CubaPLUS Magazine

The tourism industry in Cuba is the second most important sector in the country's economy, hence the efforts that are made every day to achieve greater development and efficiency in this area.

According to recent information from the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur), this sector is working hard to strengthen and achieve better quality in its offerings, both from the hotel and non-hotel point of view. Currently, the island has a renovated hotel complex that exceeds 80 thousand rooms, 75% of which are in 4 and 5 star accommodations.

This is contributed to by the presence of 18 internationally recognized foreign chains in the management, of which nine are Spanish. The latest addition is Vila Galé Hotéis, from Portugal, with a first resort under management in Cayo Paredón (Jardines del Rey) and in the winter season 24/25 that has just begun, the sector has new hotel products such as the Iberostar Selection La Habana, Hotel Sierra Cristal, in Ramón de Antilla, Gran Muthu Ensenada and Starfish, in Holguín, and Muthu II Frente, in Santiago de Cuba, among others.

For the current winter season, the hotel sector has two new products through the Canadian chain Blue Diamond resorts: Resonance Musique and Blu. The first offers its clients music and adventure to make their spirit fly while they immerse themselves in the magic of the Caribbean, while the second offers yoga sessions and other activities for relaxation and tranquility.

Also in this season there are new destinations with magnificent beaches for tourists: Cayo Cruz and Cayo Paredón, in the Jardines del Rey archipelago and the Ramón de Antilla península, north of the eastern province of Holguín. In the same way, the so-called industry without chimneys works in favor of strengthening extra-hotel services, as a necessary complement to hotel activity, which is also enriched by new options in the private sector, accommodation and catering in tour programs, packages and excursions.

The MICE segment (acronym in English for events and incentive tourism) in Cuba has the infrastructure and qualified personnel to hold meetings, congresses and cultural, sports and health conferences, which is why in recent years it has been the venue for important specialized events, all of which will enable the country's aspiration to become a preferred destination in the Latin American and Caribbean region in this area.

The island has a wide range of cultural events such as the Havana Biennial, currently taking place, the Jazz Plaza Festival, the Salsa Festival and the Drum Festival, among others, as well as important fairs such as the Book Fair, the Tourism Fair, ExpoCaribe, the Havana Fair and, in the health sector, the Medical Tourism and Wellness Fair, evidence of the interest of authorities in making Cuba a prominent MICE destination.

Another important aspect of the country's tourism is that which deals with specialized products, including diving and nature, adventure and rural, as well as that dedicated to the LGBTI community. They are also working to offer better quality products every day and, in this regard, next year the 10th Ibero-American Meeting of Rural Tourism and Agrotourism will be held here, organized by the Ibero-American Institute of Rural Tourism.

As for the LGBTI community, there are already two hotels: the Telégrafo, in Havana, from the Spanish chain AXEL, and the Grand Muthu Rainbow, in Cayo Guillermo, with the appropriate facilities to hold festivals for this segment. Another factor that contributes to the improvement of this industry is the issue of foreign investments. So far, there are 24 joint ventures established for the construction of new hotel and real estate developments associated with tourism.

Of this total, four have real estate development as their objective, in addition, 15 have made investments and are in operation, of which 13 are under management and marketing contracts with 4,705 rooms in operation. Regarding Hotel Management and Marketing and Services contracts, 128 have been approved to date, with 18 foreign managers for the running of 153 hotels that have 56,928 rooms, 65% of the rooms in the country.

To achieve this progress, the country has a wide portfolio of opportunities with the purpose of encouraging foreign businessmen to invest in Cuba and thus contribute to the economic progress of the nation. Projects for new hotel, non-hotel and real estate developments associated with tourism, for the management of hotels, promotion of theme parks, leasing contracts and/or franchises, are in perspective.