May 7, 2014
General Secretary of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taleb Rifa, extolled the development of the so-called industry without chimneys in Cuba and the authorities’ stratergy for the future.
Taleb Rifa is attending the International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2014), a major event of the sector in the Caribbean.
FITCuba 2014, running on May 6-10, opened sessions at Hall 1930 of the National Hotel of Cuba.
Taleb Rifa attended later the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the fair at the Morro-Cabana Complex.
He said that Cuba constitutes an example to this industry and the world for its success with an upward trend leading it to cater for over two million visitors.
He said this is a high growth of the country through strategies including a diversification of the product, not only promoting the sun and beach modality.
He cited four main problems to be solved and taken into account, like the connectivity in the islands, and said direct New York-Havana flights should exist and tourism should not be influenced by politics-related issues.
French Secretary of State of Foreign Trade, Tourism Promotion and French People Abroad, Fleur Pellerin, is also attended the fair along with experts and figures, as France is the country guest of honor at the fair.
In his opening speech, Minister of Tourism of Cuba, Manuel Marrero, highlighted the growth of the sector and the lcountry’s atest advances, including nine sirtes declared World Cultutral Heritage by UNESCO, 257 national monuments and 332 museus, besides excellent beaches and natural sceneries.
He noted that Cuba received 2.8 million visitors last year, with Canada as main topurist sending country (more than one million travellers) followed by Britain, Germany and France.
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Marrero added that the country has 15 hotels (a total of 5, 600 rooms) and plans to construct over 10,000 rooms more.
He said many foreign visitors highlight in surveys that the key of Cuban tourism relies on the country’s culture, people and security.
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