Ventura de Jesús García Gutiérrez

VARADERO.—For the seventh consecutive year, this famed Matanzas seaside resort welcomed 1 million tourists, from every corner of the world, reinforcing its position as a top tourist destination.

Varadero hit the million mark on Sunday, November 9, an event which was particularly celebrated in the Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport, since this time the achievement came 19 days earlier than last year.

I am very happy, the Canadian vacationer, Robert Desrosier, said, excited by the reception he and his wife, Diane Lapierre, received at the airport

Ivis Fernández, MINTUR representative in the province of Matanzas, travelled to the airport with other exectuives from the sector to welcome the visitors. This is the third time that the couple is visiting the famous location, and on this occasion they intend to stay at the Melia Las Americas Hotel.

This season, Canada is once again the main market for Cuban tourism, with 38.8% of visitors coming from the country, an increase of 3.4% compared to 2013.

Commercial activities undertaken abroad have ensured this advance at the beginning of the 2014- 2015 high season.

A series of improvements on several fronts in Varadero have been made, to ensure the successful operation of tourist facilities this winter.

With 50 hotels and more than 20,000 rooms, Varadero receives a third of all tourists arriving in the country each year. Vacationers appreciate the welcome and good service they receive from employees, and especially the benefits of a peaceful, healthy, safe and secure holiday.