The Mercosur could share a common currency somewhere between 2010 and 2015 if regional governments implement a macroeconomic coordination program that would definitely have positive repercussions in the area´s tourism, Brazilian economist Fabio Giambiagi pointed out.

"The close leadership that we see right now in Argentina and Brazil with presidents Kirchner and Lula, has to move on beyond plain rhetoric," Mr. Giambiagi said in an interview published by Dyn news agency.

Argentina´s economy grew 6.1 percent in the first five months of the year, thus inching on to the projected 4.9 percent yearend benchmark, the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC is the acronym in Spanish) reported.

The institution is confident these first-half numbers could allow the country to score a nearly 5 percent growth by the end of the year, especially taking account of the fact that the economy grew 7.1 percent in the past twelve months.

Representative Rafael Garcia Colon blasted the possible benefits Puerto Rico could reap out of a double destination program between his country and the Dominican Republic. "American tourists who come to Puerto Rico are going to see much cheaper prices when they travel to the Dominican Republic, so they´re going to wind up traveling there. When it comes to tipping the balance, I believe we´re going to get the upper tray," Mr. Colon commented.

Authorities from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and the National Tourism Development Fund (FONATUR) signed an agreement with a view to boost up the Costa Maya project with $238 million worth of investment.

The future of Mexico´s tourism is shining brighter than ever after having piled up a walloping $44 billion worth of investment in the last four decades, said John McCarthy, head of the National Tourism Promotion Fund (FONATUR).

Revenues for the Nicaraguan tourist industry soared to $37.3 million in the first four months of the year, a figure that accounts for a 5 percent growth compared to the first third of 2002. Would this positive pace continue, experts believe the nation could outnumber the earnings that sector snared in 2002.

According to stats provided by the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute, visitors´ stay in the country has jumped from one to three days, while average spending per day has more than doubled from $108 in 1991 to $230 now.