Venezuelan Tourist Minister Wilmar Castro says tourism picking up slowly but surely

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, June 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Tourist Minister Wilmar Castro has invested 30 billion bolivares into Venezuela's depressed tourist industry to promote participation from the private sector. 

Castro admits that the industry has suffered a 46% drop in international tourists. " The good news is that movement of national tourists increased 17% in Carnival and Easter Week but the spending power was definitely down from last year." 

* The relatively light increase is partly due to the facts that airlines have been getting preferential dollars ($1/1,600). 

Tourist High Council (Consuturismo) president, Alvaro Montenegro reports that hotel occupation is experiencing a steady recovery .... "from 15% occupancy in January hotels are currently reporting a 30% occupancy in the provinces and 45% in Caracas ... the reduction in hotel prices in bolivares has helped." 

5-star Eurobuilding Hotel operations manager Miguel Angel Marino say the reduction of tariffs and increase in room occupancy has resulted in sales 50% less than for the same period last year.