INICIATIVA LATINOAMERICA WEB NETWORKING – This portal was created in order to be a virtual meeting point for all Latin American specialists from everywhere! We want to encourage the contact among our various partners in all levels, all over the globe! Thus, we’ll be able to exchange real time reports, impressions, ideas, etc.

WHY WAS THE INITIATIVE CREATED?
Germans are generally considered as „Experienced Travelers“; however, German travel trade and press decision makers have a very scarce knowledge about Latin America, and still regard this continent as insecure and instable.

Latin America needs therefore an image improvement, in which the combination of its happiness, warmth and welcoming way to host tourists can be also linked to the amazing infrastructure it has to offer, great transportation connections, top service and professionalism.

THE PROJECT INICIATIVA LATINOAMERICA
Iniciativa Latinoamerica (ILA) is a neutral, not-for-profit initiative, created in order to, together with other partners:
• Create an improved knowledge of the modern Latin America amongst German travel trade and press decision makers
• Showcase the identity of partner countries (cultural, historical, natural features)
• Showcase the diversity of services provided (e.g. activities/sports, cuisine)
• Present the quality of hospitality and incoming services, according to top European standards
• Establish a feeling of assurance in Latin America regarding local infrastructure, safety and political stability
• Present partner countries and tourist suppliers as potential cooperation partners to the German travel trade
• Promote interaction among partners by means of fam trips, workshops, trainings, social networks, presentations and common activities

Here some other activities the Iniciativa Latinoamerica has been put into action since 2007:
FAM TRIPS INICIATIVA LATINOAMERICA - With the participation of great German Travel Trade decision makers, in 2008 Brazil (Bahia), Chile (Santiago), Panama (Panama City) and Ecuador (Quito and Galapagos) were visited, in 2009 Argentina (Buenos Aires), Brazil (Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo,) Peru(Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu) and Uruguay (Colonia del Sacramento, Montevideo and Punta del Este. For 2010, Mexico and Colombia are definitely part our itinerary plans!
ITB BERLIN HOSTED BUYERS LOUNGE - With the help of great partners, such as Peru, Quito, Santa Catarina, TAM Airlines, Studiosus Gruppenreisen and LAN Airlines: chosen travel specialists were invited to ITB Berlin in order to “travel” around the Latin American Hall, learning more about how to create their own travel programs for those regions! As a project follow-up, Hosted Buyer participants will also participate of a Mega Fam Trip to Ecuador. Plans for 2010 are already being developed.
TRAININGSOFFENSIVE - As a pilot project, we have had the chance to present Latin America to travel agents from important cooperations, such as Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Thomas Cook Group, as well as facilitating contacts among different partners who have also promoted best information about this region to their travel consultants.