A Dominican cigar-maker in Puerto Rico received a big birthday surprise from the Guinness Book of World Records: confirmation that he rolled the world´s longest stogie, breaking a Cuban man´s previous record. Patricio Pena rolled a record-breaking 19.03-meter-long cigar at a vegetable market in Puerto Rico´s San Juan in January and it has been hanging there in a plastic case ever since with a sign declaring it the world´s biggest. The sign doesn´t lie, now that London-based Guinness sent him confirmation.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has included Russia on its list of tourist destinations that are posting steady growth in tourist numbers. This year, demand for tourist services in Russia has increased by 3.3 percent. This is just below the growth rate in Germany, a country that goes to great lengths to promote tourism. Experts are forecasting 7 percent growth for the Russian tourism industry by 2010.

A program of cross-cultural workshops designed to deliver intercultural training to the Caribbean´s Hospitality and Tourism Industry has been launched throughout the Caribbean by SNC Destinations, a tourism marketing and training company. SNC Destinations, providing superior options in Caribbean destination management services, is seeking to enhance the experience between international guests and local hosts within the Caribbean through its series of workshops, www.sncdestinations.com.

Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism proposed the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to declare 2007 as the "World Year of Mevlana". Ministry Undersecretary Prof. Dr. Mustafa Isen told the A.A on Thursday that the 800th anniversary of birth of Jalal ud-din Rumi, known as Mevlana, would be celebrated in 2007.

Health and ecological concerns are high in Railway Lane, Montego Bay because of the deplorable conditions of the drains along Railway Lane, the main street from the Charles Gordon market to the bus terminal in Montego Bay, that´s running with rancid cesspool water because the drain that spills into the ocean is completely bogged with solid waste and other pungent material veiled by layers of oil and grime. "This is an ecological disgrace in the middle of a city that is supposed to be the tourist mecca," stated a vehement Dr. Ucal Thompson, chairman of the People´s National Party´s (PNP) North West St. James constituency executive. this week.

Gina Lopez-Gnecco was appointed this week the new Public Relations Director of the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) after serving as Interim PR Director for the past few years. With great knowledge and leadership skills under her belt, Ms. Lopez-Gnecco is known for being a demanding, meticulous and analytical industry professional who can make huge contributions to fulfill ATA´s objectives in the short and long run.