VENEZUELA: Venezuela Has Got Very Attractive Tourist Sites, But Caracas Is One Of Most Dangerous Cities In The World

Tourism in Venezuela has been developed considerably in recent decades, particularly because of its geographical position, the variety of landscapes, the richness of plant and wildlife, the artistic expressions and the privileged tropical climate of the country, which affords each region most especially the beaches throughout the year.

Merida state, for the beauty of its mountain scenery and pleasant climate, is a major tourist center in Venezuela. It has an extensive network of hotels not only in the capital city but also throughout the state.

Starting from the city of Merida, it has the longest and highest cable car in the world, reaching the Espejo Peak of 4,765 m. In the Meridan paramos, there are good hotels and restaurants. Another place to visit is Mucuchies, the village of Los Aleros.

There is also the National Observatory of Llano del Hato. The city has several museums worth visiting: Beekeeping Museum, Colonial Art Museum, Modern Art Museum, and the Museum of the great Meridan Don Mariano Picon Salas and the Aquarium Garden.

Also in the state are hot springs such as Bailadores Las Tapias and la Capellanía Park.

Margarita is an island with modern infrastructure, bordered by beaches suitable for extreme sports, and features castles, fortresses and churches of great cultural value. This island is found in the Caribbean Sea and is well known for its pearls.

Caracas is the capital of Venezuela, is a world-class cosmopolitan city. In the west of the city, the Libertador municipality, tourism is important in regard to the historic center of the city, the Caracas Cable Car - Avila mountain Cable Car, the University City of Caracas, Zoos, Sabana Grande Boulevard, among others.

In the east of the city, especially in the Chacao and Baruta municipalities environment of progress and modernism is indisputable, European-style shopping malls, beautiful squares, night clubs, etc.

Also the Generalisimo Francisco de Miranda Park, located in the Sucre municipality is heavily of exploitation for tourism.

In the southeast end of city is located a small town, El Hatillo, which has an impeccable colonial town, an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

To further exploitation of tourism as a factor of endogenous development, the national government has created socio-cultural plans of international concern as the Feria Internacional de Turismo de Caracas (FITCAR).

This has been carried held annually since 2005 and promotes tourism in the country, showing to the world the cultural, tourist, traditional, musical and culinary wonders of Venezuela.

Caracas is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, with extremely high rates of murder, street robbery and kidnapping. The police is very corrupt and often collaborate with the criminal gangs.

The archipelago of Los Roques is formed by a group of islands and cays that make up one of the main tourist attractions of the country.

With exotic pristine beaches. Morrocoy is a park, consisting of very small nearby islands to the mainland, which have grown rapidly as one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Caribbean.

Canaima National Park is spread over 30,000 square kilometers to the border with Guayana Esequiba reclamation area now Guyana and Brazil, for its size is considered the world's sixth largest national park. About 65% of the park is occupied by rock plateaus called tepuis.

These are a unique biological environment, also presenting a great geological interest. Its steep cliffs and waterfalls including Angel Falls, which is the highest waterfall of the world, 1,002 m are spectacular sceneries.

Coro is the oldest city in Venezuela, since it was the first Venezuelan city to be founded in 1527, the city was declared a World Heritage Site of the December 9 of 1993 by UNESCO in the meeting held in the Colombian city of Cartagena.

Coro has an interesting history, including was the first federal capital of Venezuela. In 2005 was decreed patrimonial emergency and has been included in the list of World Heritage in Danger, this because of government neglect and intensity of rainfall occurred in recent years.

At present the national government undertakes investments to preserve its rich architecture.

Canaima National Park, is a national park located in the Bolivar State, Venezuela. It was established the June 12 of 1962 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 1994.

University City of Caracas, main campus of the Central University of Venezuela. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2000.

It is a real university, designed by the master Carlos Raúl Villanueva, the University City is primarily a work of art with contemporary architecture and a series of sculptures, murals, paintings and other arts spread throughout the campus university.

Venezuela has many beaches of calm waters and for extreme sports. Besides those already mentioned, most famous sites for its beauty its are:

- Mochima

- Choroni and Chuao

- Los Roques Archipelago

- Coche Island

- Tucacas and Chichiriviche

- La Tortuga Island

- Paraguana Peninsula

- Catia La Mar

- Cuyagua

- Puerto Cabello

- Bahia de Cata

- San Luis

- Venezuelan Beach Tourism

South of Venezuela in the states Bolivar, Amazonas and Delta Amacuro begins the Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest and the largest nature reserve in the world.

This area of the country has great tourism value, because there is the Angel Falls, the highest waterfall of the world; savannah, rivers, forests and tepuis form a ecotourism that has not yet been truly exploited.

It is necessary that the national government to promote plans to turn over this Venezuelan soil an essential point for ecotourism in this part of the world.

However, the influx of international tourists in Canaima and the Gran Sabana is high and has been gradually growing, some attractions in forest and savanna in Venezuela are:

- Canaima

- La Gran Sabana

- Angel Falls

- Mount Roraima

- Orinoco River

- Auyan-tepui

- Caroni River

- El Abismo

- Sapo Falls

- Tobogan de Agua (Water Slide)

Although Venezuela is dominated by plains and tropical temperatures, it also has a mountain range of great tourist attraction, In Venezuela begins the Andes, Merida state consists mainly of paramo vegetation, low temperatures, snow filled peaks, glaciers and high mountains of the Venezuelan Andes.

Venezuelan mountain attractions are:

- Sierra Nevada de Mérida

- Peak Bolivar

- Merida Cable Car

- Peak Espejo

- Peak Humboldt

- Sierra La Culata

- Batallon and La Negra Paramos

- Cerro El Avila

- El Avila Cable Car

- Chorro San Miguel (waterfall)

- Mucubaji Lagoon

- Del Vino Waterfall in Dinira National Park

Among other Andean highlands, located in the states of Merida, Trujillo and Tachira:

- Monument to the Virgin de la Paz

- Plateau La Galera Natural Monument

Los Llanos is the region of Venezuela, plains with few elevations, dominated by plateaus, hills, lakes and pastures, the climate is warm and has an average tourist reception.

But it is an important site for the rural vacation, covering most of the states Apure, Barinas, Cojedes, Portuguesa, Guarico, Anzoategui, Monagas and Delta Amacuro.

