The Dominican Republic’s travel industry put great numbers on the board in 2006 and now continues to be one of the Caribbean’s top destinations. The country reeled in nearly 4 million visitors last year, up a whopping 8.4 percent from 2005. This time around, the island nation hopes to get similar results or even go them one better based on an all-out diversification process in the local hotel sector.

Caribbean Marketplace 2007 -Aruba Once again this year, CHA and CTO have squandered a good opportunity to attend FITUR and cotton on to what this tradeshow actually means to the endeavor of bringing the Caribbean closer to a major outbound market and ever-expanding hotel investor in the region like Spain. Even now that a good deal of Caribbean countries have decided to join the Madrid fair, these two organizations have once again turned their backs on both FITUR and Spain.

Panama has turned out to be a hot destination for shopping, leisure, gambling and retirement. The country’s newest enhancement plan includes the expansion of the Canal, a move that’s supposed to make all these allures far more attractive. This is what Mr. Franco had to say about all this in an exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital.

Jose Maria Agarrista knows all the ropes about the Caribbean and Central America, especially when it comes to hotels and tourism. As a matter of fact, he’s been working in those two sectors most of his life. Right now, he’s dealing with the promotion and representation of Mexico’s Mayan Riviera in Europe, working hand in hand with tour operators and travel agencies, as well as attending all major travel fairs held in the Old World.

Spanish hotel chain Maioris International will ante up a quarter of a million dollars into a first deluxe community project within the megabuck development underway in Cancun Port. This project includes the Maioris Tower with an initial investment of $45 million.

Mexico’s Tourism Promotion Office in Spain has pieced together a staff of young talented professionals that went the extra mile in 2006 in an effort to turn Mexico into a more “visible travel destination” in that major outbound market. Luring visitors to a charming and vast country like Mexico is another top-priority goal for this office.