MIAMI, United States. – The Embassy of Cuba in India and Meliá Hotels International held an interactive session this Thursday that brought together more than 40 representatives from various spheres of the tourism sector, including travel agents, airlines and the media, in New Delhi.
According to the media report Travel Trade Journalthe event featured the participation of the regime’s interim charge d’affaires in India, Abel Aballe Despaigne, who presented the “qualities” of Cuba as a tourist destination.
Within the framework of the event, the “Cuba Única” promotional campaign was launched, aimed at capturing the interest of Indian travelers and businessmen. In addition, details were discussed about the upcoming FITCUBA 2024 International Tourism Fair, scheduled to take place from May 1 to 5.
Tonia Sehan, Head of Sales in India for Meliá Hotels International, took advantage of the occasion to highlight Meliá properties in Cuba and highlighted that the chain operates more than 30 properties on the Island.
This meeting is part of a series of continued efforts by Cuba to attract tourists from the Indian subcontinent, including its participation in the OTM 2024 Travel Fair in February, where Cuba was awarded as the “Most New Promise Destination.”
In January of this year, it emerged that the island’s regime expected to receive three million tourists in 2024, according to statements by the Minister of Tourism of Cuba, Juan Carlos García Granda, at the International Tourism Fair held in Madrid, Spain.
During his participation in FITUR, García Granda reported that Cuba had closed the year 2023 with 2.4 million visitors and pointed out that the aspiration of exceeding three million was below the levels of travelers registered in 2018, before the pandemic. of COVID-19.
According to the minister, cited by the EFE agency, one of the main obstacles to the recovery of tourism was the decision of the United States, in force since January 12, 2021, which prevents Europeans who visit Cuba from opting for the visa exemption known as ESTA.
However, the official did not mention the economic and health crisis and the insecurity experienced in Cuba, decisive factors for many foreigners not to visit the Island.
In the last year, several economists have warned that the food, health and fuel crisis that the Island is going through would make the recovery of tourism to pre-pandemic levels almost impossible.
“The complex situation of the economy affects tourism because, for example, a tourist needs to rent a car to move around the country and does not have fuel or sometimes in a five-star hotel there are not the necessary supplies,” declared Cuban professor Omar. Everleny to the EFE agency.
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2024-04-21 16:31:31
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