MIAMI, Estados Unidos. — En medio de la peor crisis económica y energética en lo que va de siglo, el régimen cubano dio inicio ayer a la Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITCuba 2023), que busca relanzar al país caribeño como destino turístico.

Las palabras de inauguración del evento —que tiene por sede al complejo Morro-Cabaña— estuvieron a cargo del primer ministro Manuel Marrero Cruz, quien quiso transmitir un mensaje de optimismo frente a empresarios y turoperadores de decenas de países.

En sus palabras, el alto funcionario hizo énfasis en las potencialidades del sector, cuyo desarrollo contribuirá “a mejorar la condiciones de vida de nuestro pueblo”.

“No alberguen la menor duda de que Cuba nunca les dará la espalda y que participar en el desarrollo del turismo cubano es contribuir a mejorar la condiciones de vida de nuestro pueblo”, dijo Marrero.

Según el régimen, “Cuba ha demostrado muchas veces que posee la capacidad para superar grandes desafíos, por muy difíciles que estos sean.

“Les reitero la seguridad de desarrollar un turismo competitivo, porque Cuba es única”, insistió el funcionario, quien por muchos años ejerció como ministro de Turismo en el país caribeño.

Marrero sostuvo que el turismo cubano enfrenta dificultades derivadas de la pandemia de COVID-19 y de el embargo estadounidense, los cuales “impactaron el normal desarrollo” del sector.

Pese a las constantes inversiones en hoteles e infraestructura turística, economistas cubanos consultados por la Agencia EFE ven como imposible la 3,5 millones de visitantes internacionales proyectada por el régimen debido a la grave crisis económica que atraviesa la Isla.

El pasado año Cuba recibió 1,6 millones de viajeros internacionales, por debajo de la meta de los 1,7 millones.

Al cierre de febrero de 2023, se contabilizaba el arribo de 489 000 visitantes foráneos a Cuba, de los cuales 252 650 procedían de Canadá. Se trata de una cifra discreta teniendo en cuenta que corresponde a la llamada temporada alta, coincidente con el invierno en el hemisferio norte.

MADRID, Spain. – During a press conference that took place last week at the Cuban Embassy in Madrid, Cuba’s Tourism advisor in Spain, Niurka Pérez Denis, stated that the island is ready to welcome cruise ships.

“We have all the health measures and the required infrastructure in place. The conditions have been readied for welcoming those ships,” added the official.

She also explained that Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba have already welcomed cruise ships from various destinations, although “not in the same volume as prior to the pandemic,” according to Excelencias magazine.

Early last March, with the arrival of the British cruise ship Marella Explorer 2 in Havana, Cuban authorities had indicated that they expected to revive this tourism segment of the travel market.

Also, last March, it was learnt that a federal judge in Miami ruled against cruise lines with links to South Florida, namely, Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises, due to their participation in “prohibited tourist activities” and “human traffic” by transporting passengers to Cuba and benefitting from the port installations in Havana that Fidel Castro’s government had confiscated.

The case will go to trial by jury this coming May, where damages the cruise ship companies will have to pay will be decided.

During the press conference, Pérez Denis insisted once again on the regime’s projections to welcome 2.5 million tourists in 2022. The statistics already show that the actual numbers will be much lower, especially due to the drop in the Russian market as a result of the cancellation of Russian airline flights due to the invasion of Ukraine. Russia is Cuba’s principal source of tourists.

As has been happening ever since the Cuban government announced the upcoming International Tourism Fair FITCuba-2022, this advisor again referred to this event as one to present to the world “the improvement to the tourism product that has resulted from investments in that sector that have accomplished 4,000 additional guest rooms in 4 and 5-star hotels.”

“As part of the Fair, we are developing a program that will not only address the “sun and beaches” aspect of tourism, but also cultural events, some of them to be held live and others dedicated to the business segment, in addition to a program for the airlines,” Pérez Denis explained.

