In the relatively new phenomenon of globalized travel and culture, it is not unusual for people from wealthy countries to travel to poorer ones on a regular basis these days. Some of these travelers are going overseas as diplomats, aid workers, missionaries and contract workers. But most are tourists, headed south to get away from cold winters or looking for a new and different experience, traveling for its own sake. Package tours from Canada or any other westernized country have made it possible for a large number of people to spend an inexpensive week or two in a Mexican, Cuban, Dominican or Costa Rican resort. Travel beyond that, to Asia, Africa and South America, is also growing quickly.

The tourism industry must be rebuilt after immediate needs are tended to on the hurricane-ravaged U.S. Gulf Coast, because the long-term survival of the area depends on it, a Mississippi visitors bureau official said Friday. The "build back our coast fund" is being set up to foster redevelopment from Hurricane Katrina´s damage, and it has already received pledges for donations, said Stephen Richer, executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Cruise ship tourism is increasingly being promoted by Caribbean tourism officials as evidence of larger numbers of tourist arrivals to many countries in the region. In some cases, pointing to larger numbers of cruise passengers is the plaster that covers a growing sore of decreasing airline passengers and lower hotel occupancy.

The capital has played a key role in making Jamaica a "brand name", but the capital city, with all its uniqueness and rich heritage, has been subjected to much decline partly, due to social divide and criminal violence. "Kingston is outstanding, if not unique, in that its contribution to the tourism sector is, by comparison to other capital or major cities, very small, far below its potential," said Mr. Chevannes, one of the keynote speakers on the second day of the three-day Mona Academic Conference on tourism.

It´s one of the most fragmented and diverse markets in the world, mired in tradition and outmoded regulations, but Asia Pacific (APAC) is still considered the next big prospect for online travel providers. With consolidation now limiting expansion opportunities in the U.S. and Europe, travel sellers are increasingly looking to APAC to start new online businesses. During the second edition of the Asia Pacific Online Travel Marketplace, new entrants will face both the familiar and the daunting. As in other markets, supplier-direct channels are growing stronger and creating increasing online competition. But suppliers are not the only threat. Unlike other markets, traditional players in APAC have maintained a key presence online that also raises the bar for newcomers.

Caribbean News Digital (CND) has been keeping track of a hot issue: the $5 surcharge the Dominican government intends to levy on all incoming foreign tourists. Over the past two weeks, CND carried out a poll on this topic whose results are posted in today´s edition. In the same breath, CND talked exclusively with Mr. Felix Jimenez, tourism secretary of the Dominican Republic. "The basic purpose of the surcharge hinges on the fact that this country has had an extraordinary tourist development following the coming of megabuck hotel chains and the building of an incredible number of hotel rooms. However, we lacked enough infrastructure in terms of roads, signaling, lighting, sanitary landfills, and the recollection and treatment of cesspool waters. Another intention behind this measure is the possibility of helping all Dominican travel circuits paint a First World picture of the nation a year and a half from now," Mr. Jimenez said in response to our first question about the contradict