Tourism

• Wednesday, May 5th 2010 - 23:30 UTC

  Cuba Boosts Tourism Industry and Plans to Develop “Virgin Regions”

  

  Cuba received a record one million tourists in the first four months and announced a policy of “real estate development” associated with boosting marinas, golf courses and other tourist investments, mainly in “virgin regions”.

• Wednesday, May 5th 2010 - 21:28 UTC

  Fresh Volcanic Ash Cloud Delay Hundreds of Flights in Scotland and Ireland

  

  Thousands of passengers are facing long delays after airports in Scotland and Ireland closed because of a fresh cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland. Flights have been grounded in Glasgow, Prestwick and Derry since 0700 BST, while the airspace over Dublin, Belfast and Edinburgh has also since closed.

• Tuesday, May 4th 2010 - 18:19 UTC

  Falklands’ Land-Based Tourism Down 10% in 2009/2010 with 16% Britons Less

  

  Falkland Islands land-based receptive tourist operators estimate that this season there was a 10% contraction in in-bound numbers compared with 2008/09. However bookings for 2010/2011 are back at good season levels, according to a report in the latest edition of the Islands weekly Penguin News.

• Tuesday, May 4th 2010 - 02:31 UTC

  Brazilian Tourists Fully Book Chilean Ski Resorts for Winter Holidays

  

  Brazilians are hanging up their swimsuits and donning snowsuits for this year’s winter ski season in Chile. Ski resorts have built strong campaigns with Chilean operators, agencies and media to increase visits from Brazil to the country’s ski slopes.

• Monday, May 3rd 2010 - 07:49 UTC

  Organizers Confirm Argentina and Chile will Host the 2011 Dakar Rally

  

  Organizers have unveiled the route for the 2011 Dakar Rally which will start and finish in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires and include a section through Chile. The 33rd edition of the “the world's toughest motor-sport event” will be the third to be run in South America after concerns about terrorists moved the rally in 2009 from its traditional route through the Sahara desert in North Africa.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2010 - 21:40 UTC

  Canadian Fund Invests in Uruguay’s Flagship Carrier PLUNA

  

  Jazz Air Income Fund has agreed to invest 15 million US dollars for an indirect stake in Uruguay's flagship carrier, Pluna. The fund behind Air Canada's regional affiliate, Jazz Air, said that it will get a one-third, non-voting interest in Latin American Regional Aviation Holding Corp., which owns 75% of Pluna Lineas Aireas Uruguayas. The remaining 25% of Pluna is held by the government of Uruguay.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2010 - 18:33 UTC

  P&O Azura Calls in Gibraltar on its Maiden Voyage

  

  The newest addition to the P&O fleet the magnificent Azura sailed into Gibraltar on Sunday. The 289.60 meter vessel with 17 decks high, carrying 2.816 passengers and 1.241 crew members arrived in port at 12:30hrs reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

• Saturday, April 24th 2010 - 07:51 UTC

  Coming Antarctic Season 2010/11, the Last for Big Cruise Ships

  

  The Antarctica season beginning in November is likely to be the last one as it has been known. Proposed changes to the type of fuel ships are allowed to burn and carry in this fragile ecosystem have now become a reality, making the future of big cruise ships in Antarctica uncertain.

• Saturday, April 24th 2010 - 07:28 UTC

  Volcanic Ash Cloud Costs European Tourism 2.3 Billion USD Losses

  

  Air traffic disruptions caused by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland inflicted losses on the European tourism sector worth 2.3 billion dollars (1.7 billion Euros), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimated Friday.

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 02:41 UTC

  Ash-cloud travel restrictions cost Spain’s tourism industry 259 million Euros

  

  Spanish tourism lost 252 million Euros over six days because of travel restrictions caused by the volcanic ash cloud which grounded air traffic in Europe, industry body Exceltur said on Wednesday.