The 18th World Soccer Cup kicked off in Munich on June 9, prompting six weeks of media frenzy heightened by the 15,000 journalists in attendance. Three million spectators will fill the twelve stadiums of the competition, a figure that is likely to double when including the total number of tourists arriving in Germany to participate directly or indirectly in this event.

Amadeus is supporting Terminal A´s ambitious international expansion plans following its successful technology partnership with the Spanish online travel agency. Since the beginning of the year Terminal A has doubled its overall bookings, during which the Spanish online travel agency market grew by only 8 percent, according to Amadeus estimates.

The Caribbean island of Montserrat has a new minister with responsibility for tourism, with the swearing in of Dr. Lowell Lewis on June 2. Dr. Lewis, who is also Chief Minister, will oversee all the Montserrat Tourist Board´s marketing and product development initiatives, as the island continues to rekindle its tourism sector.

Starwood and Belfonti Capital have agreed to re-flag Belfonti´s newly-acquired 478-room Aruba Resort Spa & Casino as The Westin Aruba Resort & Spa. The property will raise the Westin flag in late 2006 upon completion of a renovation to further enhance the property´s AAA Four Diamond rating.

The Sea Princess has become the latest luxury cruise ship to be struck by an outbreak of a vomiting sickness caused by a common virus infection. Around 200 passengers and crew were taken ill on a European cruise that started in Southampton and the company cut short the cruise. The seven-night tour stopped at ports in Guernsey, France and Spain with 2,500 passengers on board.

The Cayman Islands will mark another step forward in its tourism resurgence with the reopening of the Pedro St. James Historic Site on Grand Cayman on May 29, following a $1.3 million renovation after Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The attraction has been closed to visitors since the storm hit, although it was used several times for private functions and events.