BONAIRE DIVE FESTIVAL FLYER DEBUTED AT BENEATH THE SEA

Bonaire's island-wide flyer for the Eighth Annual Bonaire Dive Festival featuring all twelve hotels offering Dive Festival packages as well as the Festival schedule of activities premiered at the consumer dive show, Beneath the Sea (BTS) 2004. In addition to being distributed at BTS, CORAL-The Coral Reef Alliance, a sponsor of the Dive Festival, will be doing a mailing of the flyer to its membership, TCB-NYC will be sending the flyers to dive shops, and they will be available to any hotel or tour operator wishing to do their own mailing (contact TCB-NYC for a supply).

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EIGHTH ANNUAL BONAIRE DIVE FESTIVAL ATTRACTS NUMEROUS SPONSORS

The well established Bonaire Dive Festival, now in its eighth year, has attracted a number of local and international sponsors this year. Sponsors of the 2004 Bonaire Dive Festival include the Tourism Corporation Bonaire, Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine, CORAL--The Coral Reef Alliance, Air Jamaica, and locally Maduro & Curiel’s Bank NV, The Bonaire Reporter and BonairExel. Additionally, U.S. and European travel partner sponsors for the Dive Festival include Aqua Dreams Travel, Island Dreams Dive Travel, PADI Travel Network and EasyDivers, and local restaurants sponsors include Bella Vista at Buddy Dive Resort, Calabas/Chibi Chibi at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino and La Balandra Beach Bar & Restaurant at Harbour Village Beach Club. For complete information on the Eighth Annual Bonaire Dive Festival visit http://www.bonairedivefestival.com.

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BONAIRE IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

The Sunday March 21, 2004 travel section of the LA Times included a feature article on Bonaire. One of the top newspapers in the U.S., the LA Times has a circulation of 1,700,000. LA Times online has 62.5 million page views international per month. Since the article ran, the USA Bonaire tourist office has received a number of phone calls from interested travelers who saw the article and wanted more information on Bonaire.

You can view the article on LA Times online by going to: http://www.latimes.com/travel/printedition/

(You will then be asked to register, which is free, in order to view the article.).

Or if you would like to have the article emailed to you, please contact patricia@adams-pr.com at the TCB-NYC office.

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CARIBBEAN TRAVEL & LIFE CONTEST

Bonaire's contest with Caribbean Travel & Life went live March 19th on the magazine's website (http://www.caribbeantravelmag.com/contest.jsp?ID=92) and in the April issue of the print magazine that went on sale March 20th.

Bonaire is the feature destination in this six-month contest. As part of the contest readers will be directed to the Caribbean Travel & Life website where they will be asked to respond to a short online survey. They will then be entered to win one of six trips to Bonaire (at six different hotels). A one-week stay at each of the hotels participating will be given away each month of the contest.

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DIVE NEWSWIRE FOR MARCH

During March two press releases were distributed on Dive Newswire. The March 9th issue of Dive Newswire featured a press release about the 25th anniversary of the Bonaire Marine Park. The March 30th issue of Dive Newswire included a press release on the featured speaker of the Eighth Annual Dive Festival, Philippe Cousteau. Dive Newswire is distributed electronically to more than 5,000 dive shop owners, manufacturers as well as media outlets. As an added bonus, using the archive feature of DiveNewswire, you can see all releases about Bonaire, including those posted by hotels and tour operators going back to February 15, 2003.

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BONAIRE EZ NEWS FOR MARCH

During March two issues of Bonaire EZ News were written and distributed to our database of more than 25,000 consumers and travel agents. The March 12th issue of EZ News focused on airline and island news, while the March 26th issue focused on the Eighth Annual Bonaire Dive Festival, specifically Philippe Cousteau, the Festival's featured speaker, and special Dive Festival hotel packages being offered.

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PRESS VISITS

The 2004 Public Relations program continued in March with a number of one-on-one press visits from top publications like Outside Traveler.

Margaret Noonan visited Bonaire March 18 - 23 to gather information for a feature article for the Fall 2004 issue of Outside Traveler magazine, which is published by Outside Magazine, one of the top glossy magazines focusing on adventure activities. While on island, Margaret stayed at a number of different hotels and participated in a variety of adventure activities including diving. Thanks to everyone for making this one-on-one press visit a success!

March 28 - April 4, 2004 travel writer Bruce Bishop was in Bonaire gathering information for a number of articles. Based in Canada, Bruce writes for Going Naturally and Naturally, two naturalist publications, as well as the Toronto Sun. While on island he stayed at Sorobon Beach Resort and Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino.

April 20 - 23 travel writer Michael DeFrietas will be in Bonaire to gather information for an ABC Islands article he is writing for Nights Publications and as well as an ABC Islands round-up for Canadian Diver magazine. He is also working on a few other story ideas for possible publication with Caribbean Travel & Life, Sport Diver and Diver Magazine UK. While in Bonaire, Mr. DeFrietas will be spending most of his time underwater exploring many of the island's dive sites.