In these rural plains are combined flora, fauna, livestock culture and typical of the autochthonous culture of Venezuela. The higher mountain elevations of this Venezuelan region are in San Juan de los Morros.

Other Places:

- Medanos de Coro (Coro´s dunes)

- Cave of the Oilbirds

- Planeta Zoo

- Hundicion Yay

Cities In Venezuela:

- Coro

- Merida

- Maracaibo

- Caracas

- Barquisimeto

- Puerto La Cruz

- Valencia

- Pampatar - Porlamar

- Puerto Cabello

- Calabozo

- Juan Griego

- Cumana

- Ciudad Bolivar

- Tovar

- Ciudad Guayana

- Tinaquillo

- Acarigua

- San Cristobal

- Barinas

- Guanare

Towns in Venezuela:

- Colonia Tovar

- Galipan

- Punto Fijo

- Jaji

- Bailadores

- Barlovento

- Apartaderos

- Mucuchies

- Caripe

- San Antonio del Golfo

- Turen

- Naiguata

Weather changes in Venezuela by region are drastic, example, in the Medanos de Coro temperatures can reach up to 40 °C, but in Meridan moors or the Sierra Nevada temperatures may be less than 0 °C.

Gastronomy, the Venezuelan cuisine varies by region of the country, however, the most typical dishes of national cuisine are: pabellon criollo, asado negro, reina pepeada, sancocho, mondongo, especially arepas or cachapas.

Currently in Venezuela there is an exchange control imposed by the national government since 2003. Venezuelans when traveling should go to CADIVI, in order to request their share, which is a maximum of 3000 dollars per year.

This amount varies depending on the destination and travel time, all this if the person holds a credit card.

Moreover, there is a foreign exchange market called parallel market or black market the prices of the dollar in this market can be up to 15 times the established by the executive 6.30 bolivares fuertes for 1 dollar.

Venezuela has:

- 43 National Parks

- 22 Natural Monuments

- 3 sites considered World Heritage Site.

To enter the country is required valid passport issued in the country of origin and return passage.

No special vaccinations are required to enter the country. Those traveling to jungle areas or want more protection can be vaccinated against yellow fever, malaria and cholera, after medical advice.

It is advisable to take precautions to get vaccinated if it visit places like the Amazon rainforest or the Gran Sabana.

In most of the country the weather is hot, but bearable. It is suggested to bring light clothing, but it is always good to include a sweater or light jacket.

If the destination is the Venezuelan Andes, it is important to bring warm clothes if is possible balaclavas, caps and/or gloves.

Most of the tourists arrive at Maiquetia Simon Bolivar International Airport, but there are another 5 airports in some cities of the country, covering international destinations.

There varied music genre depending of regions such as: Joropo or Llanera music - from Los Llanos region of livestock culture, its lyrics are messages that express the values of the llaneran people, of European and Indigenous origin music genre.

Its subgenres are: Pasaje, Joropo central or Joropo tuyero, Joropo oriental, Joropo guayanes, Golpe tocuyano, Quirpa, Joropo llanero.

Tambor is Afro-descendent music of mostly of Venezuelan coasts, Gaita Zuliana the national Christmas music genre, from Zulia state, The topics covered in this genre performers range from love songs and religious figures to humorous and reporting issues.

The political element is also starring in many subjects, Changa tuki from Caracas; is an urban way of life, a form of electronic music that comprises dance, own urban clothing and music.

The most representative is its dance, it is difficult and showy, recommended to watch, dance competences are made in different matinees, its dancers are known as tuki; use hair´s wicks yellow painted, red tight pants.

Calypso made by Caribbean origin people in Southern Venezuela.

They have urban music such as salsa, reggaeton, Venezuelan rock, Venezuelan hip hop, Venezuelan ska, Venezuelan electronic, Venezuelan pop, Venezuelan classical, etc.


Tourism Observer

Enjoy Churrasco

Churrasco is a Spanish and Portuguese term referring to beef or grilled meat more generally, differing across Latin America and Europe, but a prominent feature in the cuisine of Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru and other Latin American countries.

The related term churrascaria or churrasqueria is mostly understood to be a steakhouse.

A churrascaria is a restaurant serving grilled meat, many offering as much as one can eat.

The waiters move around the restaurant with the skewers, slicing meat onto the client's plate.

This serving style is called espeto corrido or rodízio, and is quite popular in Brazil.

In Brazil, churrasco is the term for a barbecue similar to the Argentine, Uruguayan, Paraguayan and Chilean asado which originated in southern Brazil.

It uses a variety of meats, pork, sausage and chicken which may be cooked on a purpose-built churrasqueira, a barbecue grill, often with supports for spits or skewers.

Portable churrasqueiras are similar to those used to prepare the Argentine, Chilean, Paraguayan and Uruguayan asado, with a grill support, but many Brazilian churrasqueiras do not have grills.Only the skewers above the embers.

The meat may alternatively be cooked on large metal or wood skewers resting on a support or stuck into the ground and roasted with the embers of charcoal, wood may also be used, especially in the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

In Nicaragua, the first immigrant group to introduce the term for this cut of beef to the United States restaurant scene in Miami, Fl as early as the 1950s.

It refers to a thin steak prepared grilled and served with a traditional chimichurri sauce- macerated parsley, garlic, peppers, and olive oil sauce.

Although seldom accredited to Brazilians and Argentinians, these two nations' most popular cuts of grilled meats are not churrasco but Rib and Picanha (Brazil) and Entrana respectively.

In Argentina and Uruguay a churrasco refers to any boneless cut of beef that is sliced slightly thin as a steak and grilled over hot coals or on a very hot skillet.

Gauchos would have grilled churrasco as part of their asado, now the national dish of both countries, served with salad and fried or mashed potatoes, and sometimes a fried egg.

In Puerto Rico it always refers to skirt steak, cooked on a barbecue grill. The chimichurri sauce is optional, since the meat is very savory with just a slight hint of sea salt that is sprinkled over the meat during cooking.

It is also customary to replace chimichurri sauce with a guava rum sauce made with spices and 7up or Ajilimojili sauce.

In Ecuador churrasco is a staple food of the Coast Region, specially Guayaquil. The dish's main ingredient is the grilled steak that is seasoned with chimichurri, it is served with plantains, white rice, French fries, a fried egg, and slices of avocado.

