(Multimedia) SPECIAL: Cuba opens the doors to Chinese tourism

HAVANA, June 7 (Xinhua) — The Cuban Government ratified the government’s willingness to open the doors to the arrival of Chinese vacationers to the Caribbean island, which is trying to boost the so-called leisure industry.

“Now the challenge is to gradually consolidate this necessary increase in tourist flows,” Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said today when meeting with a group of representatives of Chinese travel agencies, who are on a familiarization trip with the island tourism industry.

A few weeks ago, the Cuban Government announced the elimination of visa requirements for Chinese citizens with ordinary passports and the airline Air China began direct flights to Havana from Beijing, with a stopover in Madrid.

Marrero highlighted the Chinese Government’s willingness to increase the presence of Chinese tourists in Cuba, as a support mechanism for the island’s economy.

The premier pointed out the responsibility assumed by the Caribbean country’s tourism authorities for offering an excellent stay to Chinese vacationers.

“The increase in visits by Chinese tourists to our country enriches us culturally and strengthens exchanges between peoples, but it also contributes to improving the quality of life of Cubans,” he stressed.

Marrero gave a brief outline of the economic problems that the country is suffering as a result of the blockade that the United States has maintained against the island for more than six decades.

“Visiting Cuba is helping the people of Cuba, for that we are eternally grateful,” he stated.

For his part, the head of the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) of Cuba, Juan Carlos García, outlined the objectives of that institution in the face of an eventual increase in Chinese vacationers.

“The first objective now is to fill Air China’s planes,” said the minister, who also thanked the airline for having made a strong commitment to carry out two weekly flights between the two countries.

According to García, the other objectives will be, in the medium term, to open air connections from Shanghai or Guangzhou, and to create the conditions for Chinese hotel chains to invest in hotels in Cuba.

“We are going to consolidate what we are starting and China will be one of the main sources of tourists for Cuba,” García stressed.

Several participants in the familiarization trip expressed the experiences lived during nine days and eight nights of stay on the island, where they visited several cities with a rich cultural, historical and heritage heritage.

One of the organizers of the trip, Lulu Chen, from the Alifante Tur agency, explained the work of that institution, which is willing to strengthen relations between China and Cuba.

“Although the Pacific Ocean separates us, the path of friendship is not long due to the immensity of the sea, so we hope to work together so that more people in China know, understand and love Cuba,” he stated.

Han Qingshan, from Tianbo International Travel, also explained that since last month they have felt very strong pressure with the number of reservations from Chinese who want to come to Cuba as tourists or in delegations.

Manager Maggie Liu from HCG International Travel Services intervened, noting that most of the group’s tour operators came to the island for the first time and were able to discover “a very different and exciting Cuba with experiences that exceeded our expectations.”

“The 18 that make up this group have had long-standing tourism relations with Cuba, however, for many it is the first time we come and with the experiences acquired we can add new offers to the tourist package,” said Ge Mu, manager of the Caissa agency.

A few days ago, Cuban tourism authorities announced that China will be the Guest Country of Honor at the next International Tourism Fair (FIT Cuba 2025).

According to official figures, at the end of last May, the Chinese market grew 36 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.

Cuba received 2.4 million tourists last year.

Tourism is the main contributor of foreign currency to the island, after the export of medical services, and is considered a sector that “drags” other areas of the local economy.