The Confederation of Latin American Tourism Organizations (COTAL is the Spanish acronym) is giving the finishing touches to a professional meeting of lawyers and impresarios linked to the travel industry that’s scheduled to take place on November 25 and 26 in Buenos Aires. Attendants will broach such hot issues as responsibility in the transportation of airborne passengers, IATA’s current outlay and situation, travel contracts and passenger protection, as well as regulations and guidelines of today’s Latin American tourism.

Ecuador was home last week to an international tourism congress that weighed different alternatives to beef up the Latin American travel industry and assessed the going of the leisure sector in the region. The conclave was organized and sponsored in part by the Ecuadorian Association of Travel Agencies, Tour Operators and Wholesalers (ASECUT).

Mexico’s Tabasco will be home to the First International Congress on Rural Tourism on November 29 and 30. This first edition will be focused on the development of the Aztec nation’s own agricultural tourism. Organizers told Caribbean News Digital this will be an ideal moment to exchange views and learn about new concepts for the advance of concrete marketing projects and operations aimed at rural tourism.

IFEMA, the top planner of the International Travel Fair (FITUR 2005), is giving props to its own mesh of professional services in an effort to max out attendance and allow participants to make all preparations prior to their stay in Madrid. The tourism fair, penciled in as one of the world’s major events of its kind, will stretch out from January 26 to 30 next year at the Juan Carlos I Fairgrounds in the Spanish capital.

With a final tally of 27 countries from the Americas, Europe and Asia, the 21st edition of the El Salvador International Fair (FIES is the Spanish acronym) came to a successful close after gathering some 380 companies that showcased their products and embarked on numerous negotiations. Attendants to the fair that ended last Sunday could take part in three business rounds aimed at making promotions and forging trade alliances.

Havana, the Cuban capital, celebrated its 485th anniversary on November 16 with a varied program that included history retelling, social functions, cultural events and recreational activities. A faithful advocate of colonial architecture in both Cuba and Latin America, the city of Havana was founded in 1519 as the village of San Cristobal de La Habana.