In Guatemala, churrasco is regarded as a typical dish, often eaten in familiar gatherings and festive occasions.

It is usually served topped with chirmol, a red sauce containing chopped tomatoes and onions, and accompanied by corn, guacamole, grilled potatoes, stewed black beans, rice and tortillas.

In Chile, churrasco refers to a thin cut of steak which varies depending on the desired quality of the sandwich.

The slices are grilled and served in a -sometimes warmed- local bun called marraqueta, or pan batido in Valparaiso, usually accompanied with tomato, avocado and mayonnaise, in the case of a churrasco italiano.

Another popular dish, churrasco a lo pobre or poor man's churrasco, consists of a churrasco served with French fries, fried egg, and caramelized onions.

In Portugal, Frango de Churrasco with piri piri a kind of salty roasted chicken cooked on the churrasqueira, spiced with hot red chili sauce is very popular.

Portuguese churrasco and chicken dishes are very popular in countries with Portuguese communities, such as Canada, Australia, the United States, Venezuela and South Africa.

The term churrasco is used in former Portuguese colonies—a Churrasco Moçambicano is a grilled meat dish from Mozambique, for instance.

In Galicia, churrasco refers almost exclusively to grilled pork or beef spare-ribs.

Galicians who emigrated to America in the 20th century took with them the recipe for churrasco.

Nowadays, many Galicians of all social classes prepare a churrascada.

In North America, Churrasco is the trademark name for rotisserie/grills manufactured by Hickory Industries, Inc.


Tourism Observer

VENEZUELA: Maduro Kicks Out Copa Airlines From Venezuela

The Venezuelan government has unilaterally suspended all Copa Airlines operations to and from the country for at least 90 days, starting today, to protect the Venezuelan financial system from organized crime and terrorism, an official communicate says.

The release notes that the sanction could be extended.

The unilateral measures come as a retaliation taken by the government of Nicolas Maduro over a series of sanctions the Government of Panama imposed last week on several Venezuelan politicians.

The Panamanian Government stated that Maduro, along with 55 individuals and 16 Venezuelan companies, are considered a high risk for laundering money, terrorism financing, and trafficking weapons of mass destruction.

In return, the Venezuelan regime issued these sanctions against Copa Airlines claiming that several top-ranking authorities from Panama, including its President, Juan Carlos Varela, had been involved in money laundering.

They present an imminent risk to the Venezuelan financial system, the stability of commerce in the country, and the sovereignty and economic independence of the Venezuelan people, Maduro said.

The retaliation from the Venezuelan government has taken Copa Airlines by surprise.

These penalties were released by 4:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 5, and the Venezuelan National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) released it at 9:00 p.m. via a Twitter post.

INAC claims the sanctions imposed on Copa were to prevent organized crime and terrorism finance

As a consequence, commercial ties with various companies and Panamanian officials were halted by the Venezuelan executive.

Following Venezuela’s measures, Panama has decided to recall its ambassador and asked the Venezuelan ambassador in Panama City to leave the country.

Copa Airlines said in a release that all affected passengers may ask for a refund of any outstanding tickets without penalties.

As of today, Copa Airlines was the last Latin American carrier operating in Venezuela with daily services to/from its hub in Panama City.

Just recently, the airline celebrated its 70th anniversary and held an event at the Venezuelan Capital reaffirming their intentions to continue serving the country despite the massive exodus of Venezuelans and the cancellation of other airlines serving Caracas.

Copa has operated daily flights to Caracas for the last 20 years.

Venezuela has suffered a massive exodus of airlines, with ten global carriers axing their daily services to the country in the last six years.

International organizations have also fled away because of the prohibitive, unsafe, and tense political climate in the country.

Since 1997, Copa Airlines has flown millions of Venezuelan passengers, connecting them from Caracas (CCS), Maracaibo (MAR), and Valencia (VLN) across its 75 destinations in 31 countries in the American continent.

With this suspension, the connectivity to Latin American cities from Venezuela will see a drop of over 85% in seat availability.

Currently, Wingo remains as the only Latin American carrier flying to Venezuela, five times per week, from its hub in Bogota. Wingo is a subsidiary of Copa Airlines and, so far, hasn’t been added to the sanction.

Copa Airlines (CM) and Lufthansa (LH), as members of the Star Alliance, reached an agreement that increases their commercial relations.

Copa will now be able to commercialize the Panama (PTY) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Panama route, operated by the German carrier.

Austrian Airlines will also be incorporated to the group of airlines with commercial relations with the Panamanian carrier.

Passengers will have the option to make connections in different cities from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia through Frankfurt’s hub.

With this alliance between Copa Airlines and the Lufthansa Group, passengers will have better options to connect to and from all Latin America through Copa Airlines’ Hub of the Americas in Panama, said Christophe Didier, Commercial Vice President of Copa Airlines.

Similarly, it will now be easier and more comfortable for passengers anywhere in Latin America to directly reach their destination in Europe, he said.

Additionally, Lufthansa’s passengers could use Copa’s services to and from its hub in Panama.

In turn, Copa’s customers can benefit from the services of the Lufthansa Group’s airlines and their hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, and Brussels.

Felipe Bonifatti, General Manager of the Lufthansa Group in Panama, said that the excellent relationship that has united us with Copa Airlines for many years now has now expanded and consolidated through this new and more complete commercial agreement.

This brings countless benefits for everyone, particularly for mutual customers.

At Lufthansa, we are delighted that our flight from Panama to Frankfurt and vice versa also carries a Copa Airlines flight number, with codeshare, he said.

Back in November 2015, Lufthansa signed its first agreement with Copa for the flights to Latin American destinations.

Copa flights in the current winter schedule from Miami, Florida, to Panama, were operated under an additional Lufthansa flight number for passengers to travel from Frankfurt via Miami to Panama City.

Also, additional codeshare flights on Copa from Panama City to the cities of David in Panama, Guayaquil, and Quito in Ecuador, and San Jose in Costa Rica starting with Lufthansa’s inaugural flight from Frankfurt to Panama on March 2, 2016.

Copa Airlines also has agreements and codeshares with other international carriers, allowing its customers to reach over 1,300 airports in 191 countries, with more than 18,400 daily flights.

