The opening of a Central American tourism school to train human resources from the entire travel industry is part of the projects the region´s countries have in the offing. In order to pull this effort off, Central American nations are turning to international bodies and private individuals for financial help and donations. The money will be used to foster tourism-oriented programs and create new jobs.

The number of people that zipped down Colombia’s main roads aboard vehicles escorted by law enforcement offices rose a whopping 140 percent, jumping from 33.5 million trippers in 2002 to 80.4 million in 2003. The Colombia Lives Ground Caravan Program –closely watched by police officers and military personnel- has transported 193 million trekkers all across Colombia for the past two years.

Colombia was elected member state of the Board of Directors of the International Civil Aviation Organization for a term ending in 2007. The South American nation was elected with the votes of 134 countries of the 157 states that attended the 35th session of the ICAO General Assembly.

Determined to promote and advertise its portfolio of trademarks in the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched "Hotels On Us," a new campaign that targets travel agents. The new promotional effort expires on March 31 next year and requires reservations. According to the company´s front office, the plan includes free weekend stays for IATA agents at any IHG hotel in the region.

Chile’s LAN Airlines was chosen the best air carrier in Latin America for a fourth year in a row, according to a poll conducted by Global Finance, the prestigious U.S. magazine. The selection process takes account of such criteria as profitability, gain increments, growth capitalization of markets and social responsibility.

The ongoing escalation of crime in Rio de Janeiro could bring negative ripple effects to the city’s travel industry, as recently shown by a local TV station that aired footage of massive holdups at a beach. Fearful that criminality could shoo foreign tourists away, the nation’s Attorney General is calling municipal and regional authorities to account over lack of security in Rio’s beaches.