”Tourism could be a key factor in the battle for stepped-up development, education, job creation and dignity among the world´s poorest countries,” said Geoffrey Lipman, special advisor to the UN secretary-general, at the recently concluded general assembly of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Gains in hard-currency revenues, the advance of corporate initiatives, infrastructure improvements and the creation of millions of jobs in the travel sector could chip in considerably to the so-called Millennium Development Goals.

Mexico and the seven Central American countries will seek ways for a stronger air integration in an effort to cash in on the more competitive advantages that the region´s travel industry has to offer today. The agreement wrapped up a two-day meeting of Central American Tourism Ministers and officials from Mexico´s Tourism Department held over the weekend in Cancun.

Jamaica´s Foreign Affairs Minister Keith Desmond Knight stressed in Havana his country´s tough stance against extraterritorial laws in a clear-cut reference to the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Quite recently, the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush threatened to impose sanctions against execs from Jamaica-based hotel company SuperClubs for their operations in Cuba. Eventually, the company decided to pull up stakes from three of its resorts on the island nation.

Air traffic of passengers worldwide grew an astounding 38 percent in May compared to the same month a year ago, to combine a 19.4 percent increase in the first five months of 2004, the International Aviation Transport Association (IATA) informed this week. The report indicates that cost-cutting policies continue to be a top priority amid spiking fuel prices.

Mexico and Singapore cut a deal to pour $60 million worth of investment into the development of Acapulco´s travel industry, in the state of Guerrero. The pact was inked by Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and the Mexican Development Group. According to a press release issued by Mexico´s Tourism Department, the accord will pave the way for the construction of the first Banyan Tree resort in Acapulco´s Punta Diamante, the most exclusive area of this destination of the Mexican Pacific.

U.S.-based cruise lines are devoting more and more of their marketing efforts to getting the attention – and euros – of travelers from Germany, the U.K., Spain and Italy. According to Travel Weekly, Holland America Line is taking steps to further penetrate the European market, which now accounts for about 5% of the line´s passengers. David Giersdorf, Holland America´s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said he´d like to see it up to 20% of the total. "We´d have a nice balance in years where North American business was soft because of currency or big [capacity] increases, and we´d have that additional pool of demand," he said. "It´s important to not have all your eggs in one basket."