At the Fifth International Meeting on the Silk Road held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Oct. 8 and 9, more than 250 representatives from 26 countries took the first steps towards adopting a new Silk Road Action Plan. Prior to the meeting, President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan discussed with UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai the importance of tourism in the country, the region and the future of the Silk Road initiative. Karimov said that for his country, tourism is one of the highest priorities and that he would examine closely the need to facilitate cross border travel and the development of better air links.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that for the first seven months of 2010, 33.8 million international visitors traveled to the United States, a 12 percent increase over the same period in 2009. In July 2010, 6.3 million international visitors traveled to the United States, an increase of 15 percent over July 2009. July 2010 registered the tenth straight month of increases in U.S. arrivals.
Aruba hotels and resorts are offering a variety of special fall and winter packages featuring discounted rates. The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino’s “Float Your Boat Package” is offering a 40 percent discount off five-night stays, with rates starting at $329. The package also offers a private submarine tour plus complimentary daily breakfast. The package is available through Dec. 23, 2010.
The Caribbean region’s tourism growth has been “subdued” following the global recession, said a top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official. Although he predicted tourist arrivals in the Caribbean will increased by 3.5 percent in 2010 compared with the same period last year, Gilbert Terrier, IMF's senior advisor for the Western Hemisphere, at the launch of the Regional Economic Outlook, called tourism’s growth in the region “uneven,” saying some islands are doing better than others.
The latest numbers of Switzerland’s arrivals and overnight statistics show that American and Canadian travelers are back in Switzerland. The number of nights Americans and Canadians spent in Swiss hotels in the summer season of 2010, from May through August, shows a growth of 10.2 percent (U.S.) and 7.9 percent (Canada) compared to summer 2009.
Berlin unveiled its winter events calendar. Christmas Markets operate in November and December 2010. Berlin features 60 Christmas fairs, which open their gates at the end of November. Berlin’s largest and most popular Christmas market is the Spandau Christmas Market (Nov. 24 to Dec. 23, 2010), held in the Old Town of the suburban district Spandau.