The Canal of Panama concluded fiscal 2005 with a record traffic of 14,011 vessels equivalent to 279,1 million tonnage, a 4,6 percent increase over the previous year, reported Alberto Aleman, CEO of the Canal Authority.
The largest chunk of the volume was containers, bulk carriers and vessels over 900 feet long with deep draught, representing 12,648 crossings, 130 more than in 2004.
Sandals hotel chain boss Gordon “Butch” Stewart yesterday blasted the Jamaican government for its proposal to raise taxes on the hotel sector as the industry face reduced revenues and growing costs.
He said government should reconsider its plans, as well as conduct a complete review of its strategy of encouraging foreign investment in the hotel sector saying that the development strategy was not well planned.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas, has suggested that the unveiling of the $140 million Kittitian Heights Resorts at Belmont Estate is part of his Labor Party´s Tourism Development Strategy. The project will comprise a five-star 160-room hotel, three condo clusters with a total of 440 rooms and 100 luxury villas. It is projected that the scheme will create near 1,000 jobs.
Kittitian Heights will be built on 390 acres of land at Belmont Estate in the Whitegate area on the island´s northwest, nearly 15 miles from Basseterre, and comprise and will comprise of; Artist Village, Boutique Hotel, Luxury Villas and Town Houses, Recording Studio, Spa, 18-hole Championship Golf Course designed by Ian Woosnam, a Club House, Practice Academy/Drive Range and Plant Nursery.
The strong Chilean currency is causing complications to the Magellan Region tourist industry which has been forced to increase prices in US dollars or simply mark them in Chilean pesos, “which most visitors don´t understand”.
“During the last two seasons the drop of the US dollar against the Chilean peso really surprised us and we estimate losses to have reached close to eight million US dollars”, revealed Miguel Angel Soto from the Austro Chile Tourism Chamber.
Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson urged leaders in the hospitality and tourism sector to undertake more marketing research in the industry in an effort to boost earnings in that multibillion dollar sector.
"There is a clear need for more research which is of relevant and practical benefit to the hospitality and tourism industry," Mr. Patterson said.
Hilton Hotels Corp. is in discussions to acquire the hotel division of British company Hilton Group Plc., according to a media report last week. Ladbrokes, the London-based gambling business which is a part of Hilton Group, isn´t included in the deal.
Hilton Hotels Corp. has more than 2,300 hotels it owns, manages or franchises, while Hilton Group´s portfolio includes more than 400 hotels under the Hilton and Scandic brands.