TTC-211-FitCuba-web-Ingles

Villa Clara’s Keys, the Venue 10Cuban Tourist Industry Grows in Numbers in 2012 20Cuba-Trinidad and Tobago Trade Relations Going Well 24

TTC Invite to Launching of COB Monographic Cuba at FITCuba 30New Air Connections 32Varadero Stamps Seal of Quality on Constructions for Tourism 34

Going Well 244

New WTO Board ElectedWTO’s over 400 affiliate members, includ-ing some of the world’s leading tourism or-ganizations and companies, have elected their new Board and Chairman for the pe-riod 2012-2013. 6

Ecuador Opens its Doors to Investment in TourismThe interview granted to TTC by Ecuadoran Ambassador to Cuba Mr. Edgar Ponce Itur-riaga is about Ecuador as a tourist destina-tion, its attributes and perspectives. 2

Galapagos Islands

Argentine Arrivals to Cuba Increase

IT WAS WELL worth dedicating the 32nd International Tourism Fair FITCuba 2012 to Argentina, as a the country guest of honor, since it is a market that closed 2011 with a 29.6% increase in the number of travelers, ranking it in ninth place among the island’s issuing markets. Moreover, by January 2012 it already held second place, a position that it maintained in the months of January and February, according to recent official data from the National Of-fice of Statistics, available at the close of this edition. 30

Cayo Santa María. Photo: Publicitur

The interview granted to TTC by Minister of Tourism Manuel Mar-rero Cruz is about the course of Cuban tourism in 2012, new air connections, the principal investments, tourism modalities, as well as the products Cuba will present at FITCuba 2012, among other as-pects. 4

Cuba Just as It is, Authentic

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2 TRAVEL TRADE CARIBBEAN • YEAR XII • ISSUE 211 • MAY 2012

The government also in-creased tenfold the budget for the Ministry of Tourism in the last 15 years, which will result in the increase of tourist arrivals.

A recent survey by the in-ternational magazine Livingranks Ecuador in 2012 as one of the most important retirement paradises of the world, espe-cially for those persons seeking peaceful, comfortable and re-laxing places.

Undoubtedly, Ecuador is bet-ting on the tourist industry; we want it to be a showcase of its nature, its people and the gov-ernment is set on promoting the image that ref lects a coun-try forging ahead. Ecuador has much to offer the world, not just its geography, fauna, f lora, but also its people.

It is important to point out that in terms of the infrastruc-ture works, emphasis has been put fundamentally on the high-ways; today we say with pride that Ecuador has top-class high-ways, several of them compara-ble to those of the first world.

Continues on page 12

At present, the dynamics of this industry is seen as active and buoyant thanks to an intense promotion agenda of the coun-try brand, developed throughout 2011. Ecuador’s participation in 69 international events and fairs and 44 national ones allowed it to irrupt into new and important markets issuing visitors.

Moreover, promotion cam-paigns were carried out and there was close work with the specialized press and tour op-erators to strengthen the com-munication strategy on the In-ternet and other distribution channels, placing emphasis on the new country brand Ecuador loves life.

In that sense, Ecuador has worked on the intense train-ing of workers and profession-als who carry out their work in this field of the economy; tour-ist signposting was improved to turn the country into a friend-lier and more agreeable destina-tion; and economic, educational and logistics support work began for the small and medium-sized companies with initiatives that complement tourist services.

Mr. Ambassador, how has the f low of tourists behaved in Ec-uador?

The number of tourists who visited Ecuador in the first month of 2012 increased 9%, as compared to the same period in 2011. According to Ecuador-an Minister of Tourism Freddy Ehlers, 127,119 foreign tourists visited Ecuador in January, as compared to 105,541 in the same month last year.

This growth ratifies that our country has become one of the region’s most powerful focuses of tourist interest.

What actions has Ecuador implemented to promote the tourist industry?

The Ministry of Tourism re-newed an agreement with the National Finance Corporation of Ecuador with the aim of fi-nancing complementary activi-ties regarding what has been called the smokeless industry. The agreement includes the granting of credits to persons who work for tourism, the own-ers of service establishments or activities registered by the Min-istry of Tourism.

Ecuador Opens its Doors to Investment in Tourism

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clusion in 2011 of La Ronda Hotel, the start of the Pansea Trinidad Hotel and the prepa-ration of a five-star hotel with Iberostar on Ancón beach, as well as the Palacio Iznaga Hotel.

At this moment we have a dynamic of de-velopment of new investments that is higher than on previous years, about which we will speak at the inauguration of the May 8 Fair.

Which tourism modalities are being con-sidered among the development priorities?

We are mainly focusing on continuing to diversify our tourist offer, permanently up-grading our sun and beach product and in-troducing new programs of tours of heritage cities and cultural circuits that are having

Could you speak about the principal invest-ments Cuba is executing in the tourist sector?

In 2012 we will be focusing on the reani-mation and revitalization of existing instal-lations in the hotel sector and on the con-struction of new hotels. In the sphere of the non-hotel sector, the investments are associ-ated to the construction of dolphinariums, marinas and golf courses, all of which, of course, is based on the preservation of our environment and sustainability.

The preparation of new hotels in Varade-ro, Cayo Santa María, Cayo Coco, Guarda-lavaca and Trinidad is concluding.

Trinidad is precisely a destination ad-vancing in its development, with the con-

Minister, how is Cuban tourism marching in 2012, in terms of arrivals from the principal is-suing markets?

To speak about this 2012, we should remem-ber that 2011 was a good year for the Cuban tourist sector, with a 7.3% growth in the num-ber of arrivals and diverse records. Several of the principal issuing markets surpassed their historic arrival figures, especially Canada, Russia, Argentina, Chile and China.

