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TRADE SHOW REVIEW ECUADOR


TMLAdelivers


Key players in the Latin American travel industry descended on Quito, Ecuador, for the 37th annual Travel Mart Latin America. Steven Thompson reports


Quito hopes for visitor boost


TMLA host city Quito is hoping the show will boost visitor arrivals. “Our numbers have stayed consistent


for the last few years but this event helped raise our profile among international buyers,” said Patricio Gaybor, General Director of the Quito Tourist Board. Quito opened a new airport in February


this Prospects bright for region


Panama has health risks covered


year, which quickly


attracted new flights from Los Angeles and Chicago and the city was ‘working closely’ with partners to try to secure direct flights from the UK and Germany in the short term, he added. The Tourism Director said there was a scheme to incentivise new hotel chains to open properties in the old town, through offering substantial tax breaks. Other plans to make the city more visitor friendly include better


street


lighting, more visible policing security, and increased entertainment at night, such as heritage nights and tours. A new major tourist attraction, the


Equator Museum, which highlights Quito as the only major capital city on the Equator, will open soon. "We are making the city more attractive and safer for visitors," added Gaybor. quito.com


“GALAPAGOS REMAINS A FIRM REGIONAL FAVOURITE FOR UK VISITORS, ALONGSIDE MACHU


PICCHU ” PAULINA BURBANO DE LARA METROPOLITAN TOURING


DELEGATES at TMLA in Quito (pictured) described the mood of the show as ‘very positive’ and noted healthy business out of the UK. “There was an encouraging vibe about the show and many suppliers I spoke to commented that there was more business coming from the UK,” said Claire Antell, Executive Secretary of the Latin America Travel Association (LATA). “Ecuador continues to sell well for


LATA members along with Chile and Costa Rica, which continues to rise in popularity. There was plenty of new product to discuss: there are new trails, boutique lodges,


city hotels and


experiences all across the region and hopefully more flights from the UK soon”. Latin American specialist Journey


Latin America works with over 100 suppliers in the region but Product Manager David Nichols says that selling Latin America is ‘not always easy’. He suggests the areas around Buenos


Aires in Argentina and Rio de Janeiro, which benefit from direct flights from the UK, to first-timers to the region. “Agents who have clients that have


been before and want something a little different, there is lots of new exciting product out there waiting to be discovered,” said Nichols. “There is a lodge in Brazil called


Cristalano, which is an eco-friendly upscale property that has just reopened. It is perfect for visitors who want to get into the jungle, but is for serious wildlife enthusiasts only, as you get up very early and trek deep into the bush. Nicholls continued: "There are some great new self-drive trips into the wine region of Chile, such as Colchagua Valley, just south of Santiago. "It’s the perfect area for freestyle


travel as roads are good and easy to navigate. You can pick up the car just outside the city... It’s a great way to slow down and see the real Chile."


www.sellinglonghaul.com November 2013 51


TOURISTS who have a medical emergency in Panama are now covered by a 30-day free health insurance policy. The tourist board-backed cover will take care of any hospital or medical expenses for injuries resulting from an accident or by a disease contracted on Panamanian territory up to the value of US$7,000. In the event of a medical emergency, clients just need to show their passport at hospital. See visitpanama.com, or contact Branding Latin America on 020 3402 5470.


Guatemala gets you off beaten track


FOR agents with clients who have experienced Latin America before but are looking for something new on a return visit, Guatemala could be the perfect recommendation. “For clients that have already visited


Peru or Mexico, the Spanish colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must; it is similar to Cusco but more sophisticated and smaller," said Becky Harris of ViaVenture, a local inbound operator. “Nearby, there are some wonderful


day trips to coffee farms and trips to visit active volcanoes…it is


definitely


worth the effort to get there. “Suggest twinning it with Belize, for a unique beach and cultural holiday mix,” Harris added. viaventure.com


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