Still Good News for Cuban Tourism
Havana, Mar 31. – With the opening of another air connection from Colombia to Havana, the Cuban tourism industry scores another goal with the upcoming aspiration to close this year with 2.9 million foreign visitors.
A report by the Tourism Ministry (Mintur) underlined the novelty with a flight of Colombian airline Avianca-Taca to link Bogota with Havana directly and widen the contacts between Latin America and the Caribbean.
The flight, from the airport of El Dorado, will have two weekly flights in planes type A319, with a capacity for 120 passengers.
The flight will favour flights from and to other Colombian cities, such as Cali and Cartagena, and other capitals such as Caracas, Quito, Panama and Sao Paulo.
This facility will provide the Colombian market access to that destination, when in the 11 most recent years that source meant for Cuba a 2.5 percent rise.
Last year, Colombia sent to this island more than 24,000 tourists, an increase of 20.6 percent compared to 2010 and local authorities hope to conclude this year with 28,000 Colombians.
This new link joins the figure of four percent rise for the Cuban tourist industry during the first quarter of this year and keeps this sector in levels of promotion.
At the time, the First Deputy Minister of Tourism Alexis Trujillo, welcomed the rise of the leisure industry for this country.
He noted that in the project it appears the construction of 25,000 new hotel rooms by 2020, though at present there are 58 000, most four and five stars.
Trujillo said that 2011 was a good year for tourism with attention to more than 2.7 million foreign visitors and an increase of seven percent compared to 2010.
Other potential reiterated by the authorities fall on greater attention to golf with the agreement to build 13 new fields of sport and the assembly of several thematic parks..
He noted that project contemplates the construction of 25 thousand new hotel rooms by 2020, though at present are listed 58 000, most four and five stars hotels.
Trujillo said that 2011 was a good year for tourism with attention to more than 2.7 million foreign visitors and an increase of seven percent compared to 2010.
Other potential reiterated by the authorities fall on greater attention to golf with the agreement to build 13 new fields of sport and the assembly of several thematic parks.
Since 1990 Cuba shows a yearly growth average of 10.5 percent in terms of tourism, from 2.43 million visitors in 2009, 2.5 million in 2010 and 2. 716 million last year.
However, the higher boost can be given by the government strategy to diversify the offer, without leaving the sun and beach mode characterizing Cuba.
It includes nature, culture, music, tourism, health and quality of life, congresses and business, among many others, and a greater connection to the rest of the area through the concept of multicast destination.
Some sources are growing, as is the case with the Russians and Argentines with increases respectively of 40 and 30 percent, and highlights the UK, Germany and France.()(Prensa Latina)