This year has started well, and although at a lower rate than in 2011, growth has continued. The Cuban tourist industry is closing the first quarter with a 5.3% growth in arrivals and 12% percent in income.

Canada, Argentina, Russia, Germany, France, Mexico and Scandinavia are marking the biggest increases in the first quarter and should maintain that tendency during the rest of the year. Other countries like Colombia, Pe-ru and Holland should grow in an important way in their contribution of visitors to the des-tination.

Regions like Varadero, Havana, Cayo Santa María, Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Pinar del Río have benefitted from a high demand and have achieved their highest historic occupancies for a first quarter.

In this first period of the year we have also carried out a very important group of events that have been characterized by a high partic-ipation of international delegations, like Uni-versidad 2012, the Havana Cigar Festival, the Havana Biennial and other smaller ones but no less important, like the Varadero Gourmet In-ternational Festival and the Montecristo Golf Cup Tournament.

Have new air connections been previewed that will favor the flow of tourists from certain markets for the upcoming seasons?

Flights are being increased from new cit-ies in Canada, Scandinavia, Italy and the di-rect frequencies are increasing from Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Russia. New air connections are presently being negotiat-ed with other important issuing markets like Portugal, Austria, Holland, Ukraine, Hunga-ry and the Czech Republic. Work is underway to diversify the markets with direct flights to developing destinations like Cayo Santa María and Jardines del Rey.

Interview with Manuel Mar-rero Cruz, Cuban Minister of Tourism

Cuba Just as It is, Authentic

5TRAVEL TRADE CARIBBEAN • YEAR XII • ISSUE 211 • MAY 2012

Trinidad is a destination that is advancing in its development.

Nature tourism is one of the modalities being posi-

tioned with the most strength.

to follow to continue diversifying our tour-ist product, making it more exclusive, more competitive, taking advantage of all our at-tributes, increasingly offering more quality and safety to our clients and for this we have what is most important and irreplaceable, our hospitable people ready to show our Cu-ba just as it is, Authentic. ■

and the towns of La Estrella and Las Dunas, among other attractions. The wide portfo-lio of excursions that can be accessed from there is also one of its principal attractions, since it allows visitors to discover from Ha-vana to the traditional Trinidad, passing through Remedios, Santa Clara and Topes de Collantes.

The event’s principal objectives include giving continuity to the marketing work carried out since the previous edition of the fair, boosting the attractions of the island and strengthening the Destination’s com-munication.

It will be a great opportunity to meet with tour operators, travel agencies and airlines visiting us, to share with them the projec-tions and strategies of the Cuba Destination for the next 2012-2013 summer and winter season.

Is there any other aspect you want to speak about?

Cuba offers foreign visitors a highly safe destination – this is one of our strong points – in which excellent beaches are combined with another important group of attrac-tions like heritage cities, nautical activities, dolphinariums, zoos, botanical gardens, museums, natural landscapes with special-ized paths and a well-developed network of restaurants capable of satisfying all tastes. These values are primordial for those who visit us, and turn us into an ideal destina-tion for family tourism, a product to which we have dedicated, as I mentioned above, the present edition of FITCuba.

Quality, diversification and innovation are the words of the day for the Cuban tour-ist sector, and I can affirm that the results we have obtained until now place us in a better position to continue upgrading our product, in favor of satisfying those who choose us as a vacation destination. We are very sure that what has been achieved shows us the road

such great demand and, in addition, recre-ational nautical activities, positioning with greater force nature, youth, adventure, fam-ily and health tourism.

Parallel to this, we are working speedily to develop golf – with the construction of new courses associated to real estate devel-opment -, and we want to boost cruise tour-ism.

What are the perspectives for conventions tourism?

Cuba has excellent facilities for the devel-opment of this modality in many of its tour-ist destinations and in several of the coun-try’s principal cities. For several years we have been increasing the acceptance of our Destination in this modality and we are con-vinced we will have a considerable develop-ment during the upcoming period.

Does Cuba plan to continue strengthening multi-destination with the Caribbean area?

Of course. The Caribbean has a great cul-tural wealth, an exuberant nature and an exoticism that make travelers try to get to know a destination in each visit. Cuba will continue favoring a policy of links with oth-er islands and the Central American Carib-bean to the interest of the development of all our peoples.

Which are the principal products Cuba will present at the International Tourism Fair FITCuba 2012?

FITCuba 2012 will take place, as has al-ready been announced, from May 8 to 11 on Cayo Santa María, to the north of Villa Clara, and on this occasion it will be dedi-cated to Argentina as issuing market and to family tourism as tourist product.

Villa Clara’s keys will be the main fea-tures of this event, since they have become, because of their exclusive geographical loca-tion, a novel concept of tourist destination for Cuba, putting at the disposition of visi-tors the aquarium-dolphinarium, marina


New WTO Board ElectedIN LINE WITH a new elec-toral process, 23 members were elected to the WTO Board of Affiliate Members. The Asso-ciation of Greek Tourist Enter-prises (SETE), represented by its Director General, George Drakopoulos, was elected to Chair the Board.

WTO Secretary-General Ta-leb Rifai welcomed the new Board and Chair of the Affiliate Members, highlighting the im-

portance of the affiliate mem-bers to the work of the Organi-zation. “WTO is among the few UN agencies to include in its

constituency representatives of the private sector, academia and civil society,” Rifai said.

The affiliate members are companies, organizations, desti-nations, NGOs, educational in-stitutions or bodies whose activ-ities are related to tourism and which contribute their knowl-edge and expertise to WTO to promote the development of re-sponsible, sustainable and acces-sible tourism.

companies in the world to operate commer-cial f lights, as well as being a founding mem-ber of the IATA, SITA and AITAL, which corresponds to the IATA of Latin America. Today, it is the leader in Cuba for the trans-portation of passengers, freight and mail.

