By: Luz Marina Fornieles Sánchez

Cuba is in fine conditions of achieving the prediction of receiving on December 31st a million 900 000 tourists, what represents a 12,5% growing in comparison to the real growing in the same preceding stage.

Up to date the arrivals from Canada have been favorable, a country responsible for almost the 20% of the total emission received, to what we must add the overall fine performance in European markets from where the 55% is originated.

Year 2003 proved the vitality of the strategy, reaching greater profits by tourist-day and reduce in unison the costs without affecting therefore the quality of the product, but with a superior efficiency.

He equally ratified the role, the policy of working for the diversification of markets, the poles, the foreign operating chains, the spaces and motivations to come, still lead today in a 70% by the sun and beach tourism.

The development of the tourism sector in the Island has been the most dynamic of the entire western hemisphere by receiving 15 million visitors in the last 13 years. A decade ago it was on place 23rd among the main destinies in America now occupies the ninth place when it is chosen by the 10% of vacationers coming to the Caribbean.

According to official reports it grows in a 14% the rate of those who chose Cuba in year 2003 as a tourism destiny and the profits went up 19, 2%.

The permanent study of the natural potential has allowed to identify 93 zones where a potential of 207 500 locations can be built, the major portion distributed in eight tourism regions (Havana, Varadero, Camagüey, Holguín, Sancti Spíritus and Cienfuegos South coasts, Santiago de Cuba, the Archipelago of Canarreos, and the keys on the North of Villa Clara and Ciego de Ávila).

At present there are 12 mixed enterprises operating 4 700 rooms and for year 2006 it will increase with the building sites under construction up to 7 600. Likewise at the moment 16 international companies that administrate and commercialize with more than 50 hotels with 18 000 rooms under exploitation.

In the greatest of Antilles, the tourism industry is the most dynamic of its economy and the headstrong evolution in the 90´s became precisely one of the leading elements in the process of reanimation of the autochthonous economy.

Growing contribution has had in his turn the payment balance which went from 4% in 1990 to 41% in 2001, with an increase of the yearly average rate of 28%. The hotel sector in 1990-2003 witnessed the transition of an infrastructure of 12 900 to more than 40 000 rooms. Today domestic economy covers the 70% of its requirements (in year 1990 was only the 12%).

With competitive advantages over their adjacent island territories, and exhibiting attributes like hospitality, safety, nature, flora, fauna, history, culture, architecture and the quality of its installations including 11 international air-terminals where planes from 70 foreign airlines land.

Main feature in the service economy, the international tourism constitute a sample of sustainable advance for being able to combine social, economic and environmental objectives treated as priority in Cuba.

(Taken from: Cubasí)