Periodico 26

Tourism is a driving force of the Cuban economy: wherever it is and flourishes on the Island, there will be development for all.

Manuel Marrero Cruz, Minister of Tourism, expressed confidence in the country's union leaders to mobilize the sector's affiliates in the common goal of mitigating the effects of the Helms-Burton Act and the recent measures approved by the U.S. Government, seeking to undermine the progress of the Cuban leisure industry.

Cuban tourism grew during the first quarter of this year at a rate of 7.2 percent of foreign arrivals, the minister of the industry, Manuel Marrero, was quoted as saying by the Cuban News Agency (ACN).

The President of the Councils of State and Ministers Miguel Díaz-Canel said that Cuba can make a difference in tourism activity in the region, due to the attributes that it treasures as a country, not only because of the sun and the beaches, but also because of its history, culture, identity and citizen security, which differentiate it from the rest of the world.

Cuban tourism grows 10 percent so far this year, stressed in Madrid Minister of that sector in Cuba, Manuel Marrero.

Progress has been achieved, the President noted, without compromising the country's sovereignty, adding that links with national industry must be strengthened, and the volume of products imported for tourist facilities reduced

Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero announced today that two large five-star hotels are being built in the Ancón Peninsula, about 12 kilometers south of the city of Trinidad.

Quality, the development of infrastructure and the expansion of services are key elements to be taken into account by Cuban authorities to meet their goal of receiving this year five million foreign visitors.

The steady expansion of the Meliá hotel chain in Cuba is made evident by the more than 14,000 rooms it will have on the island by the end of the year

The announcement that Cuba welcomed three million foreign visitors this year until August 9, undoubtedly attracts the attention of tour operators and travel agents who see the island as a significant and safe tourist destination.