In 10 years of alliance, Blue Panorama Airlines has firmly maintained its market share in addition to the 55% quota, thanks to the collaboration of the best tour opera-tors - Alpitour, Condor, Eden Viaggi, Hava-natur, Viaggi del Mappamondo, Phone and go, Press Tour, Swan Tour, Un Altro Sole, Ve-ratour – and the distribution in the market of Distal, the company’s general sales agent, transporting more than 1.2 million passen-gers.

“Ten years of alliance is an important landmark in the life of the two companies and of the persons who are part of them. This event is for Blue Panorama Airlines rea-son of great pride for being chosen by a pres-tigious partner like Cubana Airlines and has a special meaning for the relationship that united us to Cuba, one of the most charming places on Earth,” Franco Pecci, chairman of Blue Panorama Airlines, said. This alliance is a lasting example of an “Italian and Cu-ban success and we are committed to con-solidate it by offering our passengers services inspired on the constant search for improve-ment and on the growth in quality.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:www.blue-panorama.comwww.blu-express.com

Michele SabatiniUfficio Stampa Blue Panorama Airlines+ 39 0665508608 / +39 [email protected]

lines, by virtue of an agreement that at the time previewed two weekly f lights.

This important anniversary demonstrates how Blue Panorama is naturally linked to Cuba and to one of its principal economic actors – precisely Cubana Airlines –, in the commercial as well as in the “sentimental” aspects. The 10th anniversary of the alliance is being celebrated parallel to the 31st edition of FITCuba, the International Tourism Fair, to be held in Cayo Santa María from May 8 to 11.

FITCuba is the most important event of the Cuban tourist industry. It is attended by travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, res-taurants and cultural institutions of the Cu-ban people with the aim of promoting the products and services than can be offered to tourists on their vacations, an excellent op-portunity to exchange ideas and establish commercial contacts with foreign compa-nies.

Blue Panorama confirms this relationship through the presentation of a program for the next summer of 2012, given that its role is increasingly more important on the island, in a wide range of destinations that make it possible to reach Cuba from east to west – Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Cayo Largo and Havana – with f lights that depart from Mi-lan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino and Verona, and makes it the cornerstone of its leader-ship on the principal Caribbean islands and destinations.

The link with Cuba and Cubana Airlines is confirmed through the renovation, for the 11th consecutive year, of the commercial agreement with the island’s f lagship airline, whose connections with Italy are operated by Blue Panorama Airlines aircraft. Founded in 1929, Cubana Airlines was one of the first

Next May 9 Blue Panorama Airlines will celebrate 10 years of alliance with Cuba and Cubana Airlines. In fact, on May

9, 2002, Blue Panorama Airlines operated its first f light to Havana after receiving the first Boeing 767-300 ER, on behalf of Cubana Air-

Franco Pecci, chairman of Blue Panorama Airlines.

Ten Years of Alliance with Cuba and Cubana Airlines

B L U E P A N O R A M A A I R L I N E S



Products and Services,

Vidatox 30 CH and Vidatox Plus, medicines for human

use, are set to become leaders within the LABIOFAM

Business Group.

The natural compounds of the LABIOFAM Business Group are widely demanded for their recognized quality and

high level of reliability.

lel to the scientific event as well as the presen-tation of posters.

In addition to the subjects linked to the ex-periences in the control of epidemics through the use of biological methods and the devel-opment of prebiotic and probiotic food for hu-man and animal use, for the first time in this type of meeting there will be discussions on biopesticides and biofertilizers for use in ag-riculture, a line of products recently incorpo-rated to the Business Group.

and homeopathic compounds for veteri-nary medicine.

The natural products as an alternative for human health will also acquire singular im-portance in the event. The studies linked to the venom of the scorpion Rhopalurus jun-ceus have awakened great interest in the inter-national scientific community because of its properties.

During the Congress, the new values of the aforementioned natural sub-

stance employed today for the pro-duction of Vidatox 30 CH and Vi-datox Plus, medicines for human use set to become leaders in the

LABIOFAM Business Group, will be revealed.Several master lectures have been

previewed for the event, given by renowned Cuban and foreign researchers, and there will be roundtables, symposiums, promotion of products in an exhibition and trade fair paral-

■ By Liliam Lee Hernández

Just a few days away from celebrating its first half century of being founded, and after a long process of evolution and consolidated

transformations, today’s LABIOFAM Busi-ness Group is implementing ways of doing, new work styles that have allowed it to gradu-ally expand its product portfolio and, with it, a greater presence in the national and interna-tional market.

The Cuban scientific institution is able to meet the demand of 98% of the veterinary pharmaceuticals the country needs. However, the re-dimensioning of its industry has moti-vated covering new research areas for human health.

Natural medicine, that empirical knowl-edge born of the oldest tradition, has been the indisputable source for, with the incorpora-tion of a scientific endorsement, registering several formulations for dietary supplements, colds and anemia that form part of a long list of products to raise the quality of life of hu-man beings.

With recognized antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, the natu-ral homeopathic compound Vidatox 30 CH, a biopreparation whose active principle is the venom of the Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus jun-ceus, is one of LABIOFAM’s pharmaceutical products with the highest demand inside and outside the country.

This product is the fruit of more than 15 years of research, a source for development and the registry of new formulations like the Vidatox Plus and others that are still in the study stage.

Other natural compounds like the Ferri-cal, the Asmacán, the gamut of Vimang prod-ucts, Acitán, Spirulina, among others, are also widely demanded for the already recognized quality and high level of reliability of the pro-ductions of the LABIOFAM Business Group.

A NEW CONGRESSAnd all this effort in the field of research

and the production of biopharmaceuticals, plus other spheres linked to vectorial con-trol and biofertilizers will be subjects to be developed during the 2nd LABIOFAM In-ternational Congress, which will be held in the Havana Convention Center from September 24 to 28, 2012.

