Reigning insecurity and uncertainty in Colombia have already prompted cruise companies to cancel a few calls to the country’s seaport of Cartagena. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe huddled recently in Miami with representatives from some of the world’s major cruise liners in an effort to clinch a steady inflow of vessels to the ever-shrinking Colombian Caribbean.
The British airline Virgin Atlantic will open new routes to Cuba and increased flights to other destinations in the Caribbean. The company, owned by Sir Richard Branson´s Virgin Group, will launch twice-a-week services from Gatwick to Havana in July 2005 and has ordered two more Airbus A340-600 as it prepares to increase frequencies on American, Caribbean, Asian and Far East routes.
Colombian newspaper ElPais.com from Cali posted a recent feature report to highlight the travel attractions that the Caribbean island of Aruba has to offer.
Headlined "Aruba: A Postcard of Acacias," the article underscores that particular tree as the most symbolic element of the island´s identity. Aruba´s acacias bloom at the beaches and bend over at perfect 45-degree right angles as a result of past gusting flurries that never let them stand back upright.
Chile is advertising the Antarctica as a deluxe tourist destination for big-spending travelers, especially from Germany.
“Antarctica is now selling as a travel destination. People usually relate it to scientific research and military bases, but they don’t know they can fly down there as tourists,” said Andrea Pivcevic of DAP Antarctica.
A one-day trip to the South Pole costs $1,875 apiece, including round-trip tickets from Punta Arena (Chile’s southernmost tip), sighting of sea lions and penguins, tours and a visit to the weather station.
Guatemalan authorities from the city of Antigua and the country’s Tourism Institute (INGUAT) inked an agreement to beef up security in this particular area, one of its premier destinations for travelers visiting the nation.
The plan that eases the financing of the entire operation through funds provided by the Municipal Tourism Police will be fully enforced during the upcoming Holy Week. The project was signed by Antigua Mayor Cesar Silieza and INGUAT Chief Roberto Sinibaldi.
Commissioner of Tourism Pamela C. Richards is pleased to announce that the United States Virgin Islands ranked among the best in Caribbean Travel & Life magazine´s 2004 Best of the Caribbean reader survey. The United States Virgin Islands was recognized in 10 of the 18 survey categories.
"I am thrilled that the United States Virgin Islands is so highly esteemed by Caribbean Travel & Life and its readers," Richards said. "These honors affirm the appeal of America´s Caribbean to vacationers worldwide and the strength of our territory´s tourism industry."