrivals in Chile up 15% in first half of 2012: Argentina, Brazil lead

  

  Chilean Tourism Under Secretariat head Jacqueline Plass made a positive balance of tourism activity during the first half of the year with over 1.85 million foreign arrivals, a 15% increase over the same period a year ago.

• Thursday, July 12th 2012 - 07:23 UTC

  Boom year for the Falklands’ tourism industry propped by the war’s anniversary

  

  Tourist arrivals to the Falkland Islands are expected to increase by 14.9% in 2012, with a significant 28.8% jump in the number of leisure visitors, mainly driven by the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War.

• Tuesday, July 10th 2012 - 21:53 UTC

  IAATO helps with checklists for assessing Antarctic land bases and yachting expeditions

  

  Safe and environmentally responsible travel to the Antarctic featured prominently in the official press communiqué issued at the 35th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM XXXV), which concluded June 20 in Hobart, Australia. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP XV).

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 06:39 UTC

  Uruguay’s flag carrier Pluna “indefinitely grounded” and most staff redundant

  

  Uruguay’s flagship carrier Pluna said on Thursday that is was “suspending all flights indefinitely” and announced that 720 of the 900 staff would be sent on unemployment pay until a new associate for the company is found or the airline is definitively sold.

• Wednesday, July 4th 2012 - 21:32 UTC

  Buenos Aires expects 168 cruise calls this season up from 158 in 2011/12

  

  Buenos Aires expects 168 cruise calls in the 2012/13 season, according to Terminales Río de la Plata, up from 158 calls in 2011/12. National Geographic Explorer is booked as the first arrival, on Oct. 21, with Splendour of the Seas to wrap the season on April 15.