The minister of Tourism from CubaJuan Carlos García Granda, announced that the Government of the Island is open at investments of the Russian businessmen in Cubaboth in the tourism and real estate sectors, as well as in that related to golf courses.
According to the official, the country is “open to everyone,” and he explained that Cuban laws allow the construction of real estate that can be acquired by foreignerswhich could be very attractive in the future for those investors.
In an interview with Russian media at the FIT Cuba 2024 International Tourism Fair, which takes place in Cayo Coco, García Granda pointed out that The Cuban side is trying to stimulate investment by Russian tourism companies in Cuba.
“Work is being done in two directions: with the Government, for the development of infrastructure, and with the private sector, for which documents have been signed in order to create the necessary conditions for Russian entrepreneurs,” he said.
García Granda highlighted that The Russian tourism market “is doing well” thanks to tour operators, and since 2023 it has been in third place among the main senders to the Island. He added that in 2024, the Eurasian nation’s tourism figures are expected to set a new record, exceeding 200,000 visitors.
“This year, our task is to attract more than 200,000 tourists from Russia. In fact, We would like a million Russian tourists to come. “We need to develop new products that are suitable for that Russian market,” he added.
“We do not want Russian tourists to see Cuba as a place with sun and sand. Cuban culture may be the most attractive reason, but it must evolve, because to think about large volumes of visitors, those who develop products in Cuba cannot limit themselves to sun and beaches, but they must look for other market segments, such as cinema, music, ballet, but it can also be sports, and the culture of cigarette and rum consumption,” he told the Russian agency RIA Novosti.
Likewise, the TASS official cited him when she announced that It is possible that new charter flights from Moscow to Cuba will be established next June. The largest charter airline in the Russian Federation, Azur Air, must begin flying to the Cuban resorts of Cayo Coco and Varadero on that date.
But not everything is going well, the minister acknowledged: “Today, not only Pegas Touristik flies to Cuba, but also Rossiya Airlines, which has now decided not to fly to Havana, because there was not a good occupancy rate on the return flights. They will resume flights in October,” he assured.
Rossiya Airlines, a subsidiary of Aeroflot, had opened the route to the Cuban capital in December 2023.
García Granda said that the possibility of diversifying destinations is also being evaluated. “Now they are concentrated around Varadero and Cayo Coco. There are plans with tour operators to open a direct flight to Holguín this winter, which existed before the coronavirus pandemic. “That’s not really an unknown place in Russia.”
“We are also working to diversify the departure points, so that flights leave not only from Moscow, but also from other cities. We also want to have flights from Saint Petersburg to Havana,” he added.
Despite the projects of the Cuban authorities, the truth is that, while In 2023, 2,295,301 fewer tourists visited Cuba than in 2019The Dominican Republic received 10,306,517 tourists last year, for a growth of 59.88%, which shows the loss of competitiveness of its neighbor.
As the economist Emilio Morales pointed out in a recent analysis published in DIARIO DE CUBA, “the difference is made by the correct management they have had in the planning and execution of investments and business freedom. In the Dominican Republic there is no centralization of the Government , nor a state monopoly and the private sector and entrepreneurship constitute the labor engine that guarantees the success of the industry.”
“In economic terms, the Cuban tourism industry, which is supposed to be the driving force of the economy, presents indicators that leave much to be desired. Per capita spending per tourist does not reach $500. Hotel occupancy barely reaches 15%. Thousands of experienced workers have now left the country. “Three out of every four hotel rooms remain empty on the Island.”he stressed.