The airline currently offers service to more than 70 destinations in 31 countries, in North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean with 101 aircraft: 80 Boeing 737 Next-Generation and 21 Embraer-190.



Tourism Observer

VENEZUELA: About Venezuela

Christopher Columbus was the first European to arrive in the region of Venezuela. He discovered the region during his third expedition of the New World in 1498. Upon his arrival, he found that several groups of tribes like Arawak, the Carib, and Chibcha Indians were inhabiting the land.

Spanish explorers came in 1521 and colonized the northeastern coast. By 1522, Nueva Toledo became the first Spanish settlement in South America. It was the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda who named the region Venezuela, which means "Little Venice," after seeing houses built on stilts at Lake Maracaibo.

In 1567, Caracas, the capital city, was founded.

During the late 1700s, movements for independence against the Spanish rule started to begin. Venezuela was a neglected colony with much of its natural resources exploited by Spain. In 1810, Venezuelan independence leaders took advantage of Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Spain and declared independence on July 5, 1811. On that precise day, the Congress of Venezuelan provinces signed the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence. However, the Act met with resistance from the Spanish leaders, leading to the Venezuelan War of Independence.

Liberation came in 1821 when Simon Bolivar won the Battle of Caraboro, freeing several Spanish colonies (Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru) in South America. Bolivar formed the republic of Gran Colombia, which included Venezuela, Colombia, northern Peru, Ecuador, Panama, northwest Brazil, and western Guyana. The republic was short-lived and Venezuela became a separate independent nation in 1830.

Geography
Venezuela lies on the northern coast of South America. It has a total of 2,800 km of coastline in the north and its territory includes a number of islands in the Caribbean as well as in its northeast border facing the Atlantic Ocean. The land is divided into four regions: the wide Orinoco plains in central Venezuela, the northern mountains, the Maracaibo lowlands in the northwest, and the Guiana highlands in the southeast.

Venezuela is bordered by Colombia to the West, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south. From peaks to savanna grasslands and Caribbean coastline to flat-topped mountains, Venezuela is known for its geographical diversity. The country also has the highest waterfall in the world. This tropical country also has a vast range of flora and fauna.

While Pico Bolivar is the highest point at 16,427 ft. (5,007 m), the Caribbean Sea (0 ft) is the lowest point.

Politics
Venezuela is a federal presidential republic governed by a Constitution. The President is the chief executive, head of state, head of government, and head of a dominant-party system. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela is the dominant party.

While the President exercises the executive power, the legislative power lies with the 165-member National Assembly.

Economy
Venezuelan economy remains overtly dependent on revenue earned from oil exports, which account for about 96% of total export earnings. In 2014, the country witnessed a 4% contraction in its GDP. According to the IMF, the GDP is likely to shrink by another 7% in 2015 and inflation may reach 80%. President Nicolas Maduro has increased state control over the economy. However, rigid labor regulations and price controls have forced multinational firms to shut down or scale down their Venezuelan operations.

Travel
Venezuela is rich in natural resources but its economic dependence on oil exportation has led to the neglect of tourism industry. Because of this, the tourist infrastructure in Venezuela is not at par with the international standard. However, the tourism sector is taking action towards achieving the goal of attracting at least one million foreign travelers each year.

Venezuela is endowed with historic cities. Caracas,the capital city, is a progressive and multi-ethnic city that is known for a thriving nightlife, premier restaurants, museums, and historic areas. Among the must-visit destinations are Plaza Bolivar, The Cathedral, Government Palace, and the City Hall.

Canaima National Park is Venezuela's most popular tourist destination, mainly due to the Angel Falls - the highest waterfall in the world. At 1002 meters, it is 19 times higher than the Niagara Falls. The park itself totals 30,000 square kilometers, where tourists can spot rare and interesting flora and fauna.

Margarita Island, a favorite among international tourists, is located on the east of Caracas. It has a vast coastline packed with lagoons and beaches. It's a perfect destination for surfers and sunbathers. The eastern and the most developed part of Margarita Island has an array of clubs, hotels, duty-free shopping hubs, and colonial architecture. On its west lies the arid mountains.

Education
Venezuela sets a high standard of education. Its literacy rate is 96.3%, which is higher than most South American countries. However, poverty in the rural areas forces children to skip school and contribute as a breadwinner for the family.

Students in primary school attend classes in shifts: either from early morning to 1:30 in the afternoon, or early afternoon till 6 in the evening.

Education in Venezuela starts in preschool and the first nine years of formal education is compulsory. Higher education in public universities is free and there are over 90 institutions in the entire country.

Famous Venezuelans
Hugo Chavez- A "21st century socialist" and an erstwhile President of Venezuela.
Patricia Velasquez - Venezuelan-born Hollywood actress with movies like Beowulf, The Mummy, and Almighty Thor to her credit.

Trivia
- Venezuela was the biggest oil exporter in the world in the early 1900s. In fact, it is one of the founding members of the OPEC.
- Unlike most other South American countries, Venezuela's most popular sport is baseball.
- Most of the Miss Universe and Miss World winners are from Venezuela.
- Venezuela owes its nickname, 'Land of Grace', to Christopher Columbus.
- Venezuela is home to Capybara, the largest rodent of the world.

BRAZIL: About Brazil

FLAG OF BRAZIL
Explore the map of Brazil, the largest country in South America. The country got its name from the 'brazilwood' tree that was grown along the Brazil's coast. Ecuador and Chile are the only South American countries that do not share the border with Brazil. It is the only Lusophone (Portuguese speaking) country in America and also the largest in the world.

Brazil was inhabited by indigenous people since at least 8,000 years ago. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Brazil, which was discovered by Pedro Alvares Cabral in April 1500. He claimed the territory for the Kingdom of Portugal.

However, Portugal was preoccupied with lucrative trade with India, China, and Indonesia, so Brazil was mostly ignored from the time of discovery until about 1529. During this time, invasions by the French and Dutch were mostly unsuccessful. In the mid-16th century, Brazil was a major producer and exporter of sugar, leading to the import of slaves from Africa to meet labor requirement for the sugar industry.

During the Peninsular War in 1808, the Portuguese government fled Napoleon's invasion by moving its operations to Brazil, setting up the capital in Rio de Janeiro, which lasted for 13 years. When King Joao VI returned to Portugal, he left his son Pedro I to govern Brazil.

