Cuba expects to welcome 5 mln tourists this year

Monday, January 15, 2018

Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said that 2018 will be the year of the five million tourists and it will be a year of major investments in tourism too.

Cuba is pinning hopes on setting a new record in tourism by receiving five million foreign visitors this year.

Around 224 new hotels will be built along with the expansion of another 32 establishments with high occupancy rates, to boost visitor numbers as per the government’s 2030 tourism development plan.

At present Cuba’s tourism industry offers 68,000 hotel rooms, and the plan calls for raising that figure to 103,000.Another 21,000 rooms are available at private homes catering to tourists.

Cuba welcomed 4.7 million tourists, 16.5 percent more than the year before in 2017.

Cuba’s recent tourism boom was fueled largely by Havana’s much celebrated rapprochement with Washington under then U.S. President Barrack Obama.

With immense growth rate Cuba will easily be able to break through the 5 million barrier.

After the restoration of diplomatic ties between the former Cold War foes, U.S. tourism to Cuba spiked as travel restrictions were relaxed to reflect friendlier ties.

The  direct flights once again linked the two nations.

Cuba saw 579,288 visitors from the United States an increase of nearly 250 percent over 2016.Under the administration of President Donald Trump the U.S. foreign policy  took a 180-degree turn.

The  bilateral ties were once again tensed and travel restrictions were reimposed

Washington accused Havana of bizarre “acoustic attacks” on its diplomatic personnel, which investigators from both countries have been unable to prove.

However, the  unverified attacks were used as a pretext by the U.S. State Department and this week warned Americans against traveling to Cuba.

Despite this Cuba’s tourism sector remains upbeat, inviting investors to take part in the growing industry through a portfolio of projects.

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