The 41st Fit CUBA 2023 International Tourism Fair ended in Havana with great success, as it allowed to widely show the potential of this sector in the country, as well as its beauties and natural resources and, above all, the heritage and hospitality of the Cuban people.
Speaking at the closing ceremony this Thursday, the Minister of Tourism (Mintur), Juan Carlos García Grande, also emphasized that the event served as a stage to strengthen trade relations, establish new contacts, alliances, incentives and agreements that will contribute to sustainable development of Cuban tourism.
It was also announced that the 42nd edition of Fit CUBA will take place next year at Jardines del Rey in the north central region and will be dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean.
With Havana as the main venue and cultural heritage as the focus of attention, the fair fulfilled high expectations regarding Cuba’s tourism industry and the representation of both local and foreign companies operating in the country.
Medium-term plans show the readiness of the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) to restore the number of foreign visitors and promote new packages and programs to satisfy tourists from all over the world.
In the previous edition of FIT Cuba in 2019 (before the Covid-19 pandemic), the meeting was attended by a record of over 7,500 tourism industry professionals from 53 countries.
Therefore, comparatively (a face-to-face was held again on Varadero Beach in 2022), the deals concluded are expected to lead to the recovery of Cuba’s economy.
In Varadero last year, the fair gathered 6,000 participants from 54 countries, including representatives of 17 hotel chains, 38 airlines and 254 tour operators and travel agencies.
Amid an avalanche of news and meetings, the 41st Cuba International Tourism Fair (FIT Cuba 2023) presented its most significant document, the Portfolio of Business Opportunities for Foreign Investment.
This text attracts the attention of 5,000 professionals from the tourism sector, over 570 businessmen and representatives of 51 airlines.
It is a message of opportunities to invest in Cuba in tourism and thus facilitate the recovery of this economic segment of vital importance for the island and its confrontation with difficulties.
This document states that tourism is one of the most notable sectors of the Cuban economy and the largest volume of foreign investment in the country.
This is favored by destination attributes that complement tourism investment, such as hospitality, culture, safety, cultural and historical heritage, the document highlighted.
It also published significant data such as the existence in this archipelago of 10 World Heritage Sites, 14 National Parks and 227 National Monuments, all of which are attractive to foreign investment.
The text reflects important attractions for foreign investment such as seaport and air infrastructure for tourism operations consisting of 10 international airports, seven marinas of equal rank and four cruise terminals.
For this purpose, they take advantage of priority areas, such as the south central coast of Cienfuegos, Santa Lucia Beach in the eastern province of Camagüey; and the Covarrubias and Guardalavaca Poles in Holguín.
However, he clarified that projects located in the historic center of Havana, the north and south keys of the island and in Trinidad, which are reserved for local firms, are excluded from possible foreign investments in the modality of joint ventures.
Among the priorities, according to the ministry, are the improvement of the quality of the offer, the creation of new and better products, the generalization of the use of new information technologies, the promotion of diving and marine tourism, cultural tourism, events and incentives, health, chains and nature ( in addition to promoting real estate development).
There are 24 island tourism joint ventures, international economic association contracts, 110 hotel administrations and commercialization, one service administration and one general fund.
The event starts on May 1stSt with the traditional cannon firing ceremony at nine o’clock and is the first to attend since the pandemic. On this occasion, it was held in Havana, the City of Wonders, and to promote the modality of heritage and culture.
The Prime Minister of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz, when he spoke, emphasized that FITCUBA 2023 joins a group of international events that will take place in Cuba, which show that the country is open to the world.
He thanked all those who have placed their trust in Cuba, confirming that attention will continue to be paid to the work of tour operators and businessmen so that people who travel to the island can benefit from its advantages.
He recalled that they had been difficult years because Covid affected everyone, generating an international economic crisis that, together with the effects of the US blockade, affected the development of tourism in the country. He said that, despite everything, the main investments have not stopped, as they represent an important element for the economic development of the largest of the Antilles.
Cuba has 290 national monuments, important nature, 600 km of beach, along with people who are characterized by their cheerfulness, all of which are potential to achieve tourism development.
This tourism festival was held from May 1 to 5 in the Morro-Cabaña Historic Park and some of the 50 hotel chains, 570 tour operators, fifty foreign airlines, as well as specialists and personnel related to the world of tourism attended a fair that was also favorable a moment to get to know the benefits that Cuba presents in tourism and to learn about the new tourism trends worldwide.
Business rounds, presentations of hotel companies, tours of tourist attractions and presentation of the portfolio of opportunities for business and foreign investment were part of the program of FITCUBA 2023.
In 2022, Cuba received the figure of 1.6 million foreign visitors, and the forecast for this year 2023 is to culminate with 3.5 million, which requires a significant recovery of tourism, heavily affected by international economic conditions.
Source: Central American and Caribbean Digital Journal