Cuba closed this Thursday its largest tourism fair, FitCuba, with the hope that the sector will boost economic recovery after two years of the pandemic. The Cuban minister of the sector, Juan Carlos García Granda, considered the event a success at the closing ceremony.
García underlined that the business event has focused on the “sun and beach product”, where Varadero, the venue for the event, is an international benchmark; but, he assured that culture is increasingly important for the sector and stressed that the country is betting on “sustainable and inclusive tourism”.
conclude #FITCuba2022!. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to making it a resounding success, offering #Cuba the most representative, its true essence, everything that makes it simply unique.#UniqueCuba pic.twitter.com/ZLcur95Cfl
– Juan Carlos Garcia Granda (@JuannCarlosGG) May 6, 2022
The minister highlighted the participation in FitCuba of 6,028 professionals from the sector from 54 countries, 17 international hotel chains, 38 airlines and 254 tour operators and travel agencies. Important officials from the Cuban government also attended the meeting, led by its president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and its prime minister, Manuel Marrero.
The minister also explained that within the framework of FITCuba, agreements were signed that will accelerate the recovery of this industry in the archipelago, based on the recognition, by visitors, of the high levels of tourism security in the nation, in addition to the benefits and the attributes that make it unique, according to the official newspaper Granma.
Tourism is key for Cuba: the second largest category of its gross domestic product (GDP), with a contribution of 10% in 2019, and the second source of foreign exchange. For this reason, the country, which is going through a serious economic crisis, is committed to revitalizing tourism after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic.
The Cuban government estimates that it can close this year with some 2.5 million foreign visitors, after achieving just over 450,000 in the first four months of the year.
The next edition of FitCuba will be dedicated to Cuban cultural heritage in Havana.
Efe/OnCuba.
