The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will hold its 54 annual conference in Macau on April 17 through 21 to address the holistic approach of interconnectivity and its impact on the travel and tourism industry in a fickle global scene. PATA believes that a stronger and more united global travel and tourism industry needs interconnectivity to thrive and survive the constantly changing economic, political and social conditions of the world.

Tour operators from Uruguay took advantage of FITUR 2005 to ink an agreement with European colleagues, especially from Spain, with a view to promote travel destinations in that South American nation through packages exclusively sold to European tourists. Authorities in Uruguay estimate some 4,000 European vacationers could travel to Punta del Este, the premier beach destination, during the off-peak season (April through November).

Air France landed in the Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2005) to launch a new service -called Air France.biz- exclusively designed for travel agents. The French air carrier made the presentation of its new product at the Maison de la France stand in Pavilion 4 of the Madrid fairgrounds, this time around packed with a record-breaking turnout of exhibitors from over 170 countries.

The Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2005) that will come to a close Sunday is beefing up its stance as the world´s second-largest travel and tourism tradeshow and the number-one event of its kind for Hispanic America. The 25th edition of FITUR, that has surpassed the Berlin Tourism Fair, got cracking Wednesday -officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Lugo- with an unprecedented turnout of 799 exhibitors from 170 countries, up 6 percent from 2004.

Barcelo, Iberostar and RIU, three Spanish hotel chains with successful operations in the Caribbean and the Americas, have cashed in on the timeframe of FITUR 2005 -the travel and tourism tradeshow going on in Madrid- to present its new lodgings and expectations for the coming years. With a 146-square-yard stand at the Madrid tradeshow, Barceló is showing off its new establishments in Europe and Latin America. Ten of the new resorts will be in Spain, while the rest are scattered in Bulgaria´s Sofia, Poland´s Warsaw, Cuba´s Varadero, and two other in Mexico´s Mayan Riviera.

The Eight Iberian American Conference of Tourism Ministers and Impresarios (CIMET 2005), at the Madrid Convention Center & Fairground, was the perfect threshold for the International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2005), whose 25th edition is coming to a succesful end Sunday in Spain. The CIMET conclave, organized by the NEXO Group in collaboration with the CEOE Tourism Council and FITUR, was attended by representatives from twenty countries in what panned out to be one of the best turnouts in the history of the event.