At the new edition of the sci-entific meeting the LABIOFAM Business Group, an institution responsible for responding to the demands of veterinary medicine in Cuba, will present its most recent research results in the development of veterinary products, biosecurity, the practical experi-ence in the use of pharmaceutical products

L A B I O F A M B U S I N E S S G R O U P


2nd LABIOFAM International CongressFrom September 24 to 28, 2012

Havana Convention Center

MAIN SUBJECT MATTERSAnimal health: therapeutic and

prophylaxis

• Development of veterinary prod-

ucts

• Biosecurity in biopharmaceuti-

cal productions

• Experience in the use of pharma-

ceutical products in veterinary

medicine

• Homeopathy

Natural products: an alternative for human health• Ethnomedical uses in medicine• Pharmacology and toxicology• Chemical-analytical studies and

technological development• Clinical studies• Dietary supplements• Homeopathy

Experience in the control of epi-demics with the use of biological methods• Diseases transmitted by vectors• Operational use of biopesticides

in the control of vectors• Integral control of vectors• Ecosystemic focus on the pre-

vention of diseases• Integrated strategy of projects

between countries

• Genetic engineering for the im-provement of biopesticide for-mulations

• Isolation and characterization of autochthonous strains used in the control of vectors

• Development of new productsSymposium: Integral programs of prevention and control of disease transmitting vectors• Health education, community

participation and its impact on the environment

• Antivectorial struggle in primary health care

• Entomological vigilance systems and geographic information

Prebiotics and probiotics• Food development• Application in animal and hu-

man health

Biopesticides and biofertilizers for agriculture• Taxonomy, characterization, bio-

diversity and ecology of the ben-eficial organisms for agricultural use in Cuba

• Action mechanisms of the bio-products and their relationship with the different forms of agri-cultural production.

• Technology for the production of agricultural bioproducts, ap-plication, management, quality control and registration

• Biocontrol and/or biofertiliza-tion, evaluation and effective-ness

• Training of professionals of the agricultural sector in the face of the challenges posed by the use of agricultural bioproducts

the participants will witness the process of ex-tracting the venom.

For the first and only time, LABIOFAM will open its doors to show a procedure that, undoubtedly, forms part of the future devel-opment of a scientific institution geared at of-fering health and quality of life.

The LABIOFAM International Congress, organized every two years by the Cuban sci-entific institution, will be a space to fete the 50 years of this Business Group that works in the re-dimensioning and diversification of its productions, as the only guarantee to achieve a sustained development. ■

capture of specimens in different stages of de-velopment, as well as a detailed explanation of the principal differences among sexes will be some of the aspects that the trekkers will get to know.

The visit to the LABIOFAM Business Group’s scorpion farm, in Villa Clara, has al-so been previewed.

The management conditions in which the specimens are kept, the amount of animals and the system of rotation of the specimens will be described in the bioterium. Moreover,

ALONG THE PATHS OF THE RHOPALURUS JUNCEUSThe participants in the 2nd International

Congress will have a unique experience and opportunity. The LABIOFAM Business Group is organizing an excursion to the Hanabanilla National Park, a central region of the country that stands out for its singular natural beauty.

Guided by a specialist, the delegates will get to know about the characteristics of the environment in which the Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus junceus develops. The natural val-ues of the species in its environment, its ad-aptations to evade predators, the search and

Rhopalurus junceus in its natural habitat.

C E L E B R A T E S 5 0 Y E A R S O F F O U N D A T I O N

for a Better Quality of Life


Cayo Santa María concentrates the ma-jority of the accommodations, eight ho-tels that feature 91% of the total amount of rooms in Villa Clara’s keys, while Cayo Las Brujas and Cayo Ensenachos have one each.

Four Meliá hotels are in Cayo Santa María. Meliá Buenavista***** is a resort with 105 junior suites and suites plus a Vil-la; conceived for adults aged 18 and over, it is recommended for couples, weddings and honeymoons. It is joined by Meliá Cayo Santa María*****, with 358 rooms; Meliá Las Dunas*****, with 925 rooms; and Sol Cayo Santa María****, perfectly integrat-ed into the natural environment, with 301 rooms.

In Cayo Santa María, the Gaviota Group operates under its own brand a beautiful hotel of refined design, modern, elegant and functional, the Gaviota Cayo Santa María*****, with 721 rooms; and Barceló the Cayo Santa María Beach Colonial Re-sort*****, with 1,308 rooms, divided in two sections (hotels) - Barceló Cayo Santa María Beach and Barceló Cayo Santa María Colonial.

The Memories brand of the Canadian Blue Diamond chain recently entered the market with the Memories Azul Beach Re-sort*****, with 720 rooms and recreating the city of Santiago de Cuba; and the Mem-ories Paraíso Beach Resort*****, compris-ing 666 rooms and inspired on the colonial city of Remedios.

Located in Punta Periquillo, over piles on the high rocks of a cliff, Villa Las Bru-jas***, a Gaviota brand, is the only hotel in Cayo Las Brujas. It has 24 junior suites in three two-story blocks and independent rooms.

The only accommodation on Cayo Ensenachos, the Iberostar Ensenachos***** is a deluxe resort with 506 rooms grouped in colonial-style bungalows – 270 doubles, 190 deluxe and 46 deluxe villas -, in addi-tion to a wellness center & spa. ■

main beaches, Ensenachos and El Mégano, the best in the area, according to many per-sons.

A modern tourist and hotel infrastruc-ture has been developed in full coherence with that exotic natural scenario.