Pedro I led Brazil in a war of independence from Portugal in 1821, declaring independence and becoming Emperor Pedro I in 1822. The monarchy was overthrown in 1889, and the government was re-established as a Federal Republic. Throughout the following decades, Brazil was plagued by revolts and political instability, a period of military rule, before first civilian president got elected in 1985.

Brazil's economy suffered during these regimes with persistently high inflation rate. Notable leaders during this period include Getulio Vargas, who led first as a dictator and later elected as a president. Another leader of eminence was President Juscelino Kubitschek, who helped in reviving the economy. The country began the process of redemocratization in the 1980s.

In 1989, Fernando Collor de Mello became the first directly elected president since 1960, attempting to reform the economic system, but failing. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, elected in 1994, continued Collor's reforms, and introduced controversial reforms. More recently, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was elected to confront the wealth disparity. Dilma Vana Rousseff took over the presidency in 2011. Brazil's political scene has been fairly stable in recent years.

Geography

BRAZILIAN FOOD
Brazil is the largest country in South America, and the fifth largest country in the world. Located in eastern South America along the Atlantic Ocean, Brazil borders Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Because of its large size, Brazil is endowed with diverse landscapes. Though the country is mostly flat, there are mountain ranges and highlands, as well as coastal regions. Many rivers flow through Brazil, which has mostly tropical climate. The Amazon is the second largest river in the world that flows through this country. About 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest is within Brazil, which has suffered deforestation and drought in recent years.

Politics
Brazil is a Federal Democratic Republic, which is true for all levels of government: federal, states, and cities.The President of Brazil is both the chief of the state and the head of the government, who appoints the cabinet and the Ministers of State. Brazil has a bicameral National Congress, and its two branches are the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Brazil is divided into 26 states and one federal district, the capital, Brasilia. Each state enjoys a high degree of autonomy, with their own governors, legislators, and courts. The municipalities of Brazil also have autonomy, with their own tax collection, mayors, and legislators.

Travel

BRAZIL SAMBA DANCERS
Brazil sprawls over half of South America and is considered one of South America's main travel destinations. The country is distinctly known for its white-sand beaches, tropical islands, and spectacular sites like Atlantic Ridge Forest,secluded beaches of Fernando de Noronha, cascading waterfalls, and Amazon rainforest with untouched wilderness. One of the breathtaking and extraordinary natural wonders of the world is Iguazu Falls, which is situated between the border of Argentina and Brazil. It is wider than Victoria Falls and higher than Niagara Falls. The most stunning of them all is the popular Devil's Throat, a long chasm with 14 different falls.

The Christ the Redeemer, is Corcovado is a major landmark of Brazil. This beautiful statue is made up of Soap stone and reinforced concrete. It is allowed to visit the top of the place to have an excellent view. Brasilia is the only city of the 20th century that was granted the status of World Heritage Site.

Major cities of Brazil such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasilia always brim with activities. From culinary delights to music and dancing, these big cities are unique and vibrant.

Education
The federal government handles the education system in Brazil through the Ministry of Education. While the standards are set nationwide, the municipalities of Brazil are responsible for carrying out the regulations.

Brazil's education system is structured into a few different levels, roughly based on the age of the students. Preschool is available for children under six years, but attendance at preschool is optional. Elementary school is required for children aged between six and 14, and is split into two sections: I and II. Elementary school covers the general education requirements, including Portuguese language, mathematics, science, history, and arts. The second-half of elementary education in Brazil usually incorporates a second language, such as English or Spanish.

Once students have finished their elementary education, they can continue to a school for secondary education. From this juncture, the focus shifts to the core curriculum, which includes science courses like Chemistry and Biology. Secondary school lasts around three years, and are only mandatory for students who move on to higher education.

Higher education in Brazil is similar to many other countries, with undergraduate and graduate levels and about four years of coursework to complete a bachelor's degree. Professional degrees such as engineering and medicine take longer, with five or six years of classes, and often requires an internship or fieldwork.

Trivia
- Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas.
- Brazil borders every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
- Brazil is one of three modern nations in the Americas (along with Mexico and Haiti) to have had an indigenous monarchy, which it had for almost 90 years.
- The Amazon rainforest in Brazil has the most diverse ecosystem in the world. There are an estimated 10 to 15 million species of insects in the country.
- Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).

Zika News: Pregnant Passengers Get Refunds From Airlines

Travellers worried about the implications of flying to Latin America amid growing concerns about the Zika virus should be able to amend their travel plans without expense – as airlines and holiday firms acknowledge the threat from the mosquito-borne infection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) this week declared a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” regarding the virus, and warned that it could affect up to four million people in the Americas. Its epicentres are Brazil and Ecuador, but cases have also been reported in Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde.

While the WHO has also stated that there “should be no restrictions on travel or trade with countries, areas and/or territories with Zika virus transmission”, tourists who are pregnant and who wish to alter their travel arrangements should be able to do so for free if they act quickly.

The Zika virus is mainly an issue for pregnant travellers, as, while it causes flu-like symptoms of fever and headaches in adults and children, it can be devastating for the human foetus – leading to babies born with defects that include abnormally small heads.

The majority of the big airlines have been united in their response to this threat – with British Airways allowing passengers a month-long window to reorder their travel plans.

A spokesperson for British Airways says: “If a pregnant customer is due to travel up to and including February 29, but they no longer wish to travel, they can change their booking free of charge, and delay their journey or amend to an alternative destination.”

“This applies to flights to Brazil, Mexico, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.”

This advice includes flights booked with affiliate airline Iberia.

Virgin Atlantic is taking a similar line, stating that “we are closely monitoring reports of cases of Zika virus in Barbados, Mexico and other destinations in the Caribbean and South America.” The airline is offering refunds to pregnant passengers due to fly to all affected destinations – including countries which it does not fly to directly, but offers connections to, such as Colombia, Panama and the United States territory of Puerto Rico.

Lufthansa has said that pregnant passengers and - unusually - their travelling companion, can alter an existing booking to any of the affected countries for free, stating that “this policy applies to all flights from or to Latin and Central America, and Caribbean countries, from January 28 until March 21 2016. Tickets must be issued on or before January 28 2016.”

This concession also applies to affiliated carriers Austrian Airlines and Swiss.

