Thomas Cook, Europe’s second-biggest travel company, is reducing capacity as the head of its German business forecasts the tourism market will worsen through 2010.

United Airlines reported its preliminary consolidated traffic results for February 2009, saying that traffic fell 17.2 percent The carrier reported a February consolidated passenger load factor of 73.2 percent.

American Airlines reported a February load factor of 73.9 percent, a decrease of 2.9 points versus the same period last year. Traffic decreased 13.5 percent and capacity decreased 10.1 percent year over year. Domestic traffic decreased 13.7 percent year over year on 12.4 percent less capacity.

The Cuba Trade Expo (www.CubaTradeExpo.com) organizers today announced updates to their roster of experts and industry leaders set to participate in this year’s conference, which will take place in Miami, Florida from March 19-20.

Hawaii’s visitor arrivals fell in January for the 11th consecutive month and spending was down nearly $150 million as the nation’s deepening economic slump caused anxious consumers to postpone or cancel their vacation plans.

The Barbados government unveiled the Tourism Industry Relief Fund stimulus package on Feb. 26. In April, the government will pump an initial $7.5 million into the industry to help it pull through the global economic crisis, according to Tourism Minister Richard Sealy.