Despite the setback that experiences the Tourism sector in Cuba,the Portuguese chain Vila Galé continues in its commitment to the island, a destination that it considers “a challenge”, but “has conditions.”
Jorge Rebelo de Almeida, president of Vila Galé, aforementioned by CubadebateHe stressed that the attractive price of the Cuban tourist offer and their security are key to continue investing.
In his opinion, that of Cuba is “a very nice, very hot people, and although it has a life that is not easy, always with a smile, they are people who strive to please those who come here. It is a very important value for tourism.”
On the other hand, for Rabelo, “beaches like these do not have much competition in other parts of the world.”
The company prioritizes the family segment, valuing the infrastructure of Cuban tourist poles, and is committed to capturing more visitors from Latin America with weekly flights from Copa Airlines to Cayo Santa María.
Vila Galé, who operates in Cuba since 2023 with his hotel in Cayo Paredón, focuses on efforts on training local staff to guarantee a quality service.
Facing 2026, he plans to open a new hotel in the Havana Malecon, seeking to expand on the island.
Recent facilities in Cuba
The Portuguese company began to manage from last July three new hotels in Cuba. The new facilities, which bind to the one that manages the chain in Cayo Paredón since 2023, they are located In Havana, Cayo Santa María and Varadero.
The hotel company, one of the main ones in its country, He then considered this step “a new milestone in the internationalization of Vila Galé in the Latin American market”, which reinforces his contribution to the tourist development of the region, According to quotation Cubadebate.
Portuguese hotel group adds three hotels in Cuba despite the recoil of tourism
Vila Galé Express Park View, Located in the Habanero Historic Center, it is four stars category. It is located in a 1928 historic building, with 55 rooms, a restaurant and a bar.
Meanwhile, the Vila Galé Cayo Santa María Resort, with 633 rooms, is located in Cayo Las Brujas, in the tourist pole of Cayo Santa María, in Villa Clara. The hotel directly access a two -kilometer beach and will operate with the all -inclusive regime, the media points out.
Finally, the Villa Galé Tropical Varadero is a four -star resort and 443 rooms. It has two private beach areas, several swimming pools and will also operate as an entire inclusive, according to official information.
Vila Galé Hotás, which operates mainly in Portugal and Brazil, has about 10,000 rooms and 4,500 employees after more than 35 years in the sector. Already in 2023, before the opening of their first installation in Cuba, its managers had advanced their intention to manage hotels in the Caribbean country.
The arrival of tourists is still falling in Cuba. The island received between January and August a total of 1 259 972 international visitors, which represents 21.64 % less than in the same period of 2024, According to data of the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
This figure is practically unfeasible the governmental objective of adding 2.6 million tourists in 2025 and does not even ensure that the 2.2 million 2024 mark will be exceeded, the worst in seventeen years, not counting the two exercises most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cuba received 2.2 million international visitors in 2024, a total of 2.4 million in 2023 and 1.6 million in 2022, according to official data.
