Cuba receives two million tourists in the first half of 2014

Cuban tourism is in good stead to reach, this year, for the first time, three million tourists, having already received two million visitors in the first half of 2014.

Since January tourist arrivals from Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Spain have increased, according to information provided by officials from the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur).

Amid the current difficult international situation, Cuba has secured a favorable position on the world scene; while Mintur reaffirms its commitment to continue to increase the quality of services and diversify national tourism offers.

The document states that to achieve these results, since the beginning of the second quarter commercial and communication actions have been increased both in markets experiencing sustained growth, and less prominent ones.

For example, new accommodation facilities have been made available in Havana, Varadero, Cayo Santa María, Jardines del Rey and Holguín.

On August 19, a report by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) affirmed that from January through June 1,660,055 tourists arrived to the island, a 3.9% increase in comparison to the same period last year.

According to the document, of the total revenue earned (more than 1.7 billion dollars) in the first quarter of the year, accommodation, gastronomy and transport were the principal contributors.

In regards to emissary nations, North America took first place with 49.7% of the total, followed by the Caribbean (11%), Eastern Europe (10.6), South America (8.3) and Southern Europe (6.4%).

Canada continues to be the principal emissary of tourists to Cuba with 181,269 visitors arriving to the island in the first six months of the year; followed by Britain; Germany; Mexico; Spain; Italy; Venezuela; Russia; Argentina and Colombia.

Other relevant figures published by the ONEI relate to the countries with the greatest growth over the period, the most notable being; Israel; Sweeden; Venezuela; Portugal; Poland and the Philippines, non-traditional tourist markets for Cuba but with growing trends.