Quito was declared First World Heritage Site by the UNESCO 32 years ago. Moreover, last September, Quito was declared American Capital of Culture 2011 by the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals (IBOCC).

Mandala Research and World Footprints, leaders in travel market research and sustainable tourism, are teaming up with travel industry leaders on a Sustainable Travel and Tourism Study. The research will address the 55 million travelers who the U.S. Travel Association says have growing concerns about environmental issues.

The Caribbean is attracting tourists in numbers not seen since the start of the global economic crisis, with several islands boasting new records, government officials said Friday. More than 23 million tourists visited the region in 2010, a nearly 5 percent increase from the 22.1 million that visited the previous year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

The Caribbean is attracting tourists in numbers not seen since the start of the global economic crisis, with several islands boasting new records, government officials said Friday. More than 23 million tourists visited the region in 2010, a nearly 5 percent increase from the 22.1 million that visited the previous year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

The Caribbean is attracting tourists in numbers not seen since the start of the global economic crisis, with several islands boasting new records, government officials said Friday. More than 23 million tourists visited the region in 2010, a nearly 5 percent increase from the 22.1 million that visited the previous year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

In Holland, the number of foreign visitors for both business and holiday purposes in 2010 grew 11 percent when compared with 2009. That 2010 proved to be another record year is “a result of the recovery in the global economy,” said Jos Vranken, director of the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC), based in the Netherlands. The increase in the number of flying routes as well as an intensified marketing campaign also contributed to the growth, he added.