CubaPLUS Magazine

In addition to serving as a mirror for companies in the world tourism industry, the IV International Exhibition for restaurants, hotels, and tourist services (HostelCuba 2023) also represents a new opportunity for new Cuban economic actors, transcended in Havana.
 
Questioned by CubaPLUS, Marcel Casas Blanco, organizer of events at the Pabexpo venue and Cuban counterpart at the meeting, specified that this fair is growing and consolidating and today allows state and private businessmen to gather together who previously came "briefcase in hand" to do business and show their products. Although this edition provided the opportunity for the private sector to participate, only a few managed to attend, that is, about six micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (Mipymes), although we expected many more, this is already a step forward, he admitted.
 
These private entities are mostly food producers or related to the food industry, however, for future editions, we hope that many more MSMEs will attend, Casas Blanco proudly stated. The manager also recalled that 85 to 90 percent of the exhibitors present were European or Latin American foreigners, and an equally high percentage attended for the first time, the rest, he added, were national or mixed-state companies.
 
The appointment should have been held in 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed its celebration. However, this edition has exceeded all our expectations, even other halls of the fairgrounds had to be opened due to capacity issues. Casas Blanco admitted that, like Fira Barcelona Internacional, the Cuban side feels satisfied with the quality shown during the three days of sessions, as well as with the contacts and contracts established by several of the  enterprises gathered in the forum.
 
To the business community that has been assisting for years, new ones were added in this edition, which confirms the willingness to bet on Cuba, because they envision a soon takeoff of tourism, in part, due to the economic measures adopted in the country, he revealed. Organized by Pabexpo/GrupoPalco, Fira Barcelona and under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, HostelCuba 2023 met from May 23 to 25 with the presence of a hundred exhibitors from 14 nations of the sectors of hotels and restaurants.