Airlines on the other side of the Atlantic have also reacted to the threat from the virus.

United Airlines has stated that “we are offering customers who are travelling to the affected regions the opportunity to rebook at a later date or receive a full refund.”

American Airlines is offering a full refund to pregnant passengers if they are flying to El Salvador, Honduras, Panama or Guatemala.

Delta says that pregnant customers can alter their flights to alternative destinations, change their dates or receive a refund – but “changes need to be made by February 29.”

Holiday companies are also responding to customers’ fears about the health scare – with Thomas Cook saying it will accept changes to existing bookings until the start of May.

“Thomas Cook is currently allowing amendments to an alternative destination for anyone who is pregnant and due to travel on a Thomas Cook charter holiday to the affected areas, up to and including April 30 2016,” a spokesperson says.

“We are contacting all customers due to travel to Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde, up to and including April 30, to advise them of the situation, and offer assistance – prioritising those departing over the next few days.”

Thomson has outlined a similar strategy, stating that “customers due to travel with us to Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia and Martinique, who would like to amend to an alternative destination, and have a doctor’s note confirming their pregnancy, can do so without incurring an amendment fee.”

Travel insurance policies should also shield holidaymakers from any costs of having to alter their plans due to the Zika situation – with policies purchased prior to the outbreak likely to offer cover. However, tourists also should check the small print on their policies.

“If one of our customers is currently pregnant and has booked a holiday to Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, St Martin, Suriname or Venezuela, they would be eligible to make a cancellation claim – as long as they purchased the policy before January 20,” advises Rob Clarkson of Post Office Money Insurance.

However, non-pregnant travellers may find that they are less protected in this scenario.

“If one of our customers is not pregnant then, as the Foreign Office has not advised against travel to this area, there would be no cover for cancellation,” Mr Clarkson adds.

“It is important that any customers planning on holidaying in countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks do their research before they travel, and take all necessary precautions.”

Byron Shirto, chairman of the Latin America Travel Association, says: “In line with the current recommendations of the Foreign Office and National Health Network and Centre (NHNC), we would advise pregnant travellers to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are currently reported available via the Pan European Health Organisation to consult a health professional prior to travel."

ANGUA & BARBUDA: A&B Tourism Goes Down While Caribbean Increases

Amidst record growth in Caribbean tourism arrivals during 2015, Antigua & Barbuda had the greatest reduction in tourist arrivals among its neighbouring OECS states.

This was indicated by the State of the Tourism Industry Report presented yesterday by the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).

In the Eastern Caribbean, apart from Dominica, which had a decline of 0.3 per cent arrivals to other OECS states increased by an average of 4 per cent, while arrivals to Antigua & Barbuda declined by 0.5 per cent.

Arrivals to Caribbean region rose overall by 7 per cent in 2015, exceeding the CTO’s previous projection of 4 per cent, and totaling 28.7 million visits.

This makes 2015 the sixth consecutive year of growth for the industry.

Approximately US $30 billion was spent throughout the region by visitors in 2014.

Hugh Riley, secretary general of the CTO, said, “For the first time ever, the pace of growth of Caribbean tourism out performed every major tourism region in the world.”

The critical drivers behind the increases in arrivals are stated by the report to be increased airline capacity, economic recovery in the United States (US) and other main markets, and a rapid decline in global oil prices.

From the US market, there was a 6.3 per cent increase in arrivals, which accounted for around half of total regional visitors. Arrivals from the European market rose by 4.2 per cent, and from the South American market came the highest rate of growth of 18.3 per cent. Caribbean intra-regional travel also spiked in 2015, rising by 11.4 per cent to 1.7 million visitors.

While the region enjoys what appears to be continuous growth, the report cautioned that new developments such as the threat posed by the Zika virus, economic decline in China, Brazil and Venezuela, will pose obstacles to growth in the future.

Nevertheless the CTO indicated that it is confident the region will soon meet the mark of 30 million visitors, a target the organisation set several years ago and forecasts a minimum of a 4.5 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in 2016.

USA: U.S. Airlines Refund Tickets For Pregnant Passengers Travelling Zika Regions.

Two major U.S. airlines are offering refunds to passengers worried about the Zika virus outbreak in many tropical countries.

United Airlines says customers booked to fly to areas affected by the virus can reschedule or get refunds. American Airlines says it will give refunds to pregnant women who were planning to travel to parts of Central America.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned pregnant women to take precautions against mosquito bites when traveling to areas in Latin America and the Caribbean where there have been Zika outbreaks. The CDC says the mosquito-borne illness could be linked to a birth defect of the brain.

The United Airlines offer began Tuesday and includes any country covered by a CDC travel notice, an airline spokesman said. American Airlines began refunds Monday for pregnant passengers holding tickets to El Salvador, Honduras, Panama or Guatemala, according to a spokesman.

A spokesman for Delta Air Lines said the carrier was monitoring the situation but not yet offering waivers. JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines were not immediately able to say whether they were offering refunds. Southwest Airlines said it was sticking to its normal policy, which lets customers who cancel ahead of time reuse the value of their tickets. All of those airlines fly to at least some affected locations.

On Tuesday, the CDC expanded its travel alert for pregnant women to add the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic to the list of areas with Zika outbreaks. The CDC has already recommended that pregnant women consider postponing trips to 22 other destinations.

— In Central and South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela.

— In the Caribbean: Barbados, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Martin and Puerto Rico.

— And Cape Verde, off the coast of western Africa, and Samoa in the South Pacific.

VENEZUELA: A Country That Offers Paradise For $20 US Dollars

Fears of being kidnapped or not finding toilet paper are not much of an incentive for a holiday in Venezuela.

Yet hardy travelers undeterred by the tales - real and exaggerated - of crime and shortages are finding the South American nation an absurdly cheap destination.

That is thanks to exchange controls skewing the economy in favor of anyone with foreign currency, meaning you can hire a boat to a Caribbean island for $15 a day, or trek through Andean mountains or Amazon jungle for a week, with porters, at $125.

A decent hostel at a popular beach may cost $5 a night, while two people can have a three-course meal with wine for $10.

"It's crazy! This beer is costing me just a few pennies," said a tourist clad in sunglasses and clutching a local Polar beer on a stunning white-sand beach with his girlfriend at Los Roques archipelago in the Caribbean.

