July, 2005 www.LatinEPR.com LatinEPR News Wire
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Editor: Carola Perla
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Fellow Travel and Tourism Professionals:
On July 8, 2005, the leaders of the world’s wealthiest nations will meet at the annual G8 Summit in order to address key issues like climate change and the challenges facing Africa. But extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $1 a day, affects regions across the globe. And in Latin America, the developing region with the highest per capita income, significant economic and social disparities like gender inequality persist to this day.
Making poverty history is an ambitious goal, but an imperative one. The UN’s Millennium Project has made recommendations to alleviate extreme poverty by 2015, pending international support. If you wish to learn more about the Millennium Development Goals, please visit www.unmillenniumproject.org or www.one.org for more information.
As professionals in the travel industry, we understand the power of tourism - it is capable not only of strengthening economies, but also of spreading knowledge and increasing social awareness. From all of us at LatinEPR, we thank you for your ongoing support, your professionalism, your dedication…and your curiosity.
Sincerely,
Carola Perla
Editor
COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA
Dominican Republic Stars in De Niro Film
Director of the National Cinema Department, Arturo Rodriguez, has announced that scenes of Robert De Niro’s next project, The Good Shepherd, will start filming in the Dominican Republic this summer. Directed by De Niro and starring the actor himself, alongside Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon, the film follows the 40-year history of the CIA through the eyes of James Wilson, one of its founding officers. The Dominican Republic will double for the story’s varied locations, ranging from Central America and the Caribbean to the Belgian Congo. Shepherd is the second of Universal Films’ mega budget productions scheduled to shoot in the country this year. Earlier this spring, Michael Mann confirmed that parts of Miami Vice, his film remake of the classic 80’s TV show, would also be shot in the DR, potentially injecting millions into the local economy.
UNESCO Award for Chilean Education Web Portal
The Puente Alto library website “Bibilioninos.cl” from Chile was recently awarded first place in a contest to find the “best educational web portals in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Sponsored by the Information Society Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (INFOLAC), and supported by the Ecuador branch of UNESCO, the contest received over 180 entries from across the region. The Colombian-based internet site “ColmbiaAprende.edu.co” received the second prize, while the Venezuelan “Curiosikid.com” of the Caracas Children’s Museum placed third. Next year, INFOLAC plans to award the region’s best museum websites.
DR Promotes In the Sky
Visitors flying to the Dominican Republic will soon be able enjoy an informative on-board documentary film about the Caribbean nation. The country’s Ministry of Tourism has made arrangements with several North American, Latin American, and European airlines to show the four-minute video on their flights to the DR. Participating airlines include Air Canada, Air Transat (Canada), Lan Chile, Copa Airlines, Air France, Condor (Germany), Lauda Air (Austria), Iberia, and Air Europa (Spain). The documentary portrays the Dominican Republic in two video segments, highlighting the North Coast (Puerto Plata) and the East Coast (Punta Cana), respectively. Airlines will also be supporting the Ministry of Tourism’s promotional efforts in their in-flight magazines.
The Rolling Stones Set to “Roll” into Latin America in 2006
After completing the North American leg of their new massive world tour, which kicks off in Boston this August, the Rolling Stones are scheduled to perform in Latin America through the early months of 2006. Although the tour has not yet confirmed dates, the band plans to play venues in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina/Uruguay, and Puerto Rico. The Caribbean island nation will be a first for the Stones; they last visited Argentina and Brazil in 1995.
Televisa’s Reach Extends to China
This spring, Televisa Networks, subsidiary of the media giant Grupo Televisa, signed its first program licensing agreement with Encore International (EI), Liberty Media’s China arm. The agreement guarantees EI a minimum of 200 hours of telenovelas from Televisa’s extensive programming library, as well as four years of exclusive television rights to telenovelas selected by EI in China, Hong Kong, and Macao. For Televisa, which has already established a strong presence in North America, Latin America, and Europe, the agreement is part of the network’s 2005 plan to expand into the Chinese, Canadian, and Australian markets. Other targets for the near future include Poland, Indonesia, and Israel, all of which have a significant number of Spanish speakers. Televisa has close to 13 million clients in Latin America already. In Europe the cable network is distributed in 12 countries, where programming consists primarily of telenovelas, and contracts can range from one to five years.
TV program for President Fernandez, Dominican Republic
Like his predecessor, current Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez is launching his own television program this month. “The President’s Agenda” is modeled on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s weekly show, and will grant Fernandez the chance to discuss national issues, as well as his government’s plans for the future. While Fernandez may not appear in every episode, the program does include a question and answer session entitled ‘Dialogue with the President’, which features regular citizens. Produced by former Minister of Tourism, Ellis Perez, the show will air via TeleAntillas Sunday nights at 8PM on Channel 2, and in various time slots on Telefuturo (Channel 23), Telecentro (Channel 13), Red Nacional de Noticias (Channel 27), Coral (Channel 39) and CERTV (Channel 4).
