Cuba
in China’s Sight as Tourism Destination
Cubasi
September 3, 2004
Cuba’s
hotel infrastructure, featuring 26,000 four-and five-star rooms, and
transportation facilities through eleven international airports, was
highlighted in a dynamic and broad gathering held at the Cuban embassy
in the Chinese capital.
According to a Prensa Latina dispatch, the report was exposed by Omar
Pereira, Chargé d’ Consular Affaires of the Caribbean
diplomatic legation in Beijing.
The diplomat underscored the Island’s prospects to receive 2,3
million vacationers in 2005, out of the 18,9 million that would come
to both Central America and the Caribbean, figure that excludes US
travelers, who are banned from traveling to the largest Antillean
nation by the George W. Bush administration.
Pereira recalled that on July 2003 China granted Cuba the Approved
Destination Status (ADS) for its nationals, the first in Latin America,
and revealed that negotiations to establish direct air flights between
the two countries are currently underway.
He also said that the local authorities are working in the preparation
of infrastructures and specialized personnel to assist the Chinese
travelers, and are negotiating the creation of a Cuban-Chinese joint
company.
The Cuban diplomatic official added that the aforementioned joint
venture targets multidestinations in the Caribbean and other Latin
American countries, given that for its geographical position, the
island constitutes a strategic marketplace to develop the Chinese
tourism towards the region.
In that context, Juan Enrique Herrera, manager of Cubanacán
Travel Agency’s office in Beijing, explained the company is
making a product aimed at meeting the clients’ tastes, either
beach, ecologic or health tourism, among other modalities.
