Now in its fourth year, this year´s EIBTM Association Program will be taking place from November 28 to 30 at Fira Gran Via, in Spain´s Barcelona. Following on from last year´s program of education roundtable sessions and networking events, EIBTM have carried out research from 2004 attendees and are working with industry associations and an association committee to ensure the program continues to build on association delegates´ needs.

Myanmar´s authorities have decided to host its first Tourism Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in mid January next year. The nine-day forum, scheduled to take place from January 13 to 21, would provide valuable opportunities to promote the country´s tourism industry, a deputy head of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism was quoted by the Myanmar Times as saying.

The World Trade Organization´s (WTO) Sixth Ministerial Conference has been scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from December 13 to 18 this year. Around 11,000 participants are expected to attend the Conference, including 6,000 delegates from over 170 WTO members and observers, 3,000 journalists and 2,000 representatives of non-governmental organizations.

Investors from all over the world will flock to Bonaire on September 27 for the Island´s first Investment Conference. The three-day conference will highlight the excellent investment opportunities available in Bonaire and zero in on investment areas ranging from tourism and e-commerce to midsize and small business development, as well as ecological projects. The event will feature a wine and cheese kickoff party, a gala dinner and island highlights tours in addition to the conference and expo activities.

Sales and Marketing in Travel Europe 2005 will be the ideal place to huddle with decision makers from leading travel companies. Taking place on September 13 and 14 at the Marriott Hotel in Berlin, Germany, this is a must attend for anyone involved in travel sales and marketing. This year´s event sees a particularly strong focus on handling the diverse needs of the European travel market and measuring the operational going of online marketing campaigns. In a series of presentations and lively panel debates, a wide variety of senior level executives will discuss the key issues behind search engine marketing.

Patrick Cozier, Secretary General of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), has challenged the regional tourism sector to reposition the industry in a bid to meet the ever-increasing demands of consumers worldwide and make the Caribbean a more competitive region. Mr. Cozier called for an airline network that serves the whole Caribbean, and for local investors to move into the Cruise business as part of a process of building locally-based worldwide brands.