Travel bible, Lonely Planet, has revealed the best places to visit in the New Year: these are the cities and countries that need to be at the top of your jet-to list

In 2011 the travel and tourism industry in Latin America contributed $364.3 billion to GDP (8.6 percent of GDP) and it was one of the largest sectors in terms of job creation and hard currency earnings. In contrast, poverty affects 34.1 percent of the population in the region due to the unequal distribution of wealth.

Airports, cruise ports, subways, tunnels, bridges and roads — high winds and an unprecedented storm surge shut them all down. The tourism industry was continuing last week to tally up the economic damages in New York and beyond after Sandy, one of the most devastating storms to hit the Northeast, paid a visit.

Now is the time for the Caribbean to come together and reclaim its throne as the number one warm-weather destination in the world. The possibilities to brand and promote the “Caribbean” are endless, and the CHTA and CTO are the closest they have been in our history.