CubaPLUS Magazine

On celebrating its 46th anniversary, Havanatur recognized Prensa Latina for its immediacy in handling news and professionalism in its reporting. Yoelkis Salazar Rivery, chief executive of the international group of tour operators and travel agencies, leader in the promotion and marketing of Cuban tourism products, presented the award to Prensa Latina's president, Luis Enrique González, at a gala held the day before at the distinguished Sevilla hotel in Havana.

The statuette highlights that Havanatur recognizes Prensa Latina for "its 65 years of existence in the service of information about Cuba to the world." Addressing the audience, Salazar stressed that the Cuban tourism group has traveled a 46-year path with the purpose of broadening the view toward Cuba as a vacation destination.

He explained that Havanatur managed to exceed the tourist movement by eight percent, which meant a growth of 10 percent compared to 2023. The executive indicated that the group hopes to close 2024 with a 14 percent increase, based on growth in markets such as the Bahamas, Chile, France, Russia, Mexico and Germany, without giving up on continuing efforts to recover its participation quotas.

Havanatur already has 49 events on its calendar as an organizer in 2025, a year in which it intends to reach nearly 80. "We are focused on redesigning our circuits, bringing them closer to the new trends that will mark travel for 2025, the creation of optional activities that become travel experiences and show the volumes of income," said Salazar.

He also stated that Havanatur is committed to continuing to expand commercial relations with the Caribbean, taking advantage of the good bilateral ties and focusing on multi-destination, a variant that is growing today in the world. The company is striving to increase its presence in emerging markets such as China, Turkey, India, Algeria, Brazil, Peru and the Czech Republic, said its president.

The occasion served as an ideal setting for the tourism group to distinguish Cuba Travel Services, Educational Travel Alliance, Invicta, Cubamax and Iwantour for their contribution and results in the issuance of passengers. For optimal results in their work, Havanatur Sucursal Pinar el Río, Travel La Habana and Havanatur Varadero were also awarded.

The Gran Caribe Hotel Group, Blue Diamonds Hotels and Resorts and Melia Cuba Hotels and Resorts were also awarded for their contribution to the Havanatur Group's Online Sales during 2024.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)