Plans are progressing for a press visit from Lorry Heverly, Dive Editor of the Miami Herald for June 2004. An avid diver Lorry is planning on spending a number of days on island diving and exploring. Details of this one-on-one press visit to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

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EDITORAL PLACEMENTS: HIGHLIGHTS

ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP)

In February, the story written by AP about "Night Diving in Bonaire" and distributed by AP over the wire reached a total of 32 major market newspapers, sweeping the east coast, to the west coast, to the mid-west and Canada with a combined circulation of over Four-Hundred-Million. Each version of the story had 3-4 outstanding photos that showed Bonaire’s underwater treasures when the lights go out. When the story broke, it led the travel sections of www.ABCNEWS.com, www.USATODAY.com, and www.CNN.com.

ARTHUR FROMMER’S BUDGET TRAVEL (circulation 380,000)

In the March 2004 issue of Budget Travel, Divi Flamingo Beach Resort’s special package for the Handicapped Scuba Association is highlighted and described in detail.

BEST FARES.COM (circulation 60,000)

In the March/April 2004 issue of Tom Parson’s Best Fares.com, Bonaire is the destination of choice. Several of Bonaire’s tourism partners are listed along with their packages: Plaza Villa’s 3-D, Drive, Dive Deluxe package, Deep Blue View B&B seven-night package, Ocean View Villa’s Windsurfing package, Bon Bini Divers seven-night package, Captain Don’s Habitat’s seven-night package and the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort’s Shore Diving package made the grade.

SPORT DIVER (circulation 100,000)

In the April 2004 issue of Sport Diver, Bonaire’s Town Pier is coined as "Endlessly captivating." The story, written by one of Bonaire’s long-time friends, Julie Morgan, is in the "World’s Best Dives" section.

TRAVEL AGENT (online)

On February 5 in Travel Agent’s Daily E-News Alert, the Eighth Annual Bonaire Dive Festival was highlighted including its website www.bonairedivefestival.com and a description of the festival and events.

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SOUTH AMERICA PRESS FAMS--COMING SOON

Preceding the high season and the trade shows, we are formulating the plans for press fams during the months of April, May and June. Please contact BHG/Bonhata for more information or flamingorep@telcel.net.ve

BONAIRE BROCHURE IN SPANISH

To support the 2004 image campaign in South America, a Bonaire brochure in Spanish will be published. It will be done on glossy paper in full color with institutional information and beautiful pictures showing off what the island has to offer to its visitors. The new brochure is to be directed at general tourism, diving, and the eco-adventure sector and is scheduled for release at the end of March.

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CARIBE 2004

Important news: The organization of Avavit Trade Show is inviting all of us to attend the third annual Caribbean Exposition to be held in Caracas at the J.W Marriot Hotel on dates June 28th to the 30th. About the event, please contact our office at flamingorep@telcel.net.ve

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GAM, GACETA: ITS PERMANENT BONAIRE PROMOTION

With the catchy titles of "Destino Top de Buceo en el Caribe y el Atlántico" (GAM) and "Lo mejor del Buceo del Caribe" (Gaceta), these magazines directed at the Venezuelan tourism sector, are always promoting our island. Both March editions informed the travel agents about the important recognition awarded by Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine to the island of Bonaire as the top diving destination in the Caribbean.

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A DIVER IN EACH TRAVEL AGENCY--INCENTIVE PROGRAM

We will soon begin the organization of the 2nd edition of Discovery Scuba, an incentive program developed by TCB Venezuela with the goal to familiarize travel agents with the diving world (of course, Bonaire).

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BONAIRE MANUAL ON CD

A new edition of the Spanish official Bonaire manual on CD is being updated and will be sent to the main dive and tour operators as well as travel agencies working with eco-adventure segment and high yield visitors. With this valuable support, the agent will find the different sections of general information, entertainment, activities, transportation and accommodations on the island.

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AGENDA DEL MAR--ANNUAL COLOMBIAN PLANNER

Once again Bonaire is in this publication along with Aruba. Curacao has been advertising in the last two annual editions.

Agenda del Mar is an environmental project that started in 1991 and is devoted to the sea and the preservation of our planet. Bonaire has been advertsiing here since 1999. It’s an agenda used by divers, ecological groups and general consumers interested in the sea and our mother nature.

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VISITING THE VENEZUELAN TOUR OPERATORS

As a part of our marketing activities, we maintain our traditional visits and telemarketing to the operators, exchanging ideas with them on how to increase visitors to Bonaire in these times of crisis.

As we all know, Venezuela continues to be affected by the political situation and by the strict exchange control established by the government. Nevertheless marketing hasn’t stopped. It is just moving slowly and Venezuelans continue traveling to different Caribbean destinations, which is why our marketing strategy is focused on reaching the upper class people and also marketing Bonaire in our natural segments.

