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TravelMart Latin America
September 10-12, 2008 ■ Centro de Exposiciones Quito, Ecuador
HEALTH & SAFETY.
Ecuador to hike tourism
Hotels to be audited by
‘traffic light’ system
budget to $37m in 2009
THE LATIN American Travel Association has
unveiled a “traffic light” system for a health
and safety audit of the 2,000 hotels used by its
members.
South America’s ‘true El Dorado’ now aims to take
Edward Paine, the UK-based association’s
chairman, stressed how EU laws meant UK
on its neighbours. Paul Revel reports from Quito operators were responsible for their clients,
regardless of any waivers signed.
A CARNIVAL, flying celestial internationally has lagged He said fire posed the most significant risk.
virgins, 1,000 delegates and behind its neighbours. Instances of hotels having padlocked exits on fire
the promise of $14 million Describing his country’s escape routes were “simply unacceptable”, he
extra funding for Ecuador many attractions, from added.
tourism marketing – Travel- the Andes to the Pacific, While most good businesses already comply
Mart Latin America opened Delgado said: “We are the with local regulations, Lata’s goal is to make
with a bang last week. true El Dorado.” them compliant with European standards.
The tourism exhibition Quito’s mayor, Paco Under Lata’s new self-auditing scheme,
coincided with Quito’s Moncayo Gallegos, pointed questionnaires are being sent to all hotels.
annual Celebration for the out tourism brought more The replies will be analysed by health and
Virgin of the Volcano, a than $600 million to the city safety experts and the properties then graded as
festival dating from the 16th in 2007 and “created work red, yellow or green.
century – hence the carnival for thousands of people”. A red grade means members should not book
atmosphere. The city had invested that hotel until important failings have been
Rafael Correa Delgado $200 million in cultural resolved. A yellow grade means there are minor
(pictured), Ecuador’s presi- preservation projects since issues which can be easily fixed.
dent, told delegates the country was striving to 2000, he added.
become one of the leading destinations in South Quito’s new international airport is due to Lata revealed UK operators’ passenger
America. open in 2010. The existing airport will be trans- numbers this year are set to rise by 23% to
He revealed that he had increased the tourism formed into a urban park and convention centre. 98,000, compared with last year. Britons’ most
budget from $7 million in 2007 to $23 million in Gallegos also highlighted an increase in popular destination remains Peru, with 20.5%
2008, and promised $37 million in 2009. meetings, incentives and events business, with of visitors, followed by Brazil, Argentina,
Suppliers in the country have long complained visiting delegates to Quito up to 34,000 by the Ecuador and Chile. Brazil has risen from fifth
that Ecuador’s investment in marketing tourism end of 2008, compared with 7,000 in 2006. to second, increasing its market share to 13%.
Factbox TravelMart Latin America
Show attracts
This year, TMLA turned down a record 70
suppliers. And when the exhibition opened
20 UK operators
on Thursday last week, 8,000 buyer/supplier
appointments had already been made.
UK operators in attendance included Bales The annual Latin American TravelMart has
THIS year’s TravelMart Latin America was the Worldwide, Journey Latin America, Cox & Kings been running since 1978. This year saw 270
biggest to date, attracting 20 UK operators and Page & Moy. supplier organisations and more than 350
among the 1,000 delegates. Ecuador spent $8 million on the event, which international buyers attend the three-day
Event organisers believe it has reached its tourism minister Veronica Sion de Josse said event in Quito, Ecuador.
maximum size. Founder Bill Coleman said: “Any would generate $35 million in tourism earnings. Next year’s show will take place in
ttglive.com
more than 1,000 people and it would lose its The country sees tourism replacing oil as the Chile on September 23-25, 2009.
sense of identity and cohesion; people would feel country’s number one source of revenue but is Go to:
travelmartlatinamerica.com
less personally involved.” intent on developing sustainable tourism.
19.09.2008 13
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