Miguel Praga

🌏 Samarcanda and Bukara, historical cities visited by Marco Polo and medieval merchants, are part of Uzbekistan's effort to become a popular tourist destination, despite past obscurity. To attract investment and improve its tourism appeal, Uzbekistan has offered tax breaks of three, five, or seven years based on investment size. Currently, the country has over 5,000 hotels with 155,000 beds, varying in quality. Tourism diversity includes the Silk Road, health, and gastronomic experiences, as well as developing MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism. 2025 is projected to be a breakthrough year for tourism, including from Spain.

🛩 A Norwegian Boeing 737 with 171 occupants nearly plunged into the sea during a route from Oslo to Molde in Norway. The aircraft was traveling at 206 kilometers per hour during landing—four times the appropriate speed of 50 km/h. Ice on the runway and human error are considered possible causes, with Norwegian attributing the incident to bad weather and icy, slippery conditions.

💸 Bolivia owes airlines $42 million, risking international air isolation due to its refusal to convert local currency ticket sales into dollars, amidst looming bankruptcy. Boliviana de Aviación, the state airline, reduced travel agency commissions from 6% to 1%, causing commercial tensions. Bolivia's main airport, Viru Viru, is located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Most foreign airlines operating in Bolivia are regional, with eight potentially ceasing operations.