Ecuador successfully completed the final stage of the selection process to the UN World Tourism Council (UNWTO) Executive Council, obtaining the highest vote among the five countries which submitted their candidacy for the three available seats.

The Secretariat of Central American Tourism Integration (SITCA), together with the tourism authorities of the seven Central American countries - Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama - have conducted a study on the evolution of the tourism sector in the region over the past twelve years and made a positive forecast of expected 6.1 percent growth for this year based on the results.

Three new hotels are slated for Los Cabos in 2014. Michelle Gonzalez Gonzalez, director of social media for the Los Cabos Tourism Board, tells Travel Agent that in 2014 the destination can expect a new Secrets hotel, as well as a Hyatt and a JW Marriott.

Taiwan’s Embassy on Thursday received a delegation headed by Transport and Communication Minister, Shih Kuan Yeh and several tour operators and travel agents, who came to the country in order to bolster diplomatic ties and promote both countries’ tourism.

Grenada is upgrading its Board of Tourism to a full-fledged Tourism Authority. Tourism Minister Alexandra Otway-Noel said the transition would lead to “Increased marketing opportunities, greater potential for earning and better partnership with airlines and cruise ships,” among other benefits. The new Authority would focus on real development of the tourism sector.