Tourism

• Thursday, November 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Global air traffic down; Latam pax up 4.5%, says IATA

  

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced international air traffic for October showing a second consecutive month of global decline. Latinamerica experienced 4.5% growth in passengers and a record drop in cargo, 11.4%.

• Monday, November 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  “Norwegian Sun” and “Radiance” open Uruguay's season

  

  “Norwegian Sun” and “Radiance of the Seas” will be making the official opening the Uruguayan cruise season in Montevideo next December 8, which this year is expected to total 182 calls between Montevideo and Punta del Este.

• Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Santiago airport plan to double passenger traffic

  

  Santiago de Chile's international air terminal Pudahuel will be expanded to receive 20 million passengers annually from its current 9 million. The original plan was for the reform to become operational in 2018/19 but given the rapid growth of air traffic plans were advanced to 2013/14.

• Thursday, November 13th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile expects record number of Argentine tourists

  

  In spite of the global financial crisis Chile expects this summer season a significant increase in the number of Argentine tourists in the range of 300.000, according to the country's Tourism Office, Senatur.

• Wednesday, November 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  International tourism slowing, but still growing says UN

  

  International tourism has started slowing rapidly since the middle of the year, reflecting consumer concern worldwide and rising inflation in many countries, the United Nations reports in its latest measure of the health of the global travel industry.

• Wednesday, November 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  UN “resilience committee” to boost tourism industry

  

  Tourism ministers from around the world have agreed to set up a new United Nations-backed committee to consider how to respond both to the downturn in international travel as a result of the global financial crisis and the impact of climate change.

• Tuesday, November 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Maltese cruise retained in Ushuaia for security reasons

  

  The Maltese flagged cruise vessel “Lyubov Orlova” has been retained in Ushuaia and banned from continuing to Antarctica until it complies with the International Maritime Organization security and safety rules, according to local Argentine authorities.

• Thursday, November 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Anticipated success for 09 Dakar Rally in Argentina/Chile

  

  Organizers of the Dakar Rally, to be held next year for the first time in Argentina and Chile, following suspension because of terrorist threats in Africa, confirmed a record number of pilots: 530, the highest since 1988. The list includes car, motorcycle, truck and four wheeled cycle pilots.

• Wednesday, November 5th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Puerto Madryn has scheduled 43 cruise calls and 45.000 pax

  

  Puerto Madryn in the Argentine Patagonia province of Chubut is expecting 43 cruise vessel calls this coming season, --which will extend until April 17, 2009--, totalling an estimated 45.000 visitors, according to reports in the local press.

• Tuesday, November 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil sets legal guidelines for making popular caipirinha

  

  Brazil's government has published legal guidelines for the popular caipirinha, the most common and extended alcoholic drink of the 190 million population country, and which becomes mandatory as of this month.