HOTEL PLANT IN VILLA CLARA’S KEYSTen hotels of the Gaviota S.A. Tourism

Group’s portfolio make up the hotel plant of the Villa Clara keys destination, which as a whole have more than 5,600 rooms, of which 99.5% are four and five star. All the hotels operate under the all-inclusive mo-dality, except for Villa Las Brujas.

The foreign chains present in the des-tination and that manage the 10 hotels are Meliá Hotels International, Barceló Hotels & Resorts, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts and Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts.

I t was a wise decision to dedicate the In-ternational Tourism Fair FITCuba 2012 to Villa Clara’s keys, made up by the tri-

ad of Cayo Santa María, Cayo Las Brujas and Cayo Ensenachos.

Thanks to the exuberant nature of those places, their virginal beaches and great di-versity, this young tourist destination is currently in full expansion.

Winding the sea, very close to one of the world’s largest coral barriers, these islets belong to the Jardines del Rey archipelago (also called Sabana-Camagüey), one of the four insular groups that make up the Cuban archipelago - the others are Los Colorados, Jardines de la Reina and Los Canarreos.

Located to the north of Villa Clara, they can also be reached through Santa Clara’s Abel Santamaría International Airport and the local Cayo Las Brujas airport, fitted out for light and medium-sized aircraft; it has one terminal and the runway is 1,800 x 45 meters long.

By sea, the point of entry is through Cayo Santa María Gaviota Marina, which is exactly in Cayo Las Brujas and has an asso-ciated Scuba Diving Center.

The principal tourist nucleus of the des-tination is Cayo Santa María, the largest of the three islets and one of the eleven nu-cleus areas – the most significant protected sites – of the Buenavista Biosphere Reserve, declared by UNESCO in 2000. Christened “La rosa blanca de los Jardines del Rey” (lit-erally the white rose of the King’s Garden), it stretches along a land area of 13 km2, with 11 km of white sandy beaches with turquoise blue, tranquil and transparent waters.

Meanwhile, Cayo Las Brujas, the first of these keys that crosses the highway, is 4 km long and 2 km wide; it has an impressive seabed that makes this destination a perfect place for nautical sports.

Cayo Ensenachos, a former indigenous settlement, is the smallest – around 2 km2. It has the shape of a horseshoe and has two

Villa Las Brujas***, a Gaviota brand installation, is

the only hotel on Cayo Las Brujas.

Photo courtesy of Meliá Hotels International Cuba.

Villa Clara’s Keys, the Venue


Air Europa Novelties

Air Europa’s Havana Office an-nounces that the airline, starting this summer, will incorporate a new destination to its portfolio, Geneva.

Regarding the itinerary between Spain and Cuba, Air Europa will maintain the following daily sched-ules during the summer of 2012:

• Departure from Havana at 21 hours, arrival in Madrid at 12.20 local time

• Departure from Madrid at 15 hours, arrival in Havana at 18:50 local time

Another novelty is the offer of combined Air Europa & renfe plane-train tickets that facilitate traveling from the train station to the airport, from Madrid-Bara-jas and vice versa. Connections with: Albacete, Alicante, Córdo-ba, Lérida, Málaga, Murcia, Pam-

plona, Seville, Tarragona, Valen-cia, Valladolid and Zaragoza.

Air Europa recently was grant-ed the License to Use the Excel-lent Madrid Warranty Brand, given by the Madrid Foundation for Excellence, given its business management once the compli-ance with criteria of the required quality and excellence is accred-ited.

tiful thing a nation can offer; hu-man beings coexist there with the most diverse animal species and one can see the greatest respect for the environment, today more than ever before. And if in the end you decide to take a trip to the Galapagos Islands, then you find yourself in heaven.

It would be interesting to know some of Ecuador’s projections for the development of the tourist in-dustry.

By virtue of the agreement be-tween the Ministry of Tourism and the Finance Corporation, credits will be given of up to $25 million for new tourist projects, among which are accommoda-tions, tourist transportation (air, maritime, river, land and the rent-al of vehicles), food and beverages service, as well as tour operators, race tracks and parks with stable attractions.

I want to say that, even though it is an insufficient capital, it is the seed that makes it possible to awaken interest in investments in the tourism area. We say that tourism is open to investments; we tell them, invest in Ecuador and you will surely be more than compensated because, in addition to making a real contribution to a sustainable tourism that defends nature and its natural resources, it also allows you to share the vision of a different world.

Is Ecuador participating in FITCuba 2012?

The participation of the Min-istry of Tourism of Ecuador has already been announced. This embassy is in charge of the coor-dination to guarantee an impor-tant presence of our country so we can be more and better known through this fair; providing infor-mation about what we are offer-ing, shaking the hand of potential tourists and saying to them: Wel-come to Ecuador! ■

It is expected that in 2012 two million tourists will visit Ecuador; Cuba is working to surpass this year the three million tourists.

Which are the principal tourist destinations?

The charms Ecuador offers national and foreign tourists are the fauna, flora, culture, gastron-omy and other attractions of the beaches of the Ecuadoran coast, the mountains of the Sierra, the jungle in the east and the islands of the Galapagos Archipelago.

Allow me to make an imagi-nary trip for you: You arrive in Quito, a city that is 2,800 meters above sea level, in the middle of mountains, and you can’t ex-plain how a plane lands there, but it lands. Then you meet cheerful, simple people ready to show you that Ecuador is alive with each one of the tourists; you see its streets, architecture, the surrounding sites… sometimes I believe the Garden of Eden is around there, in my country.

Then you visit Cuenca, a city of unrivaled architecture, a city of rivers, bridges of unimaginable beauty, its incomparable women, a cultured city, progressive, the pride of Ecuadorans. You go to the coast and find the most exot-ic beaches in the world and enjoy one of the best gastronomies of the continent.

