The Spanish city of Barcelona, one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the country, is expected to receive more than six million foreigners in 2007. According to city authorities, that number accounts for a 19.3 percent increase, compared to 2006.

New research from national tourism agency VisitBritain offers genuine insight into how winning the 2012 Olympic Games could drive tourism success. Information from the Nation Brands Index proves that the Games are already having a positive effect on people’s perceptions of Britain and their desire to travel. Among the 35 countries surveyed, of those who actually said they would be likely to visit the UK if money and time was no object, almost 1 in 3 said that they were more likely to visit because of the Games, with China and Russia among the countries who are most likely to agree.

A record number of tourists are expected to visit Jamaica this winter despite the country’s struggle with crime, a tourism official said. Jamaica projects about 1.2 million visitors this season, about 100,000 more than the previous period, said Horace Peterkin, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association. The increase is due largely to the construction of more hotel rooms and marketing efforts to attract visitors from new areas, including China, Mr. Peterkin said.

Marriott International, Inc. expects Marriott.com to shatter its revenue record by generating nearly $4 billion in gross hotel-level sales across Marriott’s 2800 property system this year. The company stated this as it shared sweeping consumer hotel reservations enhancements to Marriott.com.

UK’s First Choice Holidays has shared that its full-year pre-tax profits were up two percent on last year to £117.2 million. The company, which is in talks with a number of parties over the possible sale of its package holiday business, shared that its net income rose to 72 million pounds ($141.8 million), or 13.7 pence a share, in the 12 months ended October this year, from 70.1 million pounds, or 13.5 pence, a year earlier. Sales climbed 11 percent to 2.7 billion pounds.

New ships with more capacity and new ports will lead to more people selecting cruises as their vacation of choice in 2007, according to Maurice Zarmati, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Carnival Cruise Lines. Mr. Zarmati joined fellow cruise industry specialists from Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Coastal Voyage and Holland America Line, Inc., on a panel entitled “Cruising Into Big Sales” held on December 4 at the Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.