Cuban Tourism Grows Despite U.S. Blockade

Panama (Prensa Latina) Despite the blockade and strong pressure from the United States, Cuba is cautiously and humbly developing sustainable tourism, with about five million visitors, said Xiomara Martínez, a tourism official on the island.

In an interview with Prensa Latina, the tourism minister for Mexico and Central America recalled that, despite the effects on the supply of resources, the Caribbean nation has maintained sustained growth.

He clarified that the largest of the Antilles does not make investments for a specific market, but for the world, and in that sense he listed all those currently being developed in Havana, associated with the celebration of its five centuries of existence, the coming November 16.

Havana’s 500 years do not end this year, but continue to strengthen until 2021, because many investments are being made such as hotels, among them the Packard, a ruined building that today is an architectural wonder, given the reconstruction work,’ he said.

In addition to this, there is the Paseo del Prado, which has so much history and legends; and the rescue of heritage hotels in the historical center, the Malecon, traditional festivals such as the Bolero and Danzón festivals, apart from the carnival in August, added the official, who considers Havana’s 500 years a great event for the Cuban people, the Havana people and those who visit the island.

The tourist who travels to Cuba today is not only looking for sun and beach, because Cuba is more than that; the tourist is also looking for culture, gourmet, exchange and atmosphere with its people, as it is the greatest wealth that Cuba has. This captivates tourists and makes them feel at home,’ he said.

Tourists also demand the rich tradDespite the blockade and strong pressure from the United States, Cuba is cautiously and humbly developing sustainable tourism, with about five million visitorsitional food, its emblematic places such as Cabaret Tropicana and Parisien, and Havana nights, because they are seduced by the atmosphere and cultural strength, he said.

Referring to the strategies of the Ministry of Tourism, Martinez said Cuba will continue to strengthen the quality of services, with a view to meeting at least 90 percent of the expectations of customers.

Today there is a strong diversity of complementary services to tourism such as private restaurants that offer typical foods, which are developed by Cuban entrepreneurs, which highlight the flavor and rich culinary tradition of the island,’ he said.

Martínez explained that in addition to sun and beach tourism, events, congresses and meetings, the West Indian nation is developing one associated with the heritage circuits of cities that today preserve their culture, rooted for more than 500 years.

In that case Baracoa, the first village founded by the Spaniards; Bayamo, Camagüey, Sancti Spíritus, Trinidad, Remedios, Santiago de Cuba and Havana stand out.

TOURISM FROM MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA INCREASES

More than 170,000 Mexicans visited the Caribbean nation at the end of 2018, for a growth of 26.5 percent, while from Panama the movement of Central American tourists represented an increase of almost 10.5 percent.

He said that Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama are the main emitters from the sub-region, where there is an aerial platform that connects Havana and other cities.

He recalled that Nicaragua currently has good connectivity with the airline Viasa, which has four weekly frequencies to the Cuban capital.

Meanwhile, Panama continues to be the most important air link, with eight daily flights to Havana, two a week to the eastern province of Holguín and four to the central city of Santa Clara, while creating the conditions for a direct connection with Santiago de Cuba, in the east of the island, he said.

Martínez, who attended the recently concluded tenth International Tourism Expo, explained that the Panamanians still do not travel massively to the Antillean country, but rather to participate in events and congresses, however, a significant share of Central American tourists are moving.

Therefore, we work the market with a commercial strategy that involves traditional partners, specialized press, travel agents and tour operators, he said.

Referring to his participation in the fair, he said that the fundamental interest was to promote the 500 years of Havana, one of the seven heritage towns of the largest of the Antilles, which joins the celebrations for the same celebration of the Panamanian capital, founded on August 15, 1519.

Cuba has heritage cities that are a perfect combination for cultural circuits and legends.

(Taken from PL in Spanish)