And the Amazonia, where you begin to understand the enigmat-ic of its nature, it is the most beau-

How to have more friends, how to achieve a greater friendship be-tween the peoples of the world? By offering another type of tourism, not the one dedicated only to ex-ploiting tourists but rather the con-trary, which makes them feel dur-ing those days that they one more Ecuadoran. We have to say that our attributes are accompanied by hu-man warmth, that visitors have to get to know the Ecuadorans, and in this way they immediately find out that they are jovial, hardworking persons, the expression of plurina-tionalism, of wills of different sec-tors that come together in a melt-ing pot that is what we are forming now, that of “Ecuadorianess”.

We put special emphasis in that they are going to find surprises in Ecuador, just like the ones I’ve found here in Cuba, when I have seen tourists that when the time comes for their return they leave with absolute sadness, they don’t want to leave the island; that is what we have to achieve. Why don’t they want to leave? The answer lies in the treatment they receive, the human warmth, the safety; that is the best way to visualize how a so-ciety is structured.

We also have to sell what Cuba sells in tourism. I believe that will be the way in which we will have to give a boost to the tourism campaigns. That when we say that Ecuador loves life it means that Ecuador loves its biodiversity, its flora, its fauna, its people, its gastronomy, its art, its painting, its music, that in short it loves with intensity all that that is the transforming force behind the processes of change.

We believe that it is an oppor-tune moment to boost tourism, to urge in all forums and events that people visit our land, but we also think it is necessary to make revo-lutionary changes in tourism.

What do I mean by this? That if we are able to generate multi-destination routes to visit the dif-ferent countries of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), we would be re-ally fostering that tourists have a full idea of the profound modifi-cations that have taken place. This is well worth being taken into ac-count.

Could you refer to the principal tourist attributes of Ecuador?

Responsible tourism is a trans-forming life experience that gen-erates personal growth, turning us into better human beings. This new concept is based on the prin-ciples of sustainability and ethics and promotes the values of peace, friendship, respect and love of life as the essence of practicing tour-ism. It is a pact of coexistence, re-sponsibility, mutual respect and communion between the tourist agents of the issuing and receiv-ing communities, the tourist and the natural and cultural heritage. Responsible tourism is a live and dynamic concept in constant con-struction. It is an experience of giving and receiving.

About this I must add that this tourism is a permanent exchange of experiences, for example tour-ists visiting Ecuador can give their experiences of what in their coun-tries is understood as preferential treatment to tourists.

Ecuador Opens its Doors to Investment in TourismFrom page 2


Golf Tournaments at Meliá Las Américas

VARADERO’S Meliá Las Américas Hotel is organizing this year sev-eral tournaments as part of its actions to consolidate itself as a specialist of the golf segment in Cuba.

The events include the Solways (June 8-10), Havanatur (June 21-23) and Caribbean Golf Cup (Oc-tober 1-4) tournaments, and the fourth edition of the Meliá Cuba Golf Cup (October 25-27), orga-nized every year by this hotel.

Recommended by the Interna-tional Association of Golf Tour Op-

erators (IAGTO) for its programs and special attentions for golfers, Meliá Las Américas – a five-star all

inclusive conceived only for adults older than 18 – offers players ex-clusive services and facilities.

PARDISUS Río de Oro, Meliá Buenavis-ta and Paradisus Varadero head in that order the first three positions in the ranking of Cuba’s hotels in TripAdvi-sors, the world’s major travel forum, which receives 50 million unique visitors a month.

It is the first time that three Meliá Cu-ba hotels achieve such an outstanding result on TripAdvisors, with more than 65 million opinions and commentaries from travelers about hotels, destinations and other tourist attractions.

These three five-star resorts stand out for their Royal Service, a Premium prod-uct that represents the topmost luxury of the Meliá Cuba hotels.

Paradisus Río de Oro is in Playa Es-meralda, Holguín; Meliá Buenavista is in Cayo Santa María; and Paradisus Varadero owes its name to the interna-tionally renowned Cuban beach where it is located.

Another two Meliá Cuba establish-ments are also included on TripAdvisors’ list of Top Ten most popular hotels of the largest of the Caribbean islands. They are the Meliá Cayo Coco and Paradisus Princesa del Mar, ranked in 8th and 9th place, respectively. ■

Three Meliá Cuba Hotels Head TripAdvisors Ranking

from different periods and styles, rehabilitat-ed and adapted as accommodations. Opened on March 18, 2002, with 32 rooms, it breathes a marine environment in all its spaces.

PARK VIEW***Inaugurated as a hotel in 1928 – built with

U.S. capital -, it is one of Havana’s most ex-clusive. It reopened its doors with a reno-vated image on February 23, 2002. With 55 rooms, it is simple and economic and stands out for being centrally located close to Paseo del Prado.

BELTRÁN DE SANTA CRUZ***Distinguished personalities who visit-

ed Havana were feted in the house that to-day is occupied by this hotel, just a few steps from the Plaza Vieja. Opened on December 23, 2002, with 11 rooms, its attractive design invokes the fusion of modern and old ele-ments.

MESÓN DE LA FLOTA***Located on Mercaderes Street, this ho-

tel with a maritime environment and five rooms, it brings to mind the taverns of the 18th and 19th centuries where sailors used to get together, an image that it rescued since its opening on November 9, 2002. ■

S ix hotels in Old Havana, operated by the Habaguanex S.A. Tourism Company, are celebrating in 2012 their 10th and

15th anniversaries. Santa Isabel and Ambos Mundos are arriving at their 15th anniver-sary, while Armadores de Santander, Park View, Beltrán de Santa Cruz and Mesón de la Flota their 10th.

