Havana._ The Cuban capital is hosting the 33rd Ordinary General Assembly of the Association of International Fairs of America (AFIDA) and the 6th Ibero-American Congress on Fairs, this month. According to sources from the organizing committee, both events will be held at Havana´s International Conference Center, under the auspices of the Union of Ibero-American Fairs, among other organizations.

Santo Domingo._ Punta Cana and Bavaro hoteliers will welcome travel businessmen to the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), which opened Thursday 11th in Punta Cana. Regarded as the most important local marketing event, DATE is coordinated by the National Hotel Association (Asonahores) with the backing of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA). The event is a marketplace to sell DR travel to US travel re-sellers.

Havana._ Under the slogan “Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Tourism Education,” Havana’s International Conference Center will host the 12th Pan American Congress of Hotel, Gourmet and Tourism Schools from September 10 to 13 this year. Exchange of information and the presentation of new experiences on the importance of cultural heritage for the development of tourism education will be the conclave’s top goal.

Kingston._ Sponsored by Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and the Jamaica Tourist Board, The Jamaica Product Exchange JAPEX 2002 will be held April 14-16, at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel, in Ocho Rios. JAPEX was created in 1990 to provide a professionally organized business exchange where wholesalers and tour operators could meet and conduct business with Jamaica ’s leading tourism suppliers.

Margarita Island , Venezuela._ From May 13 through 17, Margarita Island will welcome 600 delegates from the tourist sector who will come to this insular region to attend the 45th Congress and Fair of the Confederation of Latin American Tourist Organizations (COTAL). COTAL conceives tourism development for all Latin American countries and this time around it will bend over backwards to show international invitees the tourist charms this Venezuelan destination has to offer.

Nassau._ The Bahamas has been selected as the site of the next Caribbean Media Exchange of Sustainable Tourism (CMEx), the innovative process which brings journalists right into the development and design of tourism policies, slated to take place in early May. The first Media Exchange held in Ocho Rios last October was notable for attracting high-level representatives from communities, business and the transport sector.