Cuba: Cuba Tourism Profile

Heavy promotion of Auténtica Cuba continues

Cuba continues to advertise its “perfect” weather, beaches, scenery, architecture wildlife, and nightlife worldwide. Its campaign Auténtica Cuba, launched in July 2010, has proved to be successful in conveying the fact that Cuba is not just an extra island, as tourists visit it to gain a “different” experience. Cuba continued to advertise itself at several international fairs in 2012. The government recognises the importance of tourism to the island and is striving to advertise its improvements in infrastructure and service. Tourists continue to search for interesting historic and cultural places to remain , and Cuba’s Encanto (charming) Hotels project offers tourists the luck to remain in refurbished historic accommodation.

Cuba is diversifying its sources of tourism

While Canada continues to provide the greatest all of tourists, Cuba is looking to expand its popularity to new areas. The eurozone crisis is a threat to Cuban travel and tourism as Spanish tourists may continue to be affected by economic difficulties. Latin America is being looked at as having the potential for increase and additional air services are being agreed upon. As well, the number of visitors from Russia continues to grow.

Airlines offer additional seats

Guaranteeing air services is a priority for Cuba. LAN Airlines, Copa Airlines, and TACA Airlines all increased the frequency of their flights to Cuba and the variety of destinations they served in 2012. Avianca introduced two additional weekly flights from Bogota to Cuba, Interjet began offering a twice-weekly service from Monterrey in northeastern Mexico to Havana, and Air Transat and Sunwing Airlines increased the number of seats on their flights. The Cuban Ministry of Tourism coordinated efforts with the airlines to make this possible.

Hurricane Sandy causes damage in 2012

Hurricane Sandy hit eastern Cuba in 2012. It left destruction in the historic city of Santiago de Cuba, where it caused damage to a lot of historic buildings and uprooted trees. In the city of Guantanamo, east of Santiago de Cuba, several telephone poles were blown across the street, and historic buildings in the city centre were damaged. While the government was praised for its efforts in rebuilding, six months next the hurricane, not all repairs had been completed.

Difficulties tour operators face getting licences relieve by the end of 2012

In January 2011, US President Barack Obama relaxed travel restrictions to Cuba, allowing Americans to visit Cuba for religious, academic and other non-governmental travel. Furthermore, US international airports could presently apply for licences to allow charter flights to enter Cuba; however, in September 2012, tour operators complained that it was difficult for them to obtain licences to sell tours in Cuba next the US government tightened restrictions on the itineraries that qualified, but, about a month afterwards (next complaints), additional licences were being issued.

Cuba suffers, just not as badly as other Caribbean countries

While the world recession hit other Caribbean island much harder than it did Cuba, Cuba still suffered from less revenue. The world economic slowdown forced tourists to seek cheaper travel experiences. While people did not stop travelling completely, they looked to save money at the same time as doing so. Offering all-inclusive packages is of the ways in which Cuban hotels attracted tourists, allowing them to budget in advance as to how much exactly they are going to spend on their trip. However, doing this caused Cuba to decrease its revenue in 2009 while still showing an increase in arrivals.

Promotion of the island

Cuba has been promoting itself around the globe in order to continue bringing tourists in. With the world financial crisis, people looked to Cuba as it is of the majority affordable destinations in the Caribbean thanks to discounts on hotels, food and drinks, all-inclusive packages and a high number of direct flights from Europe and Canada to airports all over Cuba. The National Tourism Board visited several regions in order to keep interest in the island fresh. In April 2010, it presented to a group in El Salvador and carried out a tour through Central America promoting the island. Cuba was exhibited at the Holiday World Show in Dublin, Ireland in 2010, and an online store with cultural twist was opened in April 2010. It offers books, t-shirts, shower curtains and music downloads.

High hopes for the US embargo losing support

Cubans have begun to prepare for the USembargo losing support. Plans to create additional accommodation, golf courses, and attractions to fit the needs of American tourists are currently being prepared. If the embargo were to lose support, Cuba would experience double the number of US travellers, which would greatly benefit accommodation and the tourism market in general.

Hurricanes hit next the other

TURNAT and eco-tourism

All-inclusive packages

Cuban resorts presently available for locals