T O U R I S M
February 6, 2006
Spanish tourism to Cuba grew by 33% in 2005 http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/febrero/lun6/07espa%F1oles.html
SPAIN remained the third issuing country of tourists to Cuba during 2005, a year in which a total of 194,102 Spaniards visited the island, 33% more than during 2004, reported Manuel Marrero, Cuban minister of tourism, during the 2006 International Tourism Fair (FITUR).
Marrero also said that Cuba received a total of 2.3 million tourists during 2005, which represents an increase of 13.2% over 2004, in spite of it being an unfavorable year due to the hurricanes that lashed the Caribbean.
The Cuban minister noted that the growth in tourism to Cuba, eighth on a world scale, is due to its ample air capacity, as well as the variety of its tourism infrastructure, which features first-class hotel options.
Marrero specified that the island has 50 hotels managed by 12 foreign chains, nine of them Spanish. He explained that the dynamic of sustained general progress to this destination is encouraging for international airlines, 92 of which fly to Cuba.
The minister expressed satisfaction over last year's performance, although he noted that the figures could increase considerably if the U.S. market were available.
He said that the blockade currently enforced by the Bush Administration limits relations with U.S. tourism businesses.
However, Marrero emphasized the firmness and support of "other friendly countries" who "continue to have confidence in and do business with us." Among these friends, he noted the importance of the Spanish market, with more than 25 tour operators. "The great acceptance of this destination among Spaniards has its roots in the historical and cultural ties uniting the two nations," he affirmed.
Editor-in-chief: Lázaro Barredo Medina / Editor: Gabriel Molina Franchossi HOSPEDAJE: Teledatos-Cubaweb
Granma International: http://www.granma.cu/ Also at: http://granmai.cubaweb.com/ http://www.granmai.cubasi.cu
© Copyright. 1996-2006. All rights reserved. GRANMA INTERNATIONAL/ONLINE EDITION. Cuba.