News (Noticias) Tagged ‘tourism’

Long established on the boardwalk of downtown Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, artist Rosa Elena Isidore paints and sells peaceful, soothing scenery on a street that’s not so tranquil anymore. As the midday tropical sun starts to peel off the skin, cruise ship visitors swoop into downtown in air-conditioned buses equipped with video screens and ice-coolers. Navigating the cobblestone streets, which are still better suited for donkeys than autos, is a challenge amid the careening buses and the bulging waistlines of hundreds of parading foreigners. “*

Panama continues to be the fastest-growing tourism market in Latin America, but Uruguay is the winner when it comes to growth in receipts. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic is the country with the region’s highest receipts as a percentage of GDP, according to a Latin Business Chronicle analysis of new data from the World Tourism Organization. “*

TODOS SANTOS, Mexico—Happening upon a cluster of palm trees in the middle of the Mexican desert is something of a novelty.

After driving for kilometer after barren kilometer across the dusty terrain of Baja California Sur, void of any signs of people or plant life (there are animals—cows and goats—who take their time crossing the road), Highway 19 suddenly rambles its way across the Tropic of Cancer and into a small town, where there are people, and there are a few desert-dwelling plants. And, refreshingly, there are palm trees. A whole grove of them, in fact.”*

Well, it’s true. Zihuatanejo, about 140 miles north of Acapulco on the west coast of Mexico, is a fascinating place. It is the neighbor of Ixtapa, a hot destination for those in search of the Cancún experience on the west coast. It is Acapulco many, many years ago, before the horrible bloodshed of narcotraffickers made that place too dangerous to consider returning to.

But Zihua, as it is called by the locals, is the not Hard Rock Cafes and big resort hotels or even Troncones, a beach to the north which has been taken over by gringo surfers. Zihua is where the workers live, and it has several lovely small hotels and a wonderful curving beach where vendors are gentle and smile when you say “No, gracias” to their trinkets held aloft – and then wander off leaving one to wonder how they make a living?”*

Starting July 24, 2008, ultra low cost carrier Spirit Airlines is offering daily non-stop service from its Fort Lauderdale home to Bogota, Colombia. In addition to this new non-stop service from Fort Lauderdale, Spirit also offers convenient connections from its network of 16 other destinations in the United States to Bogota.

Spirit is celebrating this new service with $69 roundtrip introductory fares* available today and tomorrow at www.spiritair.com. In addition, $69 each way fares for travel on Mondays – Thursdays from September 4 – October 31, 2008, are also available today and tomorrow at www.spiritair.com.

The new route will be operated by Spirit’s new Airbus fleet, the youngest in the Americas.

The city of Bogota, with a population of seven million inhabitants, has become one of the most important capitals and business centers in the region. Its year-round spring-like climate and location at an altitude of 9,000 feet above sea level, provides a pleasant location for walking, and an excellent backdrop for restaurants, shopping, nightlife, coffee production and commercial centers. Bogota also has become a primary destination for congresses, fairs and conventions for the entire Latin America and Caribbean region.

“We are excited about liberating millions of Colombians in Bogota from high fares as we’ve already done in Cartagena and other cities in the region,” said Spirit Chief Marketing Officer Barry Biffle. “This new service will offer over 100 million people low fare access to Bogota through our Fort Lauderdale gateway.”

Referring to Spirit’s new flight to Bogota, Colombia, Oscar Rueda García, Vice Minister of Tourism of Colombia said: “Spirit’s arrival marks a new stage in the history of Colombia’s tourism, in which we are eagerly awaiting the best fares in order to promote tourism for the country. This new stage of flying, which began to Cartagena on May 8, 2008, met with great success and we hope that very soon will cover other tourist destinations throughout the country.”

$69 Introductory Fares*

Schedule for Spirit’s Fort Lauderdale-Bogota Service Effective July 24, 2008:

*Arrives and departs Bogota 1 hour later starting November 2, 2008.

Connections: Aguadilla, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Myrtle Beach, New York-La Guardia, Orlando, Ponce, San Juan, Tampa and Washington, DC.

About Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines, Inc. (www.spiritair.com) is the largest Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) in the United States, Latin America and Caribbean. Its all-Airbus fleet, the youngest in the Americas, flies more than 200 daily flights to 43 destinations. The company is based in Miramar, Florida, and employs 2,300 professionals.

LANVACATIONS, the vacation division of LAN Airlines, is offering the opportunity to experience Lima in luxury. In collaboration with LAN Peru, this offer allows passengers to indulge in LAN’s super-comfortable and newly redesigned Premium Business Class at a fraction of the regular price.
(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080319/AQW083LOGO)

LAN’s Premium Business is the only business class with 180-degree reclining, full-flat seats on flights between the US and South America. The cabin offers an on-demand entertainment system that only a select number of airlines offer, including 32 movies, 55 TV programs and series, 450 music CDs and 14 games available to play individually or with other passengers.

“This package is perfect for a lavish weekend getaway or can serve as a base for planning your custom-designed dream vacation,” stated Martin Froggatt, President of LANVACATIONS. “In addition, through our strong partnership with PromPeru, Peru’s tourism marketing organization, LANVACATIONS ensures that passengers receive the highest quality vacation and the assurance of traveling with a trusted partner.”

The Lima Premium Business Supersaver package is priced from $1399 and includes roundtrip premium business class flights to Lima, roundtrip airport transfers, 3 night hotel accommodations, breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges, and 24 hour emergency telephone numbers. Package price excludes airport taxes and fees. This package departs on certain days and a Saturday night stay is required. Contact one of LANVACATIONS’ South America experts to assist in building an itinerary that best fits your schedule.

For more information about the Lima Premium Business package, travel to South America, and reservations, please visit www.lanvacations.com or call a reservations expert at 1-800-435-3593 (6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. PT Monday - Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT Saturday and Sunday).

About LANVACATIONS:
LANVACATIONS offers complete travel experiences to the countries of South America (Chile, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia and Uruguay) and caters to a full range of ages, interests and budgets. From unique tour packages to group itineraries and independent travel programs, LANVACATIONS, the experts in travel to South America, has the perfect South America vacation package for you.

LANVACATIONS was developed due to the dramatic growth of the LAN Airline Alliance network to and throughout the South American region, as well as the tremendous increase in demand for travel to South America. LAN Airlines appointed Europe Express, Inc. to represent the new LANVACATIONS as it continues to surpass travelers’ expectations by providing complete travel experiences to a variety of unique destinations and yet untouched regions throughout the southern hemisphere”*

Puerto Rico seeks to bolster bilateral cooperation on tourism with Dominican Republic and the Caribbean’s other Hispanic islands, aimed at possible regional agreements and strategies in view of the challenges posed by the United States airlines crisis. “*