In May 2013, Spain welcomed 5.8 million international tourists, representing a 7.4% year on year increase. For the same period, the UK saw a 9.3% yearly increase in visitors to Spain and accounted for well over a quarter (27.1%) of all international visitors. Between January and May 2013, Spain has welcomed in excess of 19.8 million international visitors representing a cumulative rise of 3.9% year on year.

The Barbados government has announced that it is working with the Commonwealth Secretariat in crafting a strategy to assist the island in cashing in on the US 600 million dollar sports tourism market. Tourism Minister Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner made the announcement during the Pan American Sport Organization’s dinner celebrations at Hilton Barbados Sunday night.

The Club Indigo beach resort north of the Haiti capital was crowded with UN peacekeepers, aid workers, diplomats and missionaries on a recent Sunday. But the only real, live tourists seemed to be Anne Fournier and her husband.

Following its successful hosting of a four-day Bridal Symposium in St. Thomas last week, the Department of Tourism reported renewed interest in the destination from travel sellers who used destination updates and promotions to drive weddings business to St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas.

Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero presented offers and the agenda for tourism development of Cuba to Brazilian travel agents, tour operators and businessmen in the city of Sao Paulo Friday. In a meeting with 150 officials of the Brazilian tourist industry and the specialized press, Marrero made a description and showed the perspectives of tourism development in Cuba.

For over five years, the ACS, through its Directorate of Sustainable Tourism, has been engaged in the development of a Multi-Destination Tourism Program which seeks to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among the regional stakeholders in the tourism and transport sectors. The objective is to preserve the “Caribbean” destination market share in extra-regional markets.