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THE BRAZILIAN MARKET

Being a very high potential market in our natural segment of diving, the Brazilians are making big efforts to improve their air connections to Bonaire. Once the airlift problem is solved with adequate connections to the island and focused mainly in the dive market, we will definitely reactivate the segment which recognizes Bonaire as a world-class dive destination.

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2002/2003 BONAIRE TOURISM ARRIVALS

The commitment to improve the number of visitors to the island is always our goal. Even though the economic and political situation of the region has had an enormous effect on the tourism environment, 2003 ended with moderate increases compared to 2002, thanks mainly to KLM’s nonstop flights to Ecuador and especially Peru, two markets that since the beginning of the air operation have reported positive numbers to Bonaire.

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OUR DIVERS DURING THE RECENT CARNIVAL HOLIDAYS

Little by little, the enthusiasm of the Venezuelan divers is felt in Bonaire. This is the case of the operator Subaqua’s group whom, although they had a last-minute Dutch Caribbean change of flights, got to the island and enjoyed the pristine dive sites of the Bonaire Marine Park. Many thanks to Rudy in Sand Dollar and Rolando at TCB for helping the group upon their arrival to forget the airlift inconveniences.

Another important dive group was on island Feb 20 to the 28th. They came from Sao Paulo, Brazil with Varig and then on a charter flight from Caracas to Bonaire. Thanks to the marketing efforts of Lagoon Hill, which came as a result of their visit to Brazil last December with the BHG group.

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MARKETING MEETINGS TAKING PLACE AGAIN

It was a great pleasure to have had the opportunity to meet everyone on the island, to share our marketing experience of Bonaire in the South America markets, and present our plans and main focus for the year 2004.

Facing a complex situation in the region, the lack of good connections and strong restrictions in the budget, we keep advancing in the promotion of Bonaire in the markets and will focus in 2004 on Peru and Ecuador, which have nonstop flights to Bonaire, Brazil with the major population of divers (almost 200.000 according to Padi), and Venezuela, as once it settles its political crisis, its economy will gradually recover.

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GAM PROMOTING WINDSURFING

In its February edition, the monthly tourism magazine, GAM, displayed a beautiful full-color page showcasing the King of the Caribbean on Bonaire. It highlighted the participation of the 45 international competitors, in which the Venezuelan, Douglas "Cheo" Diaz from Margarita Island, came in third place.

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POSITIVE MEETING WITH BONAIREXEL

It is with optimism that we see the operation of BonairExel. During the recent Marketing Meetings in Bonaire, our colleague, Yasmin Pérez, had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Arian, and together analyze the airlift situation with the service of DCA from Caracas to Bonaire, where the flights are not dependable and the itineraries do not permit connections from other South American countries.

The exchanges of ideas was very productive in establishing that TCB Caracas will contact the local airlines to get the necessary link among them as a first step for their future air operation in Venezuela.

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INTRODUCING BONAIREXEL TO AVIANCA AIRLINES

To lobby between Avianca and BonairExel to accomplish interlines agreements, TCB had a meeting recently in Caracas with the Colombian airline in order to strive for better airlift for our visitors coming from the South America markets, especially Brazil.

According to Amadeus (airlines system reservation), Avianca has flights coming from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to Aruba and Curacao (via Bogotá), later connecting to Bonaire with BonairExel. The objective of TCB is to put together both airlines so they may evaluate the opportunities to work together to successfully make interline agreements, thus making it easier for the Brazilian market to reach Bonaire.

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WINDSURFING: ONE OF 2004'S TARGETS

TCB introduces Bonaire to the windsurfing world, sending images and general information detailing the recent King of the Caribbean. Our goal is to increase our data base in this new segment where we will be focusing this year.

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BONAIRE IN THE ECUADORIAN MAGAZINES

We just received the specialized magazines "Transport" and "Ofertas de Viajes." In its December editions with the Bonaire Christmas greetings to all the Ecuadorian tourism industry, there was an advertisement of a full-color page in both magazines showing diving, relaxing and eco-adventure destinations in the Dutch Caribbean.

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UNDERWATER PASSION BY PHOTOGRAPHER, ENRIQUE ALPENEZ

In a four-page article with beautiful underwater pictures, most of them being from Bonaire, the photographer and divemaster Enrique Alpeñez from Venezuela was interviewed by "Sala de Espera", a free, monthly magazine distributed in the main private hospitals of Caracas.

In the article, Alpeñez talks about his two passions: photography and diving around the world, describing his experiences in the Venezuelan coast, the Spanish Mediterranean, in the Pacific, in Costa Rica, in the Atlantic Ocean and some of the best dive destinations in the Caribbean, such as Bonaire, a world famous spot where diving is the most important activity.

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