Malba Enters Second Phase of Expansion
Malba, the Buenos Aires Museum of Latin American Art is entering the second phase of its acquisition program, “+ Malba 2005”. Since its establishment in 2001, the museum has worked to collect, preserve, research, and fund contemporary Latin American art, also providing important exhibition space for cultural and educational activities, like workshops, courses, and film series. Photography and film receive particular support from the museum, which is closely involved with the annual Buenos Aires International Film Festival, hosting screenings and lectures every year.
LATIN AMERICAN TRAVEL AND TOURISM STATS AND NEWS BRIEFS
Peru - Tourism is a Matter of State
During a recent meeting with international tour operators, Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo reiterated his government’s commitment to his country’s tourism by claiming that “tourism is a matter of state.” Toledo has kept tourism one of his biggest priorities, as evident by Peru’s promotional efforts at events like ITB, as well as cultural programs like this past month’s culinary mission to China, led by Toledo and some of the country’s most respected chefs. Peru’s next project is the 9th annual Travel Mart America 2005, which the country is set to host for the first time in 17 years. The convention, which brings together international buyers of tourism products and suppliers from across the region, will take place September 14-16, 2005, at the Jockey Plaza Convention Center in Lima.
Aerolíneas Argentinas Arrives in China
Aerolíneas Argentinas CEO, Antonio Mata, recently announced that starting July, the airline will launch twice weekly flights to Beijing and Shanghai via Madrid. With business and tourism ties strengthening between Argentina and Asia, the airline is planning additional extensions in the near future. Routes to Tokyo and Bangkok are the most likely.
Buenos Aires: Taxi Driver and Tour Guide in One
Called tacheros by the locals, Argentine taxi drivers have traditionally served as more than just chauffeurs. They have also been sports commentators, political analysts, meteorologists, fortune tellers, beauty experts, and amateur psychologists, to name a few. But now the city of Buenos Aires is adding “tour guide” to that extensive list, by offering a 14 class-course on BA’s geography, history, and attractions, as well as basic English skills. Diego Santilli, a member of the city legislature and leader of this project, maintains that the training is vital to building the right image for Buenos Aires. Considering that a taxi driver is oftentimes the first person tourists meet upon their arrival, he is, according to Santilli, “the face of the city”. And it seems Santilli’s enthusiasm is not being lost on many of the city’s drivers, who also see this as a good opportunity to increase their business. Already more than 400 cabbies, almost three times the expected amount, have signed up to become BA’s new “tourism emissaries” (EFE).
Gol Airline Launches Flights to Montevideo and Asuncion
Brazilian airline Gol has received permission from Cernai, Brazil's Commission for International Air Navigation, to begin flying to Montevideo, Uruguay, and Asuncion, Paraguay, in the second half of 2005. Established in 2001, Gol has already cornered a third of the domestic market, overtaking long standing rival Varig, which recently filed for bankruptcy, and the company is now focused on expanding in South America. The airline launched its first regional flights to Argentina last December, and flights to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, are planned for this month. Going south seems the next logical move, according to Constantino de Oliveira Junior, President of Gol, who explained that in terms of passenger traffic with Brazil, the countries of Uruguay and Paraguay rank third (252,000) and fifth (145,000), respectively.
Star Peru Finds Success in the Andes
May 1, 2005, Star Peru celebrated the inauguration of its Lima-Cuzco-Lima route with 100% occupancy. The overwhelming response is encouraging news for the airline, which invested US$15 million this year to expand its fleet. With seven additional Boeing 737’s, Star Peru intends to increase flights to Pucallpa, Tarapoto, and Cuzco, while new routes for this coming month include Cusco-Juliaca, Cuzco-Arequipa, Juliaca-Arequipa, and Pucallpa-Tarapoto. The airline is also planning service to Piura, Iquitos, and Chiclayo sometime in the near future. Ambitiously aiming to conquer 20% of the domestic market by the end of this year, Star Peru could create international routes to Miami and the Caribbean by 2006.
Arequipa Close to Breaking Tourism Records
The “White City” of Arequipa, Peru, received 37,600 foreign visitors during the first trimester of 2005, a 28% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Based on these figures, experts believe foreign visitors to Arequipa could number 150,000 by the end of this year, an unprecedented total for the Andean destination.
Chinese Construction Company Eyes Cuzco Airport
China State International, the world’s 13th largest construction company, is the latest group to show interest in developing the Chincheros Airport, located in the Sacred Valley between Cuzco and Urubamba. Although the airport project has attracted some international investors since the government opened the bid for concessions in 2002, it has also invited a heated debate among ecologists and preservationists, who assert that the project’s economic benefits do not outweigh the detrimental impact increased traffic would have on the area’s natural and cultural treasures.