Even at a bumped-up 90 bolivars due to the exclusive island location, a beer here costs just $0.22 (or 15 pence for Britons like Napier) at the black market rate most foreigners change on.

Many are wise to the situation so they look for not so surreptitious money-changers as soon as they land in Venezuela, or make arrangements ahead.

Venezuela's largest denomination note is 100 bolivars - about 25 U.S. cents. Amazed at the sheer quantity of notes they receive, visitors find where to keep them the biggest problem.

"You simply can't carry enough cash with you, that's the main restriction to spending!" added Napier, saying he "felt like a drug-dealer" after wiring money in advance to Panama in order to be given bolivars by a contact in Venezuela.

Despite the currency bonanza, tourists are hardly flocking to Venezuela. There were just under 1 million arrivals last year, four times fewer than neighboring Colombia which is successfully marketing itself despite decades of drug wars and a Marxist insurgency.

In Venezuela, it's the frightening level of crime that mainly puts people off, plus acute shortages of basic products from milk to diapers.

"You're bombarded with this idea you can't go out on the street," said Argentine Juan Suso, 31, who ignored advice at home and in Venezuela to enjoy a few days walking round Caracas before going to Los Roques with a guitar on his back.

"People should come. It's so cheap, it's ridiculous. Even with our devalued currency in Argentina, it still works out such good value," he added, saying meals out in Caracas were a quarter of the cost in Buenos Aires.

The giveaway prices in Venezuela for foreigners are a recent phenomenon: the black market price of a U.S. dollar has shot up nearly six-fold from 70 bolivars to over 400 in the last year.

The government is unable to meet demand at official exchange rates, which range from 6.3 to 200 bolivars per dollar, so the black market satisfies those prepared to pay a hefty premium.

In contrast with tourists, Venezuelans' purchasing power has fallen as wage rises cannot match inflation of 68 percent in 2014 and widely forecast to hit triple digits this year.

Shopping for basic food and goods has become a daily struggle for many locals - let alone the sort of exotic holidays foreigners are enjoying in their country.

"There is no other country in the world in this situation. It's very sad," lamented Napier's Venezuelan girlfriend Aiskel Rendon, 31, a tax analyst who also lives in England.

Not surprisingly, there is a buzz about Venezuela on the backpackers' circuit. Young budget travelers recommend it as one of the world's cheapest spots - and post photos of themselves with huge wads of cash to prove it.

Will Hatton, 26, who runs a blog called "The Broke Backpacker", criss-crossed Venezuela for a month earlier this year, spending about $300 in total as he visited some of its most exotic places like the table-topped Roraima mountain.

Changing money on dodgy corners, and once counting hundreds of bills in a bathroom, Hatton's spending included three internal flights and two guided trekking tours for his $300.

"You pay $1 and you get a really nice meal. If you shell out $20, you're paragliding in the morning and kayaking in the afternoon!" said Hatton, who recounted his Venezuela experiences at thebrokebackpacker.com.

Another recent visitor, travel broadcaster Simon Parker, showed himself in a mini-documentary at a souvenir market marveling at the prices. A traditional small guitar? Less than $2. Straw hat? $2.50. Terra-cotta football? $1.

"At first I was unsure if this is the 'done thing' and the ethical issues surrounding buying currency in this way, but it turned out that everyone was at it; both locals and foreigners," he said of Venezuela's currency black market.

Back at Los Roques, a group of Argentine pensioners were off to snorkel in the shallows with a local guide, after a boat-ride across azure waters from the island where they were staying. Including breakfast and some mid-morning drinks in a cooler, their total layout that morning was minimal.

"We're in paradise for $20!" shouted one, before ducking under the water.

ARGENTINA: Aerolineas Argentinas Shows 11% Decline In Seat Capacity To Europe; El Calafate Is Airline’s Fastest Growing Airport

The latest route launch by Aerolineas Argentinas was on 4 July from Cordoba to Miami. The route is currently the only international route for the airline out of Argentina’s second city. The airline also operates services

Argentina is South America’s third largest country after Brazil and Columbia in relation to population, with a total of approximately 43 million people. The national flag carrier for the nation is Aerolineas Argentinas. Founded on 7 December 1950, the airline has two core hubs, both situated in the capital of Buenos Aires. Ezeiza Airport is the hub for international and long-haul services, while Buenos Aires Aeroparque’s operation is concentrated around domestic services, although the airline does have a few short-haul international routes to fellow neighbouring countries from the airport.

Venezuela sees biggest growth

For 2015, Aerolineas Argentinas is recording an overall increase in seat capacity of just under 14% compared to the same period last year, with the fastest growing country market being Mexico, up 54%. The domestic market dominates the airline’s top 12, accounting for 85% of overall seat capacity. Incidentally, the domestic market (highlighted in light green) for the carrier has grown 15% in the past 12 months, while no new country markets have been added to the route network. Other countries showing a rise in capacity are Venezuela (45%), Peru (13%) and the US (9.4%). The largest declining market was Chile (-15%), followed by Spain and Italy (both -11%), the only European countries Aerolineas Argentinas serves. However, despite the variation in rises and declines in seat capacity, Venezuela is the only country to climb up the top 12 to eighth. All countries above eighth stayed in the same position, while others dropped one place as a result of Venezuela’s growth.

European decline

Of Aerolineas Argentinas’ top 12 airports (all in Argentina), only San Carlos Bariloche (highlighted in light green) showed a decline in seat capacity when compared with 2014 (-5.3%). The average growth of the airline’s top 12 airports is 16%, with El Calafate reporting the biggest rise (35%). For airports outside of South America, Miami’s seat capacity increased 13%, a result of the recently launched service to Cordoba, while New York JFK’s seat availability remained on a par to its 2014 level. Miami is also the top route in relation to weekly ASKs, reporting just over 30 million for the w/c 10 August, a rise of 12% on last year’s figures. Services to Europe however are at the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to those of the US, with Barcelona (-20%), Madrid (-5.2%), and Rome Fiumicino (-11%) all reporting declines in seat capacity, and a total combined loss of 5.7 million weekly ASKs to Argentina’s capital.

