Canadians key to Cuba’s tourism growth

Cuba Tourism reports that 2017 was the most successful year to date, as the country welcomed 4.7 million foreign visitors — a 16.2 per cent increase over 2016.

Cuba also welcomed more than 1.1 million Canadian visitors.

Cuba Tourism provided these statistics about Canadian visitors.

— 44 per cent of Canadian visitors in 2017 had previously visited Cuba

— For the seventh year in a row, Cuba has received more than one million Canadian tourists

— Cuba receives more visitors from Canada than from any other country

— Cuba remains the No. 1 destination for Canadians in the Caribbean

There are direct flights to Cuba from 30 Canadian cities, including Kelowna and Vancouver.

“Peace, health and safety remain the pillars of Cuban tourism and, ultimately, the factors that explain our incredible growth,” said Eloy Govea, director for Canada for the Cuba Tourism Board. “The unique environment allows everyone to thoroughly experience the Auténtica Cuba: our spectacular beaches, incredible people, vibrant culture, fascinating history and unspoiled nature; all of which is particularly accessible and affordable for Canadians.”

Cruise lines docking at Cuba’s port cities include MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), Norwegian, Carnival, Fred Olsen, Holland America, Azamara, Oceania, Viking and Royal Caribbean

The Cuban government aims to have 224 new hotels complete by 2030. The number of hotel rooms will go from the current 68,000 to 171,000 hotel rooms in the next 12 years.

These new development projects will occur in virtually all regions of Cuba.

It is likely that Cuba will meet its 2018 goal of welcoming five million foreign visitors.

Fitur recently named Cuba the “safest country for tourism.”