Two weeks ago, Cuba’s Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, considered that FITCuba-2022 “is a great opportunity to highlight “the benefits and strengths of the sector in the country, and also reinforce the strategic nature of this industry to the Cuban economy.”

For Cruz Marrero, “the event will serve to tell the world that –in his opinion- the country is alive, it is resisting, and it is making progress.”

The prime minister also stated that Varadero, the fair’s headquarters, needs “a transformation,” “a night-life, discos, retail stores and stores with extended hours,” as well as “a redesign of its products” to “infuse new life to the city.”

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MADRID, España.- Durante una conferencia de prensa realizada esta semana en la Embajada de Cuba en Madrid, la Consejera de Turismo en España, Niurka Pérez Denis, destacó que la Isla está lista para recibir cruceros.

“Contamos con todas las medidas sanitarias y la infraestructura. Las condiciones están creadas para recibir las embarcaciones”, agregó la titular.

Además, explicó que La Habana, Cienfuegos y Santiago de Cuba ya han recibido cruceros de diferentes destinos, aunque “no en la misma cantidad que antes de la pandemia”, informó la revista Excelencias.

A comienzos de marzo pasado, con la llegada del crucero británico Marella Explorer 2 a La Habana, las autoridades cubanas habían señalado que esperaban iniciar la reanimación de esta modalidad turística.

Vale recordar que también en marzo pasado se conoció el fallo de una jueza federal de Miami contra las líneas de cruceros con vínculos en el sur de Florida Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean y MSC Cruises por participar en “actividades turísticas prohibidas” y “de tráfico” al transportar pasajeros a Cuba y beneficiarse del uso de las instalaciones portuarias de La Habana confiscadas por el gobierno de Fidel Castro.

El caso irá a un juicio con un jurado programado para mayo próximo, donde se decidirán los daños que deben pagar estas compañías de cruceros.

Durante la rueda de prensa Pérez Denis insistió una vez más en las pretensiones del régimen de recibir 2,5 millones de turistas durante el 2022, aunque las estadísticas muestren que la cifra será muy inferior, especialmente por la caída del mercado ruso, principal proveedor de turistas al país, debido a la cancelación de vuelos por parte de las aerolíneas rusas como consecuencia de la invasión a Ucrania.

Como ha estado ocurriendo desde que el Gobierno cubano anunciara la venidera Feria Internacional de Turismo FITCuba-2022, la Consejera volvió a referirse a este evento como una manera de presentar al mundo “la mejora del producto turístico a partir de las inversiones que se han realizado, con la introducción de 4 000 habitaciones más en hoteles cuatro y cinco estrellas”.

“Con la Feria se desarrolla también un programa dedicado no solo al producto de sol y playa, sino a toda la oferta cultural, una parte de ella en vivo, y otra dedicada al segmento de negocios, así como un programa para las líneas aéreas”, explicó.

La pasada semana, el primer ministro cubano, Manuel Marrero Cruz, consideró que FITCuba-2022 “es una gran oportunidad para mostrar las bondades y fortalezas del sector en el país y reforzar, a su vez, el carácter estratégico de esta industria en la economía cubana”.

Para Marrero Cruz “el evento servirá para decirle al mundo que —según él— el país está vivo, resiste y avanza”.

El primer ministro señaló también que Varadero, sede de la feria, necesita  “una transformación”, “vida nocturna, discotecas, puntos de venta y tiendas con horarios extendidos”, así como “el rediseño de los productos” para “darle más vida a la ciudad”.

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MADRID, Spain, – At this Monday’s Annual Evaluation Assembly of the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR, by its Spanish acronym), Cuban authorities insisted on the importance of the tourism sector for the country’s economy.

According to a report published by the official news medium Cubadebate, Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel referred to Cuba as “a politically stable country with public safety and epidemiological security,” and therefore “with potentials for developing tourism.”

