Cuban government trusts in the "multiplier effect" of Chinese tourism

The Cuban government trusts in the "multiplier effect" of Chinese tourism to boost the tertiary sector on the island.

The Air China company will inaugurate this Friday the announced air route that will connect Beijing with Havana, stopping in Madrid.

This connection, which will operate with two weekly round-trip flights, promises to boost the tourist flow from China to Cuba.

The Cuban ambassador in Spain, Marcelino Medina, highlighted that this route will strengthen the ties of cooperation between both countries and facilitate exchange in business and academic sectors.

The Cuban government announced a few days ago the visa exemption for Chinese citizens, as a measure that could encourage the visit of travelers from the Asian giant. In addition, China will be the Guest of Honor country at the Cuba International Tourism Fair 2025.

Niurka Pérez, Cuban Tourism Minister for Spain, commented that the number of international tourists on the island grew by 51% in 2023, compared to the previous year, and in the first quarter of 2024. grew by 8%.

Oscar Guo, sales director of Air China, pointed out that Madrid acts as a central hub for the company's routes to Latin America.

The new Beijing-Madrid-Havana line, operating on Tuesdays and Fridays, and return flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, will also facilitate tourist movement from Europe to China.

The regime has been failing to fulfill its plans for the arrival of tourists to Cuba for almost five years, but it does not stop creating new luxury hotels that remain empty all year round.

In 2023, the planned plan was to reach 3.5 million tourists, but they barely received 70 percent of their goal. This key sector for the Island's depressed economy does not yet show true signs of recovery.