Carlos Canales, president of Peru´s National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR), revealed Tuesday that rising fares to visit the former imperial city of Machu Picchu –prices are now up a hundred percent- are threatening the arrival of tourists to this majestic spot of Cusco. Mr. Canales explained those pricey entry fees are throwing a wrench into the flow of foreign visitors to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Fares swayed between 10 to 20 bucks apiece before the increase.

Newly re-elected Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, has appointed local businessman Yvor Nassief as the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Private Sector Relations. He will join the Cabinet in September. Junior Minister Loreen Bannis-Roberts will act as Minister while Nassief winds down on his business activities in the next four months, said Skerrit. Former Tourism Minister, Charles Savarin moves to Foreign Affairs.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) reported that Canada will fork over $122,000 to help train marketing officials and experts for Caribbean governments. These funds are contained in the Doha Accords, a programs that pursues the strengthening of developing countries that belong to the WTO. These courses are also part of a training and assistance project sponsored by the WTO and that has been underway for several decades.

Violent crime in the Caribbean tourist destination of Bermuda for the first three months of 2005 rose by 15 per cent over last year´s figures, according to official statistics. The figure showed that robberies soared by 50 per cent and the police said while they have allocated extra resources to deal with the rising crime situation, many victims often refuse to co-operate, even in cases of attempted murder.

The RIU Palace Tenerife Hotel has just won the annual Umwelt Champion Award presented by German tour operator TUI to hotels that conduct the best environmental management policies, the Spanish company´s front office informed this week. The four-star RIU Palace Tenerife is on the coast of Adeje and is one of the Spanish chain´s 110 establishments that offer ecological breakfasts (products served in bulks), use recycled products, avoid plastics, utilize low-watt light bulbs and get rid of toxic gases.

Aimed at easing the flow of tourists to Central America, the region is weighing its chances to establish a unique visa system for the entire region. Members of the Commission of Central American Immigration Directors pointed out the region has scheduled an extraordinary session that will take place in Guatemala just a few days from now.