SANTA ISABEL*****Turned into a hotel in 1867, the former

mansion of the Counts of Santovenia con-tinues being one of the favorites for those who admire the city’s history. Located fac-ing the Plaza de Armas, after its reopening on March 1, 1997 – with 27 rooms – it main-tains its former distinction and comfort and exhibits original architectural elements in the style of the 19th century.

AMBOS MUNDOS****Centrally located, near the Plaza de Ar-

mas, it was inaugurated as a hotel in the 1920s. It perpetuates the memory of famous writer Ernest Hemingway and conserves, as a museum, the room where he stayed and wrote some of his works. After its reopening on February 28, 1997, with 52 rooms, it main-tains the architecture of the 1920s.

ARMADORES DE SANTANDER****At the maritime doors of the city, on Ave-

nida del Puerto, it takes up three buildings

Santa Isabel Hotel, among the favorites because of its

distinction and comfort. Photo: TTC.

Hotels in Old Havana Celebrate 10th and 15th Anniversaries


This nonagenarian hotel has a privileged lookout point, the Roof Garden, which offers unique views of the beautiful panorama of the Bay of Santiago and the entire city. It has 58 rooms and two restaurants - a buffet and one a la carte featuring Cuban and international cui-sine.

Operating in the all-inclusive modality, the Bucanero is located in Baconao Park, just half an hour away from Santiago de Cuba. An excep-tional view of the Caribbean Sea and the moun-tains of eastern Cuba can be seen from any of its 200 rooms; its beach has a rocky formation, ideal for scuba diving and other nautical activities.

Its facilities include three restaurants – a buf-fet, a grill and another one specializing in sea-food -, snack bar, games room, scuba diving les-sons, animation and two swimming pools for children and adults. ■

www.cubanacan.cuwww.hotelescubanacan.com

From the Casa Granda, located in the heart of Santiago, visitors can share the intense his-toric-cultural life of the city and enjoy em-blematic sites like the Cathedral, the Casa de la Trova and the Colonial and Emilio Bacardí museums.

The Cubanacán hotel chain, one of the largest international tourism reception companies in Cuba, has added to its 71-hotel portfolio, start-ing May 1, another two establishments: Casa Granda and Bucanero, both in the city of San-tiago de Cuba.

Casa Granda and Bucanero Hotels Start Operating with Cubanacán

renovated, maintaining the charm of the 1920s, as well as 100% of the sun loungers and sunshades in the swimming pool area, giving it greater comfort. For those wishing to taste a selection of the best Havana cigars, the Rincón del Habano was created in the Chez Merito Restaurant.

Every two weeks the hotel offers the Tapana, an option that allows guests to delight them-selves with a variety of Spanish tapas carefully prepared by the chef, to the point that the most demanding palates are satisfied. Those visiting the Presidente will be able to enjoy delicious international cuisine dishes proposed in the new menu of Chez Merito, as well as using the new services incorporated into the swimming pool bar, an area where important improve-ments have been made.

The Barlovento is presenting various novel-ties. A new shade area was created, with new sun loungers, in the swimming pool; the furni-ture in the lobby and the restaurants was reno-vated; new menus were incorporated adapted to the tastes of the mixed international guests; and a gym is being finished so that guests can exercise and keep in shape.

In the Tropicoco Hotel the furniture of the restaurants and common areas has been reno-vated, as well as the textiles of the majority of its rooms. New services have been introduced, like nighttime snacks in the cafeteria, an ideal spot for a bite or a good Cuban cocktail after a night partying in Havana. This hotel is achiev-ing an evaluation that is above its category, ac-cording to the principal Internet opinion web-sites. ■

Arenas Doradas Hotel.

Like every year, Hoteles C is participating in FITCuba, this time in its new venue of Cayo Santa María. In the numerous meetings it

will have with the principal national and foreign tour operators, Hoteles C will report on the im-provements and reforms carried out in the hotel establishments managed by the chain, with the aim of increasing the level of satisfaction of its guests, which is precisely one of its principal mis-sions. In addition, Hoteles C will sign new agree-ments and strengthen the existing ones with a view to increasing the flow of tourists to Cuba.

The reforms carried out include the conclu-sion of the renovation of 100% of the rooms of the Arenas Doradas Hotel, providing it with a level of comfort that will exceed the expectations of the most demanding guest. Moreover, a new Café Bar was opened – located in the Commer-cial Gallery that gives access to the Buffet Res-taurant -, where guests can enjoy an exquisite variety of coffees and cocktails in a relaxed at-mosphere.

The finishing touches are being given to the capital repair of the Beach Ranchón thatched roof restaurant, whose menu will include suc-culent paellas and fideuas, as well as an exten-sive offer of grilled meats and fish. All the sun loungers of the swimming pool were renovated and a new customer service department was in-corporated, a space for guests to make reserva-tions in the thematic restaurants or communi-cate any incident, which will be rapidly seen to, always seeking visitors’ maximum satisfaction and service.

In the Presidente Hotel the wall-to-wall carpets on all the floors and the textiles were

Hotel Plant Managed by Hoteles C Improves


LOCATED in the heart of the city of Guantánamo, the emblematic Martí Hotel reopened its doors after a capital remodeling from which it emerges as an elegant and modern installation ready to provide its guests quality services. This opening strengthens the im-age of the Islazul Hotel Group in the easternmost Cuban province.

With its art deco architecture, the Martí has 21 modern and comfort-able air-conditioned rooms that have balconies with a panoramic view, private bathroom, telephone and satellite TV; in addition to a cybercafé, central safety deposit box, a restaurant serving international and Cuban food – the specials on its menu include the “ajiaco baracoano” (Baracoa-style Meat, Stew), the “fritura de malanga” (taro fritters) and other autoch-thonous dishes from the region -, a bar restaurant and the terrace bar.

The fact that it is centrally lo-cated makes it easy for visitors to have direct contact with the gen-uine people of Guantánamo, the architectural diversity of the en-vironment and the new and at-tractive local gastronomic and recreation offers.