Díaz-Canel, who insists on reaching 2.5 million tourists visiting the island in 2022, considered essential factors “talent, innovation and individual effort” for the recovery of this sector; as well as “to develop strategies to counteract the effects of the tightening of the embargo, of evil imperialist aggression and of the pandemic.”

Cuba’s president also referred to the dynamics of investment in the country in recent years, which has prioritized tourism, a detail that “is often not understood by some of our population,” as he admitted in his own words.

During his intervention, he also mentioned the International Tourism Fair FITCuba 2022, which he considers an “extraordinary event, well-conceived, cultured, innovative, that will highlight the potentialities of Cuban tourism.”

FITCuba 2022, which will take place in May of this year in Varadero, has Russia as its guest of honor, a decision that the authorities in the island are standing by in spite of the fact that most democratic nations have imposed sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Prime minister Manuel Marrero Cruz mentioned that the tourism sector “has come to a halt” due to several factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, and he outlined the following strategies to ensure its recovery: Design new deals and incentivize multi-destinations; Transform tourism’s business system with a more-innovative enterprise; and Perfect and consolidate the existing businesses and add more.

Marrero Cruz also acknowledged the consequences on Cuba’s tourism of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cuba’s tourism sector has not been able to recover since the country reopened its borders last November 15^th.

“At present, with the absence of the Russian market, it becomes vital to reinforce the presence of traditional tourism markets, like Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, as well as to bank on Latin American tourism and promote deals aimed at the domestic market,” he added.

According to official statistics, a total of 146,151 tourists arrived in Cuba in 2020. In mid 2021, more than half of registered tourists were Russian.

The government in Havana expected that at least 20% of international tourists would be Russian in 2022. This goal has been frustrated by the conflict unleashed by Russia when it attacked Ukraine.

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MIAMI, United States. – The Cuban government is moving ahead with preparations for the 40^th edition of its International Tourism Fair (FITCuba) 2022, which will be dedicated to Russia, as honored guest, and will take place at the Varadero Resort in May of this year.

The dedication of the event to Russia has remained unchanged although most democratic countries around the world, starting with the United States, Canada and the European Union, have issued sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

Although the sanctions include the closing of airspace to Russian aircrafts, which makes impossible the flow of travelers between Cuba and Russia, the island’s authorities emphasized recently that the Russian Federation is one of the most important tourist markets for the Caribbean nation.

Cuba announced in February that it was holding of the 40^th edition of FITCuba, and later stated that it would be dedicated to Russia.

Last Wednesday, the Cuban government abstained from condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine during an emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly, where a majority of member nations of the organization condemned the actions of the Kremlin.

Just one day before, Havana had ratified its support of Russia during an emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly, where a majority of member nations of the organization condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Prior to that, the Cuban regime had voted against holding any debate sessions that would start on Monday and end this Wednesday with the vote on a resolution condemning Moscow.

FITCuba 2022

The Fair will take place at the recently renovated Plaza América Convention Center, in Varadero, Matanzas province, according to Prensa Latina. Zulema Afá, events’ organizer for the convention center explained that “participants in the principal tourist exchange in the country will find fully equipped meeting halls set up with new technologies, as the demands of the moment require.”

Three simultaneous forums will be held: business, technology and events, and incentives. Also, there will be an expo area for presenters and tourism suppliers.

With a secondary venue at the Meliá Las Américas Hotel, FITCuba 2022 will include tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents and sector executives.

“We have made improvements in all services to tourists in the country, and we have worked very hard at the [Varadero] pole on accessible and sustainable tourism, in technology –for example, the Varadero Ciudad Digital project- and in general on everything that we can offer our clients,” stated Zulema Afá.

In its effort to promote tourism, the Cubana government organizes or participates in sector fairs (in early February is was present at the event that took place in Turkey). For that occasion, Cuban authorities affirmed that “tourism will undoubtedly resurge in the everyday lives of people because of its resilience” and stated that the island “was very confident that it would confirm itself as one of the favorite destinations in the Caribbean, with new offerings and a rise in the quality of services.”

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