In an interview with La Jornada a few days before the island nation’s International Tourism Fair, to be held from May 1 to 5, the representative also pointed out that Mexico occupies eighth place among the 20 global markets with the highest number of people who travel to the largest of the Antilles.
Beltrán considered that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the reduction in direct connections with the main destinations on the island have affected the arrival of visitors from the North American nation, since the “air contingent that we had in 2019 has nothing “to do with the current offer.”
Now only one airline has a daily connection with Havana from Mexico City and two more “work in the charter modality with tour operators,” said the counselor, detailing that five years ago more than 169 thousand Mexicans were in Cuba, a a figure that was reduced to 61,235 in 2023.
Due to the close cultural ties and solidarity between both peoples, as well as its strategic geographical position in the Caribbean, which provided the largest of the Antilles with extraordinary natural beauties, “Cuba must be rediscovered,” he said.
Cuba is not only a sun and beach destination, clarified Beltrán, who considered that one should not only stay “in Old Havana or Varadero”, since his country has much more: “a cultural, hotel and service offer that “It has been diversifying.”
He explained that although Canada is still its main source market, events such as the intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on the island for more than six decades have affected the recovery in the so-called industry without chimneys.
For this reason, he added, this year they seek to open new markets and encourage the arrival not only of travelers from Mexico, but also from other territories such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala and Chile.
With 80 thousand hotel rooms, to which thousands more are added in small private establishments, Cuba, he assures, not only offers destinations for all budgets, but also remains one of the safest and most attractive countries in the region. he stressed.
Beltrán highlighted that the majority of five and four star hotel rooms are managed by one of the 18 international chains that operate on the island, which guarantees the visitor the same quality of services and, in many cases, “at a “Better price than in other destinations.”
ro/las
