Cuba preparing for future tourism increases

With three million travellers arriving in Cuba last year – and growing – efforts to expand the country’s travel infrastructure will ensure room for all guests in the coming years, said Eloy Govea, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Canada.

Late last month, the popular island destination reported a record three million travellers in 2014, about a third of them Canadians. With an average of one million Canadians travelling to Cuba each year, Govea said that number increased by 6.5 per cent – or 71,000 additional Canadian travellers – in 2014, contributing to the milestone.

Of those Canadian travellers, Govea said that the resorts of Varadero continue to draw the majority of arrivals, followed by Havana, with Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco and Holguin also drawing many travellers. While the attractions of sun and beaches are strong, Govea is quick to point out that there is much more to the country, with efforts underway to emphasize the rich culture, history and art traditions of Cuba to travellers. A number of Cuban cities – including Baracoa, Bayamo, Trinidad, and Camaguey -  recently celebrated their 500th anniversaries, with Havana set to mark that milestone in 2019, emphasizing the depth of the cultural experiences available, from Cuba’s cigar culture to the country’s music scene. Such aspects of the culture are a key factor in drawing even more Canadians to Cuba, Govea said.

“In the Canadian market, there are a lot of gaps to be filled,” he said, “and we want to focus on opportunities such as the cultural experiences Cuba has to offer travellers.”

As Cuba grows in popularity, Govea said that a number of infrastructure projects will ensure the country’s continued viability as a tourist draw. Among those are a major expansion at Jose Marti International Airport as well as ongoing construction and renovation of the island’s accommodations sector. In October, the Gaviota Group announced plans for approximately 15,000 hotel rooms to be developed across the island in the coming years.

While the recent easements in relations between Cuba and the U.S. haven’t yet fully opened the country to American tourists (under the U.S. embargo which still stands, Americans can travel to Cuba only under certain conditions), Govea said should such a time come, the current infrastructure improvements will ensure room for all international travellers to the island.

“Cuba is developing its infrastructure not for any one particular market, but to be able to respond to this increased popularity that we are seeing,” Govea said. “There will be space for all visitors to Cuba; if the U.S. travellers come, we’ll be ready.”