Tourism

Sunday, January 13th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Australians arrive in NZ by kayak after 62 days

Two Australians have become the first people to paddle to New Zealand across the Tasman Sea in a kayak.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chile backs proposal for Dakar Rally in South America

The Chilean government will back a proposal to bring the Dakar Rally to South America after terrorist threats forced the cancellation of the off-road endurance race traditionally staged across the Sahara desert.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Nepal/NZ mourn loss of Mount Everest colossus conqueror

Nepal, the country of Mount Everest, has been remembering Sir Edmund Hillary, the joint first conqueror of the summit. Sir Edmund died in his native New Zealand, aged 88, after a heart attack.
Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chile expects 700.000 foreign tourists in Jan/February

Chile expects 700.000 foreign and overseas Chileans tourists this summer, up 10% over the same period a year ago, which are expected to inject 400 million US dollars to the economy, according to estimates from the National Tourism Office, Sernatur.
Wednesday, January 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Possible alternative 2008 “Dakar Rally” in central Europe

Dakar Rally organizers are considering a race through central Europe this spring to replace the event that was cancelled due to security concerns, the head of the Czech KM Racing Team said on Monday to French sources.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Two weekly flights Santiago-Pto Natales Torres del Paine park

Air Comet a Chilean subsidiary of the Spanish Group Marsans is expanding domestic flights in the country and announced two weekly flights to Puerto Natales, in the extreme south of Chilean Patagonia.
Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
QE2 final world cruise before becoming Dubai floating hotel

One of the world's most famous cruise ships, the Queen Elizabeth 2 set sail Sunday on its final global voyage before being turned into a floating hotel, British media reported. The vessel left with a fireworks send-off from the port city of Southampton for her last winter trip, the domestic Press Association news agency said.
Monday, January 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Santiago airport to handle 2.2 million pax this summer

From December 2007 to February 2008 an expected 2.2 million passengers will be passing through Santiago de Chile's Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, reports The Santiago Times. This is a 10% increase over last summer, and 20% of this figure corresponds to first-time travelers, according to airport operations chief Alberto Becerra.
Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
South Georgia stamp issue celebrates New Int. Polar Year

In commemoration of a new International Polar Year (March 2007- March 2009) South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands are issuing a series of stamps which will be available this month. South Georgia has been closely linked to polar scientific research from the very first International Polar Commission back in 1879 in the city of Hamburg.
Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Stomach bug downs passengers on 'cursed' ship

Cunard's £300 million MS Queen Victoria - which was officially launched by Camilla in Southampton three weeks ago when she failed to successfully smash the champagne bottle on its side - has been struck by a potentially fatal stomach bug.