Only one long-haul route in top 12

After reporting that Miami has the largest ASKs of all of Argentinas Aerolineas’ routes, it’s of no surprise to see it appearing in the top 12 routes for seat capacity (highlighted in light green). The only other international route making the airline’s top 12 is the sector from Buenos Aires Aeroparque to Sao Paulo Guarulhos. In total the airline will serve 58 airports this summer, up from the 57 served last summer. The new addition to the airline’s network is Salvador in Brazil.

World's Unfriendliest & Friendliest Countries For Tourists

When traveling, some countries just don't like you. Or at least, it can certainly feel that way.

A new report, put out earlier this month by the World Economic Forum, has ranked which countries roll out the welcome mat to travelers and which give the cold shoulder.

The "Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013" ranked 140 countries according to attractiveness and competitiveness in the travel and tourism industries.

Unwelcoming

Among the extensive analyses, one of the most interesting rankings was how welcome tourists are in each country, under the category "Attitude of population toward foreign visitors."

And the world's most unfriendly country, according to the data?

Bolivia took the dubious honor, scoring a 4.1 out of seven on a scale of "very unwelcome" (0) to "very welcome" (7).

Venezuela and the Russian Federation were next.

Interestingly, despite their huge tourist arrivals, South Korea and China tied with four other countries for the eighth least friendly spot.

At the other end of the scale, Iceland and New Zealand were ranked the world's most welcoming nations for visitors.

You can see a top 10 for friendliest and unfriendliest at the bottom of this article.

Strengths and weaknesses

The "friendly" ranking was just one aspect of the report, analyzing each country's competitiveness in travel and tourism. That competitiveness is "based on the extent to which they are putting in place the factors and policies to make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism sector."

In the overall Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, Europe was the top region with the first five positions all held by European countries. Switzerland, Germany and Austria were the top three in that order. Switzerland has headed the ranking since the index began five years ago.

Excellent tourism infrastructure and facilities, business travel appeal, sustainable development of natural resources and rich cultural resources were among the key factors in landing the highest positions in the rankings.

Safety/security, underdeveloped infrastructure and concerns about sustainable development were among the factors bringing down countries' competitiveness.

Haiti scored the lowest on the competitiveness index.

The United States (6th) topped the combined Americas, Singapore (10th) just pushed out Australia and New Zealand to lead the Asia Pacific region, the United Arab Emirates (28th) was the highest performer in the Middle East and the Seychelles (38th) overtook Mauritius to head Africa.

The report emphasized the need for continued development in the travel and tourism sector particularly for its role in job creation in a relatively stagnant global economy. The industry currently accounts for one in 11 jobs in the world.

The report used data compiled from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey and hard data from private sources and national and international agencies and organizations such as the ICAO, IATA, UNWTO, World Bank/International Finance Corporation, IUCN, WHO and UNESCO.

Attitude of population toward foreign visitors
(1 = very unwelcome; 7 = very welcome)

Friendliest

1. Iceland 6.8
2. New Zealand 6.8
3. Morocco 6.7
4. Macedonia, FYR 6.7
5. Austria 6.7
6. Senegal 6.7
7. Portugal 6.6
8. Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.6
9. Ireland 6.6
10. Burkina Faso 6.6

Unfriendliest

1. Bolivia 4.1
2. Venezuela 4.5
3. Russian Federation 5.0
4. Kuwait 5.2
5. Latvia 5.2
6. Iran 5.2
7. Pakistan 5.3
8. Slovak Republic 5.5
9. Bulgaria 5.5
10. Mongolia 5.5

VENEZUELA: Venezuela-Colombia Border Closed

Venezuela's president has escalated his country's dispute with Colombia by expanding the partial closure of their shared border to four new frontier towns.

More towns partially closed by President Maduro as part of crackdown in response to attack on anti-smuggling patrol.

Acting again a day after the two countries recalled their ambassadors, Nicolas Maduro extended on Friday the border closure, which originally applied to a heavily trafficked stretch of border comprising six towns.

Venezuela and Colombia have been locked in a diplomatic row since Maduro closed part of the border last week after unidentified assailants attacked a Venezuelan anti-smuggling patrol, wounding three soldiers and a civilian.

He blamed the attack on right-wing paramilitaries from Colombia.

Venezuelan officials have deported more than 1,000 Colombian migrants and another 5,000 have left voluntarily, with some carrying all of their belongings across a muddy river.

"To clean up paramilitary activity, crime, smuggling, kidnapping and drug trafficking, I have decided to close the border for zone number two in the state of Tachira," Maduro said in a speech in Caracas on Friday.

He said he was sending 3,000 troops to "search high and low for paramilitaries, even under rocks".

He said he was open to meeting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to discuss the mounting tensions wherever and whenever his counterpart chooses, but was leaving the next day for a trip to Asia.

'Attack on economy'

Maduro accused Colombia of waging "an attack on Venezuela's economy" - a reference to the rampant smuggling of heavily subsidised food and other goods out of Venezuela, where more than five million Colombians live.

In Caracas, thousands of government supporters created traffic jams on Friday as they marched to the presidential palace in support of the new measures, which they said were not aimed at Colombian migrants themselves.

Maduro danced on stage to live music and told cheering supporters that he had waited long enough for Colombia to rein in the violence and crime seeping over the border.

However, the UN high commissioner for human rights called on both sides to work to resolve the crisis, and put extra emphasis on Venezuela's responsibilities.

"We urge the Venezuelan authorities to ensure that the human rights of all affected individuals are fully respected, particularly in the context of any deportations," said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

A meeting of the two countries' foreign ministers on Wednesday failed to bear fruit, and on Thursday both countries recalled their ambassadors for consultations, the diplomatic equivalent of lodging a complaint.

Santos has called for an emergency meeting of the Union of South American Nations and the Organisation of American States (OAS), saying: "We want to tell the world what is happening."

The OAS is expected to meet to discuss the situation next week.

The porous, 2,200km border has long been rife with fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN), as well as drug gangs and smugglers.

The Colombian gangs include the remnants of right-wing paramilitary groups that once battled FARC and ELN fighters but were disbanded a decade ago.

FARC issued a statement from Havana, Cuba, where it is negotiating a peace deal, saying it supported Venezuela's actions.

Maduro blames Colombian smuggling for severe shortages of basic goods in Venezuela, a problem that led to violent protests in the country last year.

Venezuela has long used its oil wealth to fund price controls that keep goods like rice and toilet paper up to 10 times cheaper than in Colombia.