The offices of the Department of Taxes and Customs inthe Dominican Republic have agreed to scrap, as from September, the tax levied on products used by select companies of the tourism industry that have the approval of the Ministry of Tourism. According to local newspaper Hoy, Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez made the announcement as part of a series of incentives that the government has introduced to assist the tourism sector.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit against Norwegian Cruise Line for racial discrimination against employees of Muslim religion and Middle Eastern descent in a Honolulu federal court. The EEOC is representing seven or more employees who worked for NCL America on its Hawaii vessel the Pride of Aloha in 2004 and were allegedly discharged because of their religion and national origin.

The Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort Aruba recently welcomed their new Food & Beverage Director, Mr. Lorenzo Onichini. Mr. Lorenzo has already started with his plans to help change and improve the resorts restaurants, one of them being the Lobby Bar which is already undergoing a mini renovation and scheduled to undergo major expansion next year.

Cancun is now offering state-of-the-art meeting and group facilities, tax-free. Meeting planners and guests involved in conventions, fairs, exhibitions and large meetings can enjoy Cancun´s tax-free incentive, exempting events from the usual 10 percent tax on beverages, meals, accommodations, entertainment and event services. The plan also includes registration, masters of ceremonies, translators, hosts, audiovisual equipment, decorations, security, cleaning, transportation and other related services contracted for the entire event, plus up to two nights before and after the event.

Beatles fans everywhere are eagerly awaiting the opening of Hard Day´s Night Hotel, the world´s first ever hotel dedicated to the Beatles. The £17-million hotel –set to open in Liverpool next autumn- is located on the corner of Mathew Street, just yards from the famous Cavern Club where the Beatles got their first crack at fame.

Pre-Hispanic routes of Chataquila-Chaunaca, in the Peruvian department of Chuquisaca, were restored and fitted out by archaeologists and architects from the Ministry of Culture Development. The path that was restored had a length of 4,515 yards. The routes are found at the mountain range of Los Frailes, which begins near the summit of Chamaquilla, which descends to the Valley of Chaunaca.