The Buenos Aires Herald reported that Argentina’s incoming tourists declined 7% last year.  The statistics bureau uses airport and port data to calculate the number of visitors.  The number of Argentines going abroad rose 6.2%, though “the Argentine tourism deficit,” which represents a growing strain on the Central Bank’s foreign reserves, “clocked in at US$553.5

Susana González wrote in La Jornada of Mexico City that although well over half of its working population goes without access to health services, Mexico ranks second globally in what the tourism industry calls “health tourism.” 

In La Tercera of Santiago Valentina Mery wrote of the most likely things that can go wrong on a Chilean beach trip.  These include falls in rocky areas, attacks by jellyfish, children that go missing, and swimmers who exceed the limits. 

ÚltimaHora of Asunción Saira Baruja insists that rural tourism is an option for this summer’s leisure time.  When the heat comes to Paraguay, “people want to enjoy the sun and fresh air. That’s when people start thinking about options for travel.” 

In El Espectador of Bogotá Marcela Díaz Sandoval noted that between the 22nd and 26th of January the streets of Madrid  would be besieged by tourists from 165 countries for the 2014 International Tourism Fair (Fitur), “the second largest in the world,” which seeks to promote tourism and trade between countries.  

Juana Téllez wrote in El Espectador of Bogotá about short, local trips, or “small tourism.”  Despite its appeal, it can be plagued by crowds and traffic jams. 

Jack Eidt  wrote in Honduras Weekly of Tegucigalpa that “sleepy Trujillo now finds itself at a cross-roads.”  The “Banana Coast” cruise ship port deal which promises to change everything has already been inked and foreigners, mainly from Canada, are filing in to buy a small part of their dream of a wild tropical paradise.

In PáginaSIETE of La Paz Anahí Cazas reported that a Senate committee is reviewing the proposed creation of a fund to protect Bolivia’s “World Heritage” sites. 

  La Tribuna of Tegucigalpa wrote that representatives of the National Chamber of Tourism of Honduras (CANATURH) believe that between January and March 2014 the country will receive around 13,000 tourists from Canada, the U.S., and Europe,

DominicanToday of Santo Domingo reported that the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) and the 2013 NBA Championship team, the Miami HEAT, are pleased to announce their 2013/2014 partnership.