President Barack Obama’s proposal to charge an entry fee from Canadians entering the US has infuriated political and business leaders in this country. In his proposal in the 2012 draft budget submitted to the US Congress Monday, Obama has proposed a ‘passenger inspection fee’ of $5.50 for Canadian entering the US to raise millions of dollars annually.
Reversing a two-year trend in decreased visitor numbers, Florida rebounds in 2010. According to preliminary estimates released by Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, an estimated 82.6 million visitors came to Florida in 2010, an increase of 2.1 percent over 2009 figures.
The Saint Lucia Government welcomes the news of Caribbean Airlines’ expanding commitment to serve the intra-regional travel market. Responding to plans by the Trinidad and Tobago airline to start a regional commuter service using newly delivered ATR aircraft, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Senator Allen Chastanet said Saint Lucia and its neighbors should benefit greatly from this new development.
At least six historic buildings near the cruise port in Downtown Nassau, Bahamas, were destroyed Monday and others were damaged in a massive fire on Bay Street, causing damage estimated in the millions of dollars, according to local press reports. The wind-swept fire started at about 8 a.m. at the Betty K Agency Ltd., completely gutting six buildings and damaging three others. No serious injuries were reported.
Carnival Cruise Lines set a one-week reservations record booking 165,308 guests Feb. 7 to 13, eclipsing the previous one-week reservations record set nearly four years ago. Bookings were at unprecedented levels across the line’s fleet, which operates three- to 16-day voyages from a wide range of convenient North American homeports, as well as European cruises.
The eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts is planning a new private air terminal at its main airport, with service to begin by 2013. The new terminal will feature upscale lounges, a business center, offices, a landscaped courtyard and an events center.