International tourism in Cuba up 9.3

Joaquín Rivery Tur

CUBA’S international airports noted a 9.3% increase in international arrivals during the first month of the year, as compared to 2013.

In January 2014, landing on Cuban airstrips were 320,032 visitors from other countries, according to data released by the National Statistics and Information Office (ONEI), while 12 months ago, during the same period, 292,810 persons arrived, attracted by the island’s beauty, culture, history, nature and the hospitality of its people.

Citing figures supplied by the country’s Immigration and Foreign Visitors department, ONEI indicated that the greatest number of travelers arrived from Canada, some 156,856 persons, reflecting an additional 19,139 from this country as compared to last year, a 14% increase.

Some 11,699 more Italian visitors arrived in January, a 16.3% increase over 2014, while 8% more German tourists arrived, 11,479 additional persons.

Approximately 11,000 more tourists from France were accommodated at the country’s main tourist resorts, with significant increases in visits from a number of other nations, particularly Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Russia and Venezuela. Modest increases were observed in tourism from Chile, Colombia, Holland, Switzerland, China, Peru and Brazil.

Virtually all markets have shown sustained growth, reflecting growing interest in various Cuban options, ranging from stays at traditional beach resorts to tours focused on the island’s historical cities, wetlands and nature in general.

During 2013, the Cuban archipelago, which includes some 1,600 cays and islets featuring unique ecosystems, experienced a modest .5% increase in visits, with Canada, Britain and Germany contributing the most to the increase, while Mexico, with a total of almost 85,000 visitors, reflected growth among Latin American countries.

Among the most outstanding destinations were the city of Havana, the beaches of Varadero and Jardines del Rey, a string of small cays located off the central portion of the island’s northern coast. Some 39 weekly flights arrive here and the number of tourists accommodated has grown rapidly, with more than 8,000 guests, both Cuban and international, staying at local hotels on one particular day in February. The number of persons occupying rooms increased by 25% that month, as compared to 2013.

There are 30 joint-venture hotel companies operating in Cuba, offering 6,000 guest rooms, while an additional 13 international hotel chains have 62 management and sales contracts with the country.