January 1, 2008 www.LatinEPR.com
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LATIN AMERICA - NEWS BRIEFS
Media and technology
Latinos among the First `Wired Immigrants'
U.S. Hispanics are among the country’s first “wired immigrants”, the McClatchy-Tribune News Service recently stated, citing AOL Latino’s latest Hispanic Cyberstudy that shows more than 16 million of the 41 million Hispanics living in the U.S. Latinos are currently online. This signifies a major change in how modern immigrants remain connected with their homeland while immersing themselves in their adopted country’s culture, as modern technology makes this possible in a variety of quick and inexpensive ways unimaginable to previous generations. The internet allows people across time zones and continents to share news of important events, document personal moments, and send money in an instant. According to the study, Latino’s are making sound use of this: 58% of Latino consumers own a desktop computer, 68% use instant messaging, 63% share photos online, 52% read or post blogs, 43% visit social networking sites, and 40% talk on the phone using the internet. Latinos also used the Web to send $45 billion in remittances (2006) which reached 15 million Latin American homes, according to the Multilateral Investment Fund.
Brazil Awards $560 Million in Credits to Help Launch Digital TV
Argentina: Overview of E-commerce
Global Technology Forum recently published an overview of Argentina’s E-Commerce, finding that Argentina was the Internet and e-commerce leader in the Spanish-Speaking world in spring of 2007. According to the review, which cites Tendencias Digitales, Argentina produces half of the Internet’s Spanish-language content, with 11 of the top 15 sites, in terms of traffic in Latin America and Spain, being produced there. In addition, the report informs that Argentines exceed the average time spent on the Internet in Latin America; 8.2 hours in Argentina compared to the regional average of 8 hours (Internet World Stats). Although Argentina does not yet have the highest number of Internet users or the highest penetration rate, both of which are found in Chile, it still ranks second in Latin America, above Brazil, with users making up 34% of the population and broadband penetration 4.1% of the total population in December 2006. The important change in Internet usage, however, is the increase in e-commerce transactions, which more than doubled during 2006, according to the Argentina e-commerce Chamber (CACE). About 5 million Argentines made Internet purchases in 2006 for a total of US$3.3 million. Online advertising grew by 35% over the same period. The CACE expects the numbers for Internet sales to have doubled once again by the end of 2007. In terms of Internet purchases directed at US-based companies, these are still restricted to book and CDs, as for the moment few companies will ship to Argentina or accept Argentine-issued credit cards.
TRAVEL
Latin America Countries Work to Boost Tourism
Governments across Latin America are working hard to boost their countries’ tourism industry, implementing a range of plans, according to recent reports in TravelatLatinAmerica.com. Colombia is taking a bold approach to attract as many as 4.5 million foreigners to its beaches and adventure destinations by 2010 with this new campaign slogan: “Colombia, the only risk is you wanting to stay”. In Mexico, President Felipe Calderon recently informed he will allot US$300 million to the Ministry of Tourism’s 2008 budget, an increase of 85% over 2007. And Panama is addressing the travel industry’s rising green and responsible tourism concerns by inaugurating a Master Plan of Sustainable Development of Tourism 2007-2020.
Peru to Host World Tourism Day 2008
This past month, Peru was awarded the prestigious honor of hosting the UNWTO’s World Tourism Day 2008. World Tourism Day, celebrated annually on September 27th, marks the culmination of a yearly campaign to raise awareness on the constructive role of tourism. In 2008, the campaign will carry the theme of climate change, coinciding with the UNWTO’s support of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the 7th MDG in particular: Ensure environmental sustainability and proclamation of 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth. On a side note, Peru will also be hosting the 3rd International Conference on Tourism and Handicrafts in March 2008.
Mexicana Spreads Wings over the Americas
December was a busy month for airline Mexicana, as it announced the launch of several flights reaching destinations across the North American continent. This past month, the airline introduced a daily flight linking Chicago O’Hare to the central Mexican cities of Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosi, as well as Cancun. In addition, the airline also revealed that it would be launching a new route, Mexico City-Calgary, this upcoming summer, with four weekly flights to Canada scheduled to begin June 1, 2008.
Uruguay Expects Good Tourist Season: 1.8 Million in 2007
The increased connectivity of Uruguay in the region should help tourism grow more significantly in 2008 than it did this past year, according to a recent statement by the country’s Deputy Tourism Minister Liliam Kechichian published in Mercopress. Kechihian revealed air connectivity between Uruguay and international destinations will grow in 2008, with LAN, TAM, American Airways, and TACA Airways all adding more flights to the country. New ferries connecting Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay, are also being scheduled for the upcoming year, and this season’s cruise ship industry is looking up. With all these new travel links it’s no wonder Kechichian is optimistic. An estimated 1.8 million tourists visited Uruguay in 2007, bringing about $750 million, figures that closely resemble those of the previous year. For 2008, the majority will probably still be coming from Argentina, but the ministry forecasts a rise in Brazilian travelers and a doubling of Chileans as well.
