Country's culture and nature are seen as major tourist draws for Canadians
IAN STALKER
Cuban tourism officials are inviting a rebounding number of Canadian vacationers to soak up some sun, some sand, some sea and some salsa as well during their stays on the island.
Cuban tourism minister Juan Carlos Garcia Granda told a Canadian group during the 42nd annual tourism show FITCuba last week that the Caribbean country’s beaches continue to be the mainstay of its tourism trade.
“The main market will be beach and sun,” he said at the show, held on Cayo Coco, one of a number of islands developed off Cuba’s north coast for tourism. “But we’re going to combine this with cultural products and nature products.”
Cuba promotes itself as a distinctive destination that has its own culture, underscored by such dance expressions as salsa that have built a worldwide following.
The Caribbean’s largest island is also working to attract nature and history enthusiasts, noting it has UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among them Old Havana.
Tourism authorities say Cuban tourism has well been recovering from the dark days of the pandemic, citing the Canadian market, with 900,000 Canadians visiting Cuba last year and tourism authorities hoping for a million or more of us this year.
Cuba adds that it’s continually broadening its tourism reach, underscored by this year’s FITCuba attracting delegates from 68 countries, and next year’s show featuring China as the guest country. Cuba has been cultivating the Chinese market in recent years.
Ongoing tourism development in the country means Cuba now has some 83, 517 hotel rooms. That development was underscored by FITCuba’s host hotel coming under the Melia umbrella the very day the show opened.
Melia has the largest Cuban presence of any foreign hotel company and joined Iberostar and Blue Diamond in being recognized by the Cuban government during the opening ceremony for their contributions to Cuban tourism.
The Cuban economy has struggled in the past few years, with Cubans having had to cope with the likes of fuel shortages. There have been complaints of uneven quality in the tourism experience, with Garcia Granda stating that his government is committed to tackling them and creating “the best quality destination in the area… We’re working really hard and you’re going to see the changes really soon.”
Tourism officials are planning a Canadian visit to update travel agents on developments.
Meanwhile, Garcia Granda used the opening ceremony to promote Cayo Coco and other nearby islands that collectively make up Jardines del Rey, with the tourism minister telling show delegates that they were in a region that provides a “paradise of beaches.”
Next year’s show edition of FITCuba will be in Havana.
