By Travel @ Latin America

ARGENTINA
New airlines
At least eight new airlines will enter the domestic market to target the demand not met by Aerolineas Argentinas and Lan. These airlines would be Sol (Transatlantica group), Andes, Safe Flight (Plaza group), American Jet, Servicios de Enlaces Aereos Fueguinos (Seafsa), Sud America Air, Transportes Aereos Petroleros (Tapsa) and Silver Sky. 

Villavicencio, natural reserve is opening to tourism
The government of Mendoza formalized a tourism promotion agreement with Villavicencio that implies mutual cooperation between the company and the Ministry of provincial Tourism for the promotion of the Villavicencio Natural Reserve. Under this agreement, recreational activities will be created such as excursions, trekking, photographic safaris and ecotourism in general. 

URUGUAY
Will attract more Latin American tourists
Uruguay will target a larger number of extra regional tourists. The Ministry of Tourism will reinforce in different countries the promotion of the main tourist points of interest in Uruguay and will look for the arrival of visitors with a larger purchasing power, as in the case of passengers who arrive from the Uruguayan coasts by cruises.

BRASIL
Natal becomes fourth tourist region
The region of Natal, in the Northeast, became the fourth tourist destination of the country. According to data provided by the airport authorities, during the first quarter of 2006 the number of foreign passengers from the August Severo airport grew by 28.94% in comparison to the same period in the previous year. These numbers will grow exponentially beginning 2009, year in which the Sao Gonzalo de Amarante airport will be inaugurated. 
   
BOLIVIA
LAB with three more aircraft
Since last Thursday the LAB fleet has five aircraft available to operate domestic and international flights, stated the vice minister of Transportation. 
   
PERU
Palace of Justice will have artistic - monumental lighting 
The Palace of Justice will be embellished with artistic-monumental lighting, in order to emphasize on the greatness of its columns, interiors of the façade, interior and exterior surfaces, among other aspects of the historic building located across the Paseo de los Heroes Navales. The objective is to promote night tourism in the city for this building is planned to become a must see attraction for domestic and foreign visitors. 
   
Quinta Heeren will be tourist attraction 
The Quinta Heeren, traditional noble house of Barrios Altos, will become a tourist attraction of the Center of Lima. Declared by the National Institute of Culture as a monumental urban environment, it looks to promote tourism in the district. 

Señora de Cao will be exposed from 2007
The Señora de Cao, tattooed mummy found recently in the archaeological complex El Brujo, in the north of the country, will be exposed to the public beginning next year. It is planned to build a space that will permit an adequate representation of the Señora de Cao and the objects found with it. 
   
ECUADOR
New Inca vestiges were found in Pachamama 
The Cañaris and the Incas settled in the plateau of Pachamama, very close to Cuenca, and left their traces forever. In 150 hectares of the hill, researchers determined the existence of scattered vestiges and carry out archaeological work in the architectural landmark of Tablamachay. At this place, at 2810 meters above sea level, the existence of an administrative center of the Incas was discovered. It is a main marketplace with an usnu (ceremonial place) and more than 50 basamentos (substratum) of homes, walls and steps that make up the core of the administrative center. 
   
More flights to Colombia beginning July 10th 
Aerogal announced that on July 10th it will inaugurate the new route Quito - Bogota, on the 11th Quito - Medellin, and on July 28th it will begin to offer flights from Guayaquil to Bogota. Along with this last route a new Terminal will also be inaugurated in the city of Guayaquil. It will operate two daily Quito - Bogota flights and one Guayaquil - Bogota flight. The company will also operate two weekly departures in the route Guayaquil - Quito - Medellin. For the end of the year the company plans to inaugurate flights to Peru. 
   
COLOMBIA
Cruise giants ready to enter Cartagena
Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises asked the Port authorities for permission dates for the arrival of their ships. This was stated by the regional vice president of Royal Caribbean who participated in the annual meeting of the Cruise Association of Florida and the Caribbean, taken place in Cartagena. He stated that the city is being included in the itinerary and logistics plans. These plans are prepared annually when designing the routes for the different seasons. 
   
HONDURAS
Travel Market 2006
The website of the official tourism fair of Central America Travel Market 2006 that will take place in San Pedro Sula, Honduras from October 13 - 15 is now online. On the web visitors will be able to find information related to the event, with a preliminary program of activities, pre and post tours organized to all the Central American countries, information contact numbers, as well as on-line registration and download of the registration forms. www.catm2006.com 
   
MEXICO
Riviera Maya plans to be greatest tourism destination in the Caribbean
Domestic and foreign hoteliers, with presence in this location, plan to build this year 7,000 new guest rooms in the Riviera Maya and turn this region in the largest tourism destination in the Caribbean, ahead of Cuba and the Dominican Republic. With these new buildings, the Riviera Maya will have in December 30,122 guest rooms, exceeding Cancun that will end the year with close to 29,000 guest rooms. 
   
Cancun named third best World destination for these vacations
  Cancun was named third best World destination for the summer vacation to come, following London and Rome, according to a poll by Orbitz.com, the third largest tourism web in North America and faithful auditor of the market tendencies. The opinion poll of Orbitz, called Insider Index, is carried out based on reservations made by the airline companies between June 1st and August 31st, 2006. 
   
Sol Melia and Iberostar interested in investing in tourism Project of Costa Maya
Sol Melia and Iberostar and the construction company OHL are interested in investing in the tourism Project Costa Maya, in the south of the Quintana Roo state. The vice-secretary of Political Infrastructure Politics of Quintana Roo stated that air and land trips were carried out with the business executives, who made a commitment to present a concrete offer in September. 
   
Aeromexico will have the first B787 in Latin America
Aeromexico announced that, via leasing, it will operate 3 Boeing 787 Dreamliner, becoming the first Latin American airline to have this modern aircraft. The delivery of these aircraft will begin in 2010. 
   
New route to Uruguay
Copa announced a direct flight to Montevideo, beginning August 15th, from the city of Mexico. Before, the passengers made a connection in Panama and landed in Buenos Aires where they had to take another flight to the Uruguayan capital, or, crossed the La Plata River on a ferry. 
   
CUBA
Diving leads the nautical offer
According to Cubatravel, diving is the activity that is leader in the field of recreational offers within a modality of nautical tourism. When asked about the best places in Cuba for diving, 40% of the interviewees preferred the beauties of the area of Jardines de la Reina, in the Southern Coast, followed by those who prefer Cayo Largo and the keys in the center of the country. With an average a year of 100,000 dives of at least 25,000 divers in the entire World, Cuba aims to increase its presence among the most important destinations at an international level.