The Italian airline Neos inaugurated this Monday a new route between the cities of Rome Y Havanawhich seeks to promote Cuba as a tourist destination, according to official media.
Mirta Granda, Cuban ambassador to Italyfired the first of the flights that will connect both capitals every Monday and wished its passengers an “unforgettable stay” on the Island, in an act that was attended by Federico Scriboni, Head of Aviation Business Development at the Rome-Fiumicino Airport, reports the agency Latin Press (PL).
After 2 years and 3 months the route of #Rome– #Havanawith the Italian airline #neosa very important destination, which had been devoid of direct operations.
Without a doubt, this has been a very important day, marking the resumption of operations at #Cuba. pic.twitter.com/40OctBHYnn— OfiTurismoEmbaCubaRoma (@TurismoCubaRoma) June 13, 2022
Neos, an airline of the Alpitour Group that will operate the new route with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, already had weekly routes to Havana and Holguín, but only from the northern Milan-Malpensa Airport, the news release points out.
For the executives of this prestigious group founded in 1947 and based in Turin, the new connection from Rome is essential for the development of the tourist businessin particular with regard to the needs of the central and southern Italian market, adds the text.
Franco Campazzo, product manager of the operator Alpitour World, who recently traveled to the Caribbean nation to participate in the recent edition of the FitCuba Tourism Fair, said he had found on the Island “a much stronger destination than the pre-Covid” , underlines PL.
“They have made numerous investments and renovations in the hotel sector, especially in Varadero, Cayo Santa María and Cayo Largo, which now position it at the same level as other competitors in the Caribbean,” he explained, quoted by the media.
Since the Cuban government decided to completely open the borders in November 2021, several international airlines have gradually resumed the flights they maintained before the pandemic. Others have increased their offers or established new itineraries.
This year Cuba expects to receive some 2.5 million international visitors, 1,926,000 more than those counted in the previous one, according to the projections of the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur).
Tourism activity has been the object of large investments in recent years, due to its weight for the Cuban economy, which, however, has not been without controversy and questioning. According to official data, this sector is directly related to 10% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and is the second largest source of foreign exchange for the Island.
