Cuba is putting a new spin on its tourist product on the eve of FITUR 2005, an event that´s taking place in Spain´s Madrid with a record-breaking turnout of attendants. The Cuban delegation is made up of execs from the island nation´s top hotel chains and travel companies. The island is cashing in on this opportunity to advertise the new trademark of its tourist products, basically promoting its culture, history, beaches, nature and its submarine wonders.

Preparations for the second edition of the Ecuador International Tourism Fair (FITE 2005), scheduled to take place from September 22 to 25 this year at the Crystal Palace of Guayaquil, were discussed Wednesday at the City Hall of that emblematic Ecuadorian burg. Organizers are hoping to have approximately 300 exhibitors from 30 countries, some 4,000 professionals from the region and nearly 80,000 visitors.

Cozumel is gearing up for Carnival, which is celebrated on the island from February 12 to 16. For nearly 100 years, Cozumel has used these celebrations as a way to honor its past. During Carnaval, dance troupes of all ages perform daily throughout the day and night. During the five-day event, locals and visitors come together to enjoy the floats and colorful parades, nightly street fairs with traditional foods and concerts, and daily musical performances and dancing through the streets of downtown San Miguel.

The Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR), scheduled from January 26 to 30, will huddle over 800 direct exhibitors –including 325 from other countries- for a 4 percent increase in that category compared to the 2004 edition. FITUR 2005 will come around to celebrate its 25th edition, an event that has been marked by ever-growing volumes of participants since its grand opening back in 1981. In the light of the latest developments in South East Asia, swept away by a devastating seaquake in late December, the Madrid major tradeshow will shed some light on the lingering impact this disaster might have on the travel industry at a global scale.

The Meliá Cohiba Hotel of the Cuban capital will be home to a day of Japanese cuisine on January 21, in which patrons and guests alike will have the opportunity of tasting the most exquisite dishes from that Oriental gastronomy. The star of the one-day show will be Chef Mariano Takinami, who´s coming to Cuba armed with plenty of traditional and fresh recipes, that according to a press note sent to the writing staff of Caribbean News Digital.

BancoMex will finance the construction of a new convention center in Jamaica, large enough to host the region´s largest meetings, such as the annual CHA Marketplace. Jamaica´s President P.J. Patterson confirmed Mexico´s president Vicente Fox had assured him BancoMex will back up the costs. At the same time, the Jamaica Tourist Board divulge that more than 12,000 new hotel rooms will be added to the island´s room inventory over the next eight years, in particular 5,000 new units in the next two years from Spanish hotel developers RIU, Grupo Panero, Iberostar and AMResorts.