El Salvador to Serve on Executive Council of the UNWTO
In an unprecedented event in the nation's tourism history, El Salvador has been invited to sit on the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the world's leading tourism entity, and has been named one of the two Vice-Chairs of the WTO's Americas Commission (LACAM). The appointments were made during the 47th General WTO Assembly being held November 22-29 in Cartagena, Colombia. Member countries remain on the Council four years, however, El Salvador and Mexico -- two of the strongest candidates -- chose to share the honor, with each serving two years. The WTO Board of Directors is organized as follows: representing all regions of the world, a member is selected for every five of the 150 officially registered. In other words, El Salvador will hold one of the 30 chairs from which development policies are made on tourism, with the area serving to improve the economy of nations, uphold human rights, and allow for the strengthening of peace. The new positions of chair and two vice-chairs of the WTO's Commission for the Americas (LACAM) were also awarded, the former to the Minister of Tourism of Colombia, and the two latter to El Salvador and Jamaica, respectively. Along with these posts, El Salvador also becomes Chair Pro Tempore of the Iberoamerican Tourism Commission for 2008, in preparation for the Iberoamerican Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in San Salvador next year, as well as Chair Pro Tempore of the Central American Tourism Council beginning January 2008.
Economy and Politics
Chavez Loses Referendum
This past month voters in Venezuela chose to reject a package of constitutional reforms that would have affected a quarter of the country’s constitution, including the law on limits of presidential terms. Proposed by President Hugo Chavez, the changes would also have placed the president in charge of the international reserves, ended the autonomy of the central bank, and extended presidential terms from six to seven years. In the end, 60% of voters took part in the election, signaling for some analysts a weakening in Chavez’s popularity, which has of late seen strong opposition from student groups (BBC). Chavez has publicly accepted the defeat of his referendum, inviting a wave of praise and approval for his respect of the democratic process from other heads of state in the region.
Latin American Exports Reach Record $715 Billion in 2007
(Inter-American Development Bank News) - Latin American exports rose 11% in 2007 over last year, reaching a record US$715 billion, according to preliminary data published by the Inter-American Development Bank. While the region's exports are poised to increase for the fifth year in a row, their growth rate is lower than in the three previous years, when it averaged more than 20% annually. The probability of maintaining such high levels of growth in the near future decreased this year, according to an analysis published by the IDB's Trade and Integration Sector. "A major challenge facing the region is a likely slowdown, or possibly even a recession in the United States resulting from the recent credit crisis," the analysis said. "Similarly, the appreciation of some of the region's currencies, such as the Brazilian real, vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar appears to have contributed to some stagnation on these countries' exports to the U.S. this year." Counterbalancing those negative factors are indications that the global economy might be able to quickly overcome a slowdown in demand from the United States. Latin American exports could continue to profit from sustained demand from China and a greater diversification of intra-regional trade, as well as from the implementation of new pacts such as the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement between the United States, the Dominican Republic and Central America.
South America Ready to Launch Two Major Regional Projects
Mercopress has recently reported on the commencement of two major regional projects intended to boost economic integration. The first sees Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil, after a decade of discussion, starting to work together on the construction of a 1600-mile bi-oceanic corridor. The project which involves building new highways and railways, as well as reconditioning existing ones, will connect Brazil to the Pacific, and Chile and Bolivia to the Atlantic, boosting trade opportunities with Asia, Europe, and the rest of the Americas for all parties involved. The second major project involves the launch of the Bank of the South, an alternative to the World Bank that should help finance regional development and infrastructure projects. Inaugurated in Buenos Aires this December, the Bank of the South has the participation of all countries in the region save Peru and Chile. The contribution of each member to the initial capital of seven billion US dollars is still to be decided. Regardless of the contributions, voting rights will be equal to all country members. The board of directors will be made up of Finance and Economy ministers from member countries.
General Interest
Chamber of Deputies Approves Chile Whale Sanctuary
In a remarkable statement of support for the country’s wildlife, Chile’s Chamber of Deputies voted this past month to preserve Chile’s territorial waters as a whale sanctuary, according to the Santiago Times. The proposal, which prohibits whale hunting in all of Chile’s waters, was passed unanimously and now awaits approval in the Senate. First proposed in October and backed by more than 90 conservation and tourism organizations in Chile and abroad, the proposal has now taken on greater urgency, according to the Santiago Times, as Japan plans a “scientific” whaling expedition in the Antarctic, Australia, and New Zealand. The measure’s chief sponsor, Dep. Enrique Accorsi told the newspaper that much of Japan’s catch would ultimately be sold in the marketplace, and that more than ever, Chile’s migratory whale population will need a safe refuge. He expressed to the newspaper his hope of preventing what seems an almost inevitable disappearance of whales as a result of these cruel and “deceptive” means. “No one should be allowed to assassinate whales in this region under any excuse,” he said.
Sudden Tropical Storm Olga Hits Caribbean
A rare December cyclone, Tropical Storm Olga, struck over portions of the Caribbean this past December, killing 38 people, causing severe flooding and landslides, and leaving thousands in a state of emergency without power or water. The storm is only the 10th named storm to develop in December, after the end of the official hurricane season, in over a hundred years, but the third since 2003. The hardest hit areas, which include the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Haiti, had only begun to assess the damage recently caused by tropical storm Noel, the deadliest storm of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season with at least 87 fatalities. SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tropical Storm Olga soaked portions of the Caribbean, triggering floods and landslides that killed several dozen people across the region.
Uruguay to Allow Same-Sex Civil Unions
This past December, Uruguay passed legislation that made it the first country in Latin America to allow gay and lesbian couples to engage in civil unions nationwide, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Civil unions are not officially “marriage”, but they do give same-sex partners the same social security, pension, inheritance, and parenting rights as those enjoyed by their heterosexual counterparts. Most significantly, this new legislation recognizes the legal status of homosexual couples. In the neighboring Argentina, same-sex civil unions have been legal in the city of Buenos Aires for the past five years. Recently, the Argentine capital made headlines again, hosting a gay football World Cup this past summer and in November welcoming the Axel Hotel, Latin America’s first luxury gay hotel.
