SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico. – For this year, the Cuban regime has set a goal to surpass three million tourists, when last year they barely welcomed 2.4 million. Among its fundamental strategies to achieve this is the improvement of customer service, as tourist opinion, according to the government, would help reverse the “defamatory campaigns” against Cuba.
Beyond the conspiracy theories that regime officials insist on using to justify the tourism crisis, this sector is far from the levels it boasted prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Although in 2023, 800,000 more tourists were welcomed than the previous year, the figures remain far from those for 2018 and 2019.
As admitted by officials in the tourism sector on the television program “Mesa Redonda,” some issues continue to affect the influx of travelers to the island.
Referring to the “obstacles” that, with triumphant tone, they claim must be overcome, the Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda, mentioned that the quality of customer service must be improved, “so that tourist opinions become the main weapon to reverse defamatory campaigns against Cuba.”
As emphasized by García Granda, the main impacts are due to the low availability of financial resources, which affects the promotion of the destination and the visibility of the tourism product. Other inconveniences, such as limitations on Cuban airlines, prevent the scheduling of more excursions and tourist circuits. Added to this is the high price of fuel, he said.
In spite of recognizing that 2023 was not the best year for tourism.
Although air connections have been established with 32 countries through 50 airlines, with 579 weekly flights, the figure for 2019 -764- has not yet been reached.
More hotels without tourists
In spite of the fact that Cuba continues to fall short by 30% in estimates regarding the number of tourists to welcome, the regime continues to invest in the construction of luxury hotels.
Many of the tourist facilities currently have a low hotel occupancy. Nevertheless, the planning of new structures to accommodate tourists who don’t arrive to the island does not cease.
In addition to the proposal of sun and beaches, the alternatives for stimulating tourism already encompass, nightlife, historical aspects, culture, nature, adventures, nautical activities and events, while the population remains immersed in a crisis.
Although statistics show a 50% growth compared to 2022, Cuba as destination still fails to be a reference in the Caribbean region.
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