Officials in the Ministry of Tourism of Antigua & Barbuda have a packed agenda over the next two weeks as tourism administrators move to formulate and consolidate plans for Antigua & Barbuda’s tourism industry in 2006 and beyond. Acting Director-General of Tourism Lorraine Headley arrived Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and said she and other tourism officials will be meeting with the Commonwealth Secretariat for preliminary discussions on the creation of a Tourism Master Plan. Once completed, the master plan will lay out the way forward for the industry over the next decade.

Leaders in international business travel will meet at ITB Berlin next March, when the world´s largest tourism travel trade fair offers a dynamic new segment: the ITB Business Travel Days. The congress convention on March 9 under the title “Know Your Markets and Perspectives” will focus on the interest of department heads and directors.

The MICE hall of the upcoming FITUR Congress 2006 will unfold its seventh edition on January 23 and 24 at the Madrid´s IFEMA Fairgrounds with the addition of a few newcomers, especially among buyers and exhibitors. IFEMA officials are confident to meet the expectations with a massive turnout in the neighborhood of 200 international buyers –specialized travel agencies and incentive purchasers- from 26 nations. Spanish sellers, for their part, are expected to reach 150, among hoteliers, convention bureaus, convention centers.

Philippines Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano on Tuesday assured that Davao City is ready to host the 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) on January 13 to 21, and is poised to make a grand entrance in the global tourism stage as an international tourist destination able to compete with its counterparts in Asia, a report from Philippine paper Manila Bulletin said. The foremost travel trade show in the ASEAN region, ATF brings together industry players to discuss significant issues concerning tourism and to showcase ASEAN tourism products and services.

The International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2006), slated for Jan. 25 to 29 in Madrid, will be home to the 26th World Folkloric Festival, an event that will take place at the Auditorio Sur of the IFEMA venue during the weekend (Jan. 28 and 29). This cultural event, which is part of the FITUR official schedule, has proved to be over the past years a perfect setting for the advance of music, dancing and traditions, as well as garments from different regions of the world. The contribution of all these elements to the advance of tourism is equally highlighted.The International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2006), slated for Jan. 25 to 29 in Madrid, will be home to the 26th World Folkloric Festival, an event that will take place at the Auditorio Sur of the IFEMA venue during the weekend (Jan. 28 and 29). This cultural event, which is part of the FITUR official schedule, has proved to be over the past years a perfect setting for the advance of music, dancing and traditions, as well as garments from di

The International Federation of PGA Tours has announced that the Caribbean Island of Barbados will host the 2006 World Golf Championships & World Cup. The Country Club Course at the Sandy Lane Resort in St. James, Barbados will serve as the host competitive venue for this global championship. A total of two dozen nations, including the host country, will participate in this prestigious event, which will be known as the World Golf Championships - Barbados World Cup, from December 4 to 10, 2006, with a minimum purse of $4,000,000.