International tourist arrivals worldwide grew by 5 percent during the first eight months of 2014 according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Despite geopolitical challenges and a lingering economic recovery, tourism demand was strong.

Haitian President Michel Martelly has unveiled a multi-million pound plan to transform Haiti’s sleepy, picture postcard image of sandy beaches and wooden fishing boats with a tourism development bristling with hotel rooms, restaurants and more.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has initiated a campaign called “Hungry for Tokyo” in the cities of New York and Los Angeles. The promotion is in effort to raise culinary tourism in Tokyo and includes more than 40 restaurants that have created a Tokyo-theme menu for the upcoming month of November.

From October 24 to 27, Turismo Chile invited New Yorkers to #TakeaBreakinChile! Chile hosted an interactive tourism promotion at Grand Central Terminal from Friday, Oct. 24 to Monday, Oct. 27.

Cuba’s tourism keeps growing. From January to August this year, the local travel industry has raked in 2,071,533 international visitors, up 3.7 percent from the same period of time in 2013, according to a press release issued by the island nation’s Tourism Ministry. Additional airlift will also be available.