Aerolíneas del Peru One Year Ahead of Schedule
A year ahead of schedule and with an initial investment of US$10 million, Aerolineas del Peru has become the country’s new “flag airline”, announced Aerolineas Argentinas CEO Antonio Mata. A subsidiary of the Argentine air carrier, Aerolineas del Peru is controlled by the Spain-based Marsans Group (49%) and Peruvian investors (51%), although foreign participation could soon increase by as much as 70%. In the company’s June release, Mata stated that the early creation of the airline, previously not set to become operational until 2006, was the result of “an impulsive group”, and not a response to competing companies. Mata’s comment is certainly a reference to Lan Chile and its increasingly precarious standing in Peru. Pending licensing, Aerolineas del Peru could be flying domestic routes within the next 3-4 months and internationally by the end of this year.
First Choice Airlines Flies UK Vacationers to
Cozumel
From now until October, First Choice is offering biweekly direct flights between Manchester, UK, and Cozumel, Mexico. The British air carrier specializes in exotic holiday destinations, and already flies regularly to Cancun, Mexico’s primary beach resort town.
Rio de Janeiro Seeks More Tourists through New Incentives
The Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, home to the country’s premier travel destination, looks for new incentives, like tax breaks on plane fuel and the opening of new charter flights from Germany, in an effort to bring in far more travelers. The official goal is set at a double-digit increase this year in the number of visitors to Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil, Peru Agree to Raise Number of Commercial Flights
Brazil and Peru agreed to increase their weekly commercial flights threefold in the face of soaring tourist inflows and stronger trade ties between the two nations. The accord will allow airlines operating between Brazil and Peru to put up to 28 weekly flights between the two countries amid increasing airlift demand.
Economic Upturn in Latin America Not Purely Cyclical
(Dow Jones)--Economic growth in Latin America this year and the next may not be able to keep up with the rapid pace of 2004, when the region expanded at its fastest pace in two decades. But some investors and other observers say Latin America's economic upturn is secular in nature, and not just a temporary phase driven by a boom in commodity exports. "It's different this time... it's not cyclical," said Mohamed El-Erian, managing director at PIMCO, the world's biggest bond fund. "It has secular legs." El-Erian, who oversees more than $20 billion in emerging market bond holdings at PIMCO, said that there is a "fundamental shift" in the way Latin American governments are making and executing policy. As a consequence of better economic management as well as sky-high commodity prices, resource-rich Latin America has been running a current account surplus for the past two years. In addition, inflation has moderated substantially over the past few years and the currencies of several countries, such as Brazil and Colombia, are appreciating. The strength of the asset class can also be seen in the shift in investor perceptions toward the region, said El-Erian. "It's viewed as a strategic asset class, not something you get out of when things get bad."
Chavez, Kirchner, and Lula Renew Commitment to Energy Alliance
The presidents of Venezuela, Argentina, and Brazil recently met in Brasilia to reiterate their commitment towards a proposed South American energy alliance, Petrosur. The project is evidence that Latin American countries are beginning to take a stronger look at their neighbors, instead of relying on foreign ties, the great dependence on which has often left the region vulnerable. Venezuela, which joined Mercosur exactly this time last year, is particularly interested in integration, as it aims to compete with transnational petroleum companies by creating several of its own pan-regional oil enterprises. Venezuela is planning a pipeline with Colombia, and it is contemplating a project called PetroCaribe. According to VHeadline.com, Chavez wants to aid those small Caribbean nations, all of which possess few energy resources and are frequently exploited by outside interests.
Peru Receives UN Security Council Support
South American and Arab nations have pledged united support for Peru’s candidacy for a non-Permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2006-2007. Latin America is currently being represented in the Security Council by Argentina and Brazil, the latter completing its term at the end of 2005 (AmericaEconomia.com).
Los Angeles Mayoral Election a Victory for US Hispanics
For the first time since 1872, Los Angeles has elected a Hispanic mayor. Victory for Jose Villarraigosa, the son of Mexican immigrants, marks a return to the city’s 19th Century Mexican roots, and more importantly, signals a rise in the political empowerment of Hispanics in California.
Dominican Republic - Majority of workers lack 8th grade education
54% of Dominican Republic workers lack an eighth grade education, and an additional 8% have no schooling at all. With 60% of its workforce so poorly educated, DR is one of the countries with the lowest educational achievement in Latin America. This may not be the most auspicious position for the DR with regards to productivity, at a time when industries are facing the open phase of a free trade agreement. But there are positive changes on the horizon. After stagnating for six years, the portion of employees with less than eight years of schooling has declined by 3% since 2002. University graduates also rose from 12% of the population in 1996 to 18% in 2004. Women seem more successful at school, with 37.1% restricted to a primary education, as opposed to 51% of men. However, female university graduates experience a 19.6% unemployment rate, as compared to just 10.6% of men.
