Mexicana is advertising low fares to Miami from Santo Domingo. The company is offering a US$199 round trip, considerably lower than American Airlines fares on the route. AA is the dominant carrier on that route. The flight leaves Santo Domingo at 7:20 am, arriving in Miami at 8:35 am. The departure flight leaves Miami at 8:30 pm, arriving in Santo Domingo at 11:40 pm.

Kingston._ Tourism interests on Jamaica’s South Coast are confirming reports of high occupancy levels ranging from 80% to 100%. And, happily, forecast for the month of February are quite good. At the start of the season the South Coast was reporting a 60% visitor arrival but with much emphasis placed on marketing the product, the momentum was kept up and the figures increased.

Havana._ Refurbishing of Sol Pelicano, a Cuban hotel owned by Sol Melia and lying across from Cayo Largo’s beaches, is at full throttle and is scheduled to be completed in early 2003, the Spain-based company reportedly said. The 307-room establishment built in 1993, will preserve the building structure as masonry remodeling works are carried out, the enterprise went on to say.

Caracas._ The tiny Caribbean island of Aruba is the most sought-after destination among Venezuelan vacationers, sporting a 68% approval rating according to a poll conducted by Venezuela’s Association of Travel Agencies, Incentives and Tourism. The runner-up among tourist preferences is Curazao as it grabbed 13% of the surveyed votes, followed by Puerto Rico with 9%, and St. Marteen and Bonaire with 4%. Curiously, none of the Venezuelans that responded to the poll picked Barbados.

Mexico._ Avalon Resorts announced the opening of two new all-inclusive properties, the Avalon Grand and Avalon Reef Club, located on the secluded island sanctuary of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Boating, fishing and dive enthusiasts as well as travelers seeking the ultimate in blissful nuptials, honeymoon romance and luxurious relaxation are invited to enjoy grand opening promotional savings year-round.

Managua._ Spanish chain Barcelo will build a new hotel at the San Juan del Sur spa, some 141 kilometers south of Managua, in a mutual investment project with Nicaragua entrepreneurs. The new tourist complex named Barcelo Punta Diamante will be spotted at the El Remanso Beach along the Nicaraguan Pacific coastline and will stand for the second such project carried out by the mighty Spanish trust that started operating in Nicaragua back in 1992, reported Managua’s newspaper La Prensa.