Playa Blanca, off Farallon Island in Panama’s dry arch, is the paradise the Barceló Hotels & Resorts will use for the grand opening of its new five-star, all-inclusive tourist and residential compound.
Just an hour and half drive down the highway and crossing the world-known Panama Canal, the 225-room Barceló Playa Blanca Beach Resort features an oriental spa and lots of other attractions in its nine deluxe buildings.
Mexico’s Tourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo and his French counterpart Leon Bertrand inked an agreement for the promotion of tourism in both countries and with a view to exchange experiences in that particular field.
In today’s world scenario of uncertainty, “one of the major challenges for the sector is the need to jack up travel inflows on a steady basis, to respect the values and rulings of International Law and human dignity, two values that both France and Mexico cherish so much,” Mr. Elizondo expressed.
Spanish long-haul start-up Air Madrid is in discussions with South American carriers to co-operate on intra-continental flights as well as considering fleet expansion for 2005. Talks tackle codeshare agreements on flights from Costa Rica and Ecuador to other Central and South American destinations.
Airline CEO Javier Taibo said: “ We will be co-operating with some Latin American airlines. We will be co-operating from a commercial point of view in San Jose and possible in Ecuador. We need some support to fly from San Jose and other points in Latin America.”
Dominica has signed a three-year deal with Carnival Cruise Line for one of its cruise ships, the "MS Destiny", to call that island’s ports with an estimated 3,300 passengers weekly.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who signed the agreement last Tuesday, said the visit would help alleviate the economic problems confronting his nation.
"Let me say how happy I´m to be here this morning to be part of this important celebration, I say celebration because in our difficult time we welcome all the good business we can get in Dominica,´´ he said.
The Washington Post, the influential American newspaper, ranked Honduras among the top 20 most attractive travel destination under the sun. On its list of special spots for 2004, Honduras’ Pico Bonito Safe Haven comes in at number six, escorting such exotic locations as Athens, the Bahamas, Botswana, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Montserrat, New Zealand, Manitoba (Canada) and Taiwan.
After a week of somewhat stormy preparations, the Queen Mary II vessel –the world’s biggest tourist liner- took Saturday on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean en route to Barbados in the Caribbean Basin.
This floating city of 345 meters long, 45 meter wide and 74 meters high is carrying over 2,600 passengers and 1,300 crew members. The huge ship made a call Friday in Tenerife (Canary Islands) before pointing its bow to the Caribbean.