Cuba Expects To Receive 4.2 Million Tourists In 2017

Cuba Expects To Receive 4.2 Million Tourists In 2017 / 14ymedio

14ymedio, 19 January 2017 — Cuba is preparing to receive 4.2 million
foreign tourists in 2017, with priority for investments in new and
higher quality facilities for tourists, according to projections
announced Wednesday by management of the island's Ministry of Tourism
(Mintur).

Cuba's Deputy Minister for Tourism, Mayda Álvarez, speaking on a state
TV program dedicated to the sector, said that the record of 4 million
international visitors to the island in 2016 represented a growth of
14.5 percent compared to 2015, in a state television program dedicated
to the prospects from the sector.

But she noted that there "dissatisfactions" remain and there are
"challenges" to improving the quality of services, the effectiveness of
investments to ensure the vitality and image of tourist facilities,
improve marketing and achieve greater diversification of tourism products.

José Reinaldo Alonso, investment and development director of Mintur,
explained that among the plans this year is to promote activities linked
to nature, heritage and cultural tourism.

With regards to this, he mentioned that Cuba ended last year with 66,547
rooms, and expects to have an increase in capacity of another four
thousand in 2017.

Cuba closed last year with 66,547 rooms, and expects to have another
four thousand ready in 2017

The official said that by the year 2020 the country expects is expected
to add 20,000 new rooms to reach a total of 104,000 by 2030, in order to
meet the high demand in the main tourist centers of the Caribbean
country such as Havana, Varadero, Holguin, Cayería Norte and Trinidad.

He indicated that tourism is currently the sector with the largest
foreign investment, with 110 new projects approved. However he is
determined to streamline the bidding process and for this purpose has
introduced management contracts with financing.

Officials said that in the previous year's growth the North American
region remained the largest supplier of travelers to Cuba, with Canada
as the leader, followed by the United States; with the latter not having
eased travel restrictions and authorized direct commercial flights to
the island, although traveling to the island solely as a tourist is
still formally prohibited.

Source: Cuba Expects To Receive 4.2 Million Tourists In 2017 / 14ymedio
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