Because the old New Orleans is no more, it could resurrect itself as the great new American city of the 21st century. Or as an impoverished tourist trap. Founded by the French in 1718, site of the first U.S. mint in the Western United States, this one-time pride of the South, this one-time queen of the Gulf Coast had been declining for decades, slowly becoming an antiquated museum.

One year after Hurricane Ivan hit Grenada, the Eastern Caribbean island has experienced remarkable improvements as sustained efforts to rebuild the tourism industry bear fruits. As normalcy returns the following points put Grenada´s present status in relevant context. Improvements are being made to all aspects of Grenada´s tourism product. Evidence of recovery is therefore visible everywhere. For instance, work continues on the restoration of the Grand Etang Welcome Centre, the Belmont Estate, the Bon Accord facility and the refurbishment of the Leapers Hill attraction.

Mexico´s government is now forecasting tourism earnings of more than $12 billion for 2005, a figure that would represent nearly an 11 percent growth from the year before and the second-highest increase ever chalked up the country´s leisure sector since 1996. The country expects to welcome way over 23 million travelers by the end of the ongoing year, a new record high that would zap the previous benchmark of 21.4 million visitors back in 1996.

The dollar may advance for a second week straight against the euro because the Federal Reserve is likely to look beyond the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina and jack up interest rates next week. The dollar retraced about half of the 2 percent slide it suffered the week Katrina hit the Gulf of Mexico coast on Aug. 29. The hurricane, which may cost U.S. insurers a record $60 billion, pushed oil prices to an all-time high, prompted some economists to lower forecasts for economic growth, and raised speculation the central bank would hold off after raising rates in ten different meetings.

Damage caused by hurricane Katrina could cost the United States a half to one full percentage point of economic growth in the second half of the year according to data from the Congressional Budget Office, CBO. Although the total consequences of the hurricane have still to be assessed, CBO also estimates that the loss of jobs by the end of 2005 could reach 400,000.

Hurricane Katrina swamped barrier islands along the Gulf Coast, further gnawing away at the dunes and beaches that act as hurricane speed bumps and leaving the coastal area even more vulnerable to big storms. Among the hardest-hit were the fragile Chandeleur Islands off the southeast coast of Louisiana. Known as a nesting ground for pelicans and rest stop for migrating songbirds, the string of islands was made famous by a visit from Theodore Roosevelt and from the naturalist paintings of Walter Anderson.