Latin America Scores Low in New WEF Gender Equality Report
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has just released its new study entitled “Women’s Empowerment: Measuring the Global Gender Gap”, which ranks 58 countries according to the status of their female population. Criteria included economic participation and opportunity, political empowerment, educational attainment, and health and well being. Based on these factors, Costa Rica rated the highest (18) of all Latin American countries considered in the study. Other nations in the region, however, did not perform as well: Columbia (30), Uruguay (32), Argentina (35), Peru (47), Chile (48), Venezuela (49), Brazil (51) and Mexico (52). The top five countries were Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland, but the study points out that even there, gender equality has not yet been completely achieved. With its findings, the WEF hopes to “facilitate the work of aid agencies, governments, and policy makers by providing a benchmarking tool to assess the gender gap in these countries.”
Brazil Second Worst Case of Inequality in the World
Following Sierra Leone, which was ravaged by civil war in the last decade, Brazil has the most acute case of inequality in the world, according to the Institute of Applied Economic Research. In its latest report, the Ipea found that close to 54 million people, approximately a third of the Brazilian population, live in poverty with a per capita family income of less than US$70 a month. Brazil’s minimum wage is equal to US$99.60 monthly. Of the country’s poor, about half (21.9 million) can be classified as indigent, surviving on less than US$30 a month. The Ipea claims that government programs which promote and improve agrarian reform, education, and social security could push Brazil in the right direction to combat inequality. Above all, the Brazilian government would have to organize extensive efforts towards eradicating race and gender discrimination, which impedes so much of the country’s social and economic development.
Manatees Facing Extinction in Guatemala
Guatemalan authorities have revealed that the local manatee population has experienced a severe decline over past several years. The aquatic mammals are being affected by environmental changes, poaching, and human displacement and a recent study conducted by the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) shows that as few as 100 animals remain. The manatees’ extinction could have large ecological ramifications, because the animals help control algae often harmful to other species. Of all the Central American nations, Belize is believed to have the largest manatee population, a disparaging 500.
LOOK IT UP
PERU
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107883.html
Information on Perú – all in one page – English
Perú in images – very nice photography, click on geography section
Official website of the Tourism Ministry
http://lima.usembassy.gov/wwwspmedia.shtml
List of Peruvian media on the US Embassy Website
E-newspaper from Perú on national and international issues
CURIOSIDADES
Amazon deforestation could affect world climate - Black "lungs of the world": The burning rainforest is becoming a major source of pollution
Far from cleaning up the atmosphere, the Amazon is now a major source of pollution. Rampant burning and deforestation, mostly at the hands of illegal loggers and of ranchers, release hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the skies each year. The dense and steamy habitat straddles eight countries and is home to up to 20 percent of the world's fresh water and 30 percent of its plant and animal species. Brazil's portion accounts for more than half the entire ecosystem. Official figures show that, on average, 7,500 square miles of rain forest were chopped and burned down in Brazil every year between 1979 and 2004. Over the 25 years, it's as if a forest the size of California had disappeared from the face of the Earth. Such encroachment on virgin land is theoretically illegal or subject to tough regulation, but the government here lacks the resources - some say the will - to enforce environmental protection laws.
In 2004, government satellite images of the forest registered 165,440 ''hot spots,'' fires whose flames can shoot as high as 100 feet and push temperatures beyond 2,500 degrees. These tremendous blazes spew about 200 million tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere each year, which translates into several times that amount in actual carbon dioxide. In contrast, Brazil's consumption of fossil fuels, the chief source of greenhouse gases worldwide, creates less than half what the fires send up.
Even with the burning of the rain forest, Brazil's annual output of carbon pollutants is tiny compared with that of the United States, which produces nearly 6 billion tons. But Brazil's share still vaults it onto the Top 10 list of polluters, ahead of industrialized nations such as Canada and Italy. But under the international environmental treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol, Brazil and other poor countries are not required to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. Nor does the accord contain financial incentives to encourage nations such as Brazil and Indonesia to rein in the destruction of their tropical forests. Researchers are trying to determine what role the Amazon plays in keeping the region cool and relatively moist, which in turn has a great beneficial effect on agriculture - ironically, the same interests trying to cut down the forest. A shift in climate here could cause a ripple effect, disrupting weather patterns in Antarctica, the Eastern United States and even Western Europe, some scholars believe. This is what worries ecologists about the continued destruction of the rain forest: not the supposed effect on the global air supply, but rather on the weather.