Cubagob.cu
2004

Tourism is not a new business in Cuba. As in the rest of the world, it had its boom from the 1950’s on. At that time, the tourist development was closely linked to the American mafia operations in the biggest of the Antilles. Therefore, the United States was the main market, and gambling and prostitution were the island’s prime offerings. This city tourism focused mainly in the Havana meant a scarce development of our natural tourism product at that stage.

With the triumph of the Revolution, the U.S. economic blockade began and tourism from the United States was eliminated.

From 1959 on, the economic development was centered on other programs important for the country, and the tourism was mainly domestic, and therefore the number and quality of hotel rooms was not competitive internationally.

In the ’80s, international tourism was reopened, but it was not until 1990 that there was a new approach to the development of the sector, with the creation of the first joint ventures and increased growth in the number of visitors and income from tourism.

Since 1996, when for the first time the figure of one million visitors was surpassed, Cuba proposed itself to become a worldwide destination as well as one of the Caribbean regions. In the first years of the coming century, Cuba hopes to receive 7 million visitors and have 125,000 hotel rooms.

To market its tourism product, Cuba has among its assets the hospitality and warmth of its people, very unique natural attractions, its own historical heritage, a rich cultural life, unique public health services and political stability and safety for the tourists.

MINTUR (Ministry of Tourism)

Decree-Law 147, regarding the modification of the central state administrative bodies, on April 21st, 1994, the Ministry of Tourism was created to fulfill the guiding functions of political direction, regulation and control of the sector, as well as the business activities within it.

MINTUR is the state body ruling the tourism system, in which other entities of the country also participate. MINTUR elaborates policy and checks its implementation in the entities, which directly manage the properties of the sector. Its present strategic objectives are the following:

Designing and developing more efficient marketing of the tourism product

Increasing and diversifying tourism options, making them more competitive

Remodeling and increasing room capacity

Increasing the tourism system’s economic efficiency

Bringing computer and communications systems to the most advanced levels

Incorporating more foreign capital into the sector

Broadening the perspectives of tourism development through the year 2010, as well as adjusting the organizational structures to the pace of that development

STRUCTURE OF MINTUR

To fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it, the Ministry of Tourism has adopted a flexible structure.

The Ministry has two levels of management: the first one is composed of the minister and vice ministers and the second one is composed of the officials in charge of the different work areas such as the secretariat, product quality, investments, negotiations, international relations, legal matters, development, commercial, informatics, promotion and advertising, economic analysis, administration and human resources.

In addition, the Ministry has delegates in the various territories and tourism resorts, specifically Pinar del Río, City of Havana, Havana, Matanzas, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.

In order to guaranty the training and upgrading of the sector’s personnel, with a view to assuring professionalism, quality and efficient services, the country has the National System for Professional Tourism Training (FORMATUR), composed of 19 schools throughout national territory.

Likewise, MINTUR has other entities, among them Publicitur (communication and advertising agency) and Fintur (financial bank for the sector).

MAIN TOURISM ENTITIES

In order to develop Cuba’s tourism in an integral manner, a system of hotel and non-hotel entities has been structured, as well as other autonomous and independent support agencies.

HOTEL ENTITIES:

Cubanacán S.A.: This Corporation is the leading tourism group in Cuba, in hotel and non-hotel operations, as well as other business within the sector, in terms of the volume of its investments, management contracts and marketing of its facilities, mostly in the 4- and 5-star categories.

Gran Caribe: This Corporation manages and markets its own facilities and those of third entities, under different modalities trademarks. It promotes event, congress and incentive tourism as well as food and beverage services, commercial and recreational services in its hotels and non-hotel properties, such as Tropicana cabaret and the Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio restaurants.

Horizontes: This hotel chain offers foreign visitors special health and physical and mental rehabilitation facilities, including spas and hot springs, under diverse modalities and categories.

Gaviota: This tourism group has among its objectives the promotion and marketing of hotel and tourism services, as well as some specialized facilities covering health, water sports, fishing, scuba and other different modalities.

Islazul: This hotel chain is devoted mostly to domestic tourism.

Habaguanex: This company which has manages all kinds of hotel and non-hotel facilities and industries, as well other activities related to tourism in the historic center of Old Havana.

Las Terrazas: A rural experience in sustainable development, with a view to providing and marketing services for mountain and ecological tourism. It is located at the Sierra del Rosario (Pinar del Río) a zone declared by the UNESCO as the first Biosphere Reservation in Cuba).

Grupo Empresarial Campismo Popular: Devoted to camping and eco tourism.

NON-HOTEL ENTITIES

Rumbos: This agency has the aim of satisfying tourists’ leisure and recreational needs non-hotel properties, offering varied activities and entertainment.

Cubatur: The leading professional travel agency for Cuba and other destinations. It also offers receiving and tour operator services.

Transtur: Provides transportation services for international tourism, specifically buses, vans, car rentals, taxis and any other form of transportation.

Turarte: Organizes various kinds of shows, in cabarets and other tourism facilities.

Caracol: A network of shops of all kinds for international tourism.

The regions prioritized for tourism development are:

Havana: Center of the country’s political, economical, cultural and social life. The colonial city, called Old Havana has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

Varadero: The country’s most important beach resort, considered its tourism capital. Close by is the Nature Park Península de Zapata.

Jardines del Rey: The most promising of the Cuban tourism destinations, it extends north from Caibarién (Villa Clara) to Camagüey. Within this region are included Cayo Santa María, Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.

North Camagüey: Santa Lucía beach is located here.

Northern Coast of Holguín: Several beautiful beaches, among them Guardalavaca, Esmeralda and Pesquero.

Santiago de Cuba: Historical and hospitable city, full of traditions, where Baconao Park is located.

South Central Coast: Defined by the cities of Cienfuegos and Trinidad, the later founded in 1515 and declared as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Los Canarreos: Includes Cayo Largo, the only island in the world with exclusive all-inclusive service.

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATIONS

Cuba is a member of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). Furthermore, it is working together with its Caribbean neighbors to make the region a single tourism destination. Part of this strategy is the creation of the Sustainable Tourism Zone, the first one in the world, approved by the Association of Caribbean States Summit. As for personnel training, it is also a member of the Pan-American Confederation of Hospitality and Tourism Schools (CONPEHT).