The Cuban economy will kiss 2004 goodbye with a 3 percent increase, even in spite of all the strain the island nation’s hard-currency reserves have been under for most of the year, and regardless of unshackled inflation and infrastructure hardships that have affected the population’s living conditions, a governmental report indicated this week. The report –a copy of it was obtained by Reuters News Agency- says local tourism was up in double digits, while building grew 7.2 percent and the sugar industry tabbed a 15 percent increase. Other highlights were mining (up 4.6 percent) and state-run services with a 4.2 percent upturn.

BDC International S.A. and Peugeot Automobiles knocked together a test drive for the wives of foreign diplomats stationed in Cuba that was organized over the weekend in the surroundings of the Meliá Cohiba Hotel in Havana. The objective was to bring these distinguished ladies closer to Peugeot products and give them a chance to take a firsthand look at the new features and availability of these cars in the Cuban market.

Turismo Aereo, a Panamanian airline, has managed to become the domestic carrier with the largest fleet and the biggest gross capital in just nine months. According to the company’s founders, this position was clinched thanks to the purchase of assets and stocks from Mapiex Aereo. For the oncoming year, Turismo Aereo is reportedly planning to make the domestic market grow by 25 percent and amass half of all revenues in that market niche. There’re other plans that include custom-made tours and visits to non-traditional travel destinations.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic estimate the cash flow of tourism investment in the country will peak a record high $4.5 billion next year, thus showing a token of confidence from both local and foreign companies toward the nation’s travel industry. The projects will be carried out by some of the world’s leading hotel chains in sun-and-sand choices, like Spain’s Sol Meliá and Sandals from Jamaica.

Mexico’s leisure sector scooped up nearly $8 billion worth of revenue in the first three quarters of the ongoing year, up a blistering 13.4 percent from the first nine months of 2003, the country’s Tourism Department informed this week. The cash surplus of Mexico’s travel industry scored a big increase in the first nine months of the ongoing year, up a whopping 20.8 percent from the same span of time in 2003.

TUI, the giant Germany-based tour operator, will implement a surcharge on travel packages as a result of spiking oil prices in the world market, the company’s front office informed this week in Hanover. All travel packages booked from December 1 onward will have a 5-euro-per-passenger surcharge tacked on. In the case of long-haul destinations, the additional charge will ratchet up to 6 euros, with the sole exception of Dubai that will carry a 7-euro money addendum.