by Jose Carlos de Santiago The Central America tourism project to both advertise and sell the region as solid travel destination is marching on to new heights. Even though the effort has hit a few bumps on the road as far as organization and target markets are concerned –let alone some tough moments like Costa Rica’s failure to attend the latest edition of the Central America Travel Market in Honduras- those differences are helping to strengthen and improve the entity, as well as to decide what areas should get the brunt of resources. This is what Honduran Tourism Minister had to say about these issues.

by Jose Carlos de Santiago Carlos Ricardo Benavides took office as Costa Rica tourism minister in May, and shortly after that he took oath as chairman of the Central America Tourism Council. Nobody could shed more light on the reasons that moved Costa Rica to skip the recently concluded edition of the Central America Travel Market in Honduras.

by Jose Carlos de Santiago Cybex International is so far the only company that build gym equipment specially designed for handicapped customers. Taking advantage of his attending the 2006 Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference (CHIC) recently held in Miami, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with Cybex´s Regional Director for Latin America about the company´s development in this region and the Caribbean.

by Yizzet Bermello July and August promise to be a couple of busy months for COPA Airlines. The air carrier will ramp up to three daily flights its route between Havana and Panama, and will add five new and major connections to its portfolio. All this in an effort to provide its passengers with a much broader and more functional coverage within the region from the Hub of the Americas at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. About these and other issues, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with the air company´s representative in Cuba.

by Jose Carlos de Santiago CHIC 2006, recently held in Miami, Fla., panned out to be a major chance for Aruba to bask in the limelight. Two of its flagship hotels grabbed the Green Globe Awards for the Caribbean, and Jorge Pesquera, President and CEO of the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA), was honored as the region´s best exec. Aruba Tourism Minister Edison Briesen talked exclusively with Caribbean News Digital about the significance of these well-deserved recognitions.

by Jose Carlos de Santiago CHIC 2006 – Miami CHA and CTO are encouraging an alliance that pursues, among other things, to target the European market by prodding Caribbean nations to look further to the Old World and swing their doors wide open to a number of investors –a strategy that eventually winds up bringing in more tourists. Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace is sure the Caribbean has to rely a whole lot more on the Internet, otherwise it runs the risk of putting itself behind a competitive eight-ball in the international market. About this and other issues, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace in CHIC 2006.