Some of the tourist attractions close to the hotel are Martí Park, for-merly the Plaza de Armas, where the Santa Catalina de Ricci Cathedral - for many the world’s smallest – stands: the Changüí and Trova (musical genres) houses, the 1870 Restaurant, the venue of the Tumba Francesa, a dance society declared an Intangible World Heritage; plus the options of the routes and walks to attractive sites like the Stone Zoo, between cof-fee plantations, the only one of its type in the world, created by farmers turned sculptors. ■

Guantánamo’s Martí Hotel Reopens its Doors

Transtur Renews and Strengthens

ServicesIN EARLY 2012 Transtur incorporated into its f leet more than 190 new Chinese-made buses to offer tourist transportation services throughout the island, among them several two-floor roofless buses to strengthen its tourist service in the archipela-go’s principal destinations.

This economic and safe Hop on-Hop off option, greatly ac-cepted among visitors from all over the world, places our cul-ture, history and the incredible beauty of the landscape at the reach of travelers. The Varadero Tourist Bus has acquired spe-cial relevance. A pioneer in this modality, it is celebrating its 10 years of service with great enthusiasm together with its clients by offering a service of excellence.

In addition to Varadero, these tourist buses are at your dis-posal in Havana, Viñales, Matanzas, Guamá, Trinidad, Jardines del Rey, Guardalavaca and Holguín, giving visitors the possibil-ity of enjoying the attractions of the largest of the Antilles.

Also previewed is the entrance of more than 700 vehicles for car rentals, all of them automatic, different models of the Kia trademark that will renovate the f leet of Cubatur and Havana-utos and will contribute new and better services, always seek-ing the fundamental premise of Transtur: the satisfaction of its clients. ■

Gaviota Presents the Playa Coco

LOCATED on Cayo Coco, in Jardines del Rey, to the north of Ciego de Avila province, the Playa Coco**** vacation resort, a new Gaviota brand that operates in the all-inclusive modality, it is ideal to enjoy with the family or with friends.

The Playa Coco Hotel has 307 air-conditioned rooms – 306 standard and a Master Suite, three for the handicapped -, with bathroom, hairdryer, telephone, CD/radio player, satellite TV, mini bar, coffee maker, iron, ironing board and safety deposit box.

Four restaurants, Trinidad, Tokyo Japanese, Venice Italian and Santiago Seafood, offer Cuban and international, Asian, Italian and seafood meals, respectively; and five bars, among them a 24-hour snack bar and another by the beachside, offer an array of varied cocktails, liqueurs and internationally re-nowned beverages.

In addition to being located on an excellent beach, with very fine sand, shallow waters and high values in the seabed, it has two swimming pools, two Jacuzzis, a fitness center, Mini Club and Baby Club, Internet room and the rental of cars, motor-bikes and bicycles.

For entertainment, you can opt for diverse activities: day and night animation in several hotel areas for children and adults; sports – tennis, table tennis, giant chess -, nautical ac-tivities – kayaks, sailboats, water bikes, windsurfing, snorkel-ing -, seafood suppers facing the sea, romantic nights of piano bar or to the rhythm of the Disco Coco. Moreover, the Playa Coco has designed interesting packages for wedding and hon-eymoons. ■


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compared to the previous year, which presupposes an effective influence of the policy of pro-motion and marketing of that region.

Favorite Cuban Destinations in 2011

DURING 2011, Cuban accom-modation establishments regis-tered 17,476,829 foreign tourist days, 9.4% more than in 2010. Just as it has historically done, Matanzas welcomed the largest volume of overnight stays, 43% of Cuba’s total, since the fa-mous Varadero beach resort is located in this province. Havana continues in second place, with 16% of the foreign tourist days, followed by Holguín, Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila.

The biggest growths in the number of overnight stays, as compared to 2010, were ob-tained in the provinces of Villa Clara (35%) and Guantánamo (24%). Compared to previous years, the five eastern provinc-es showed positive indicators in overnight stays in 2011, as

In terms of foreign investments in the sec-tor, the deputy minister said that out of the 58,000 rooms in the country, 6,000 belong to some 30 joint ventures, while it is expected others will start functioning.

“Cuba has a potential to diversify tour-ism, backed by its history, heritage and na-ture. We designed a strong marketing and promotion program that has had a positive impact until now.” The idea is for Cuba, ac-cording to Trujillo, not only be seen as a sun and beach destination, for which important investments are being made and strategies have been drawn up to guarantee a progres-sive and diversified development.

He mentioned the boost being given to nautical activities and scuba diving. The ho-tel growth has a marked interest in places where circuits and tours – which have been in high demand in recent years - can be in-creased, especially in areas of the center of the country like Trinidad and Camagüey.

To achieve a greater non-hotel develop-ment, there are plans to build 13 new golf courses, which are currently in different stages of negotiation, and the setting up of several theme parks.

With the precedent that the increased f low of travelers did not correspond with incomes, Trujillo said that “in 2011 Cuba already had a more favorable situation, incomes grew 11.9% and up to date in 2012 they have increased 12%. It’s something we see as positive,” the deputy minister of tourism affirmed. ■Alexis Trujillo, first deputy minister of tourism.

Tourism in Cuba is continuing its solid growth in 2012, in terms of arrivals as well as tourist infrastructure, accord-

ing to a press conference given in Havana by First Deputy Minister of Tourism Alexis Trujillo, who predicted that “this should be a good year for tourism.”

The number of foreign tourists has been increasing during recent years at a rate of 10.5% as an annual average since 1990. Cuba closed 2011 with a record 2,716,317 visitors, 7.3% more than in 2010. The increase in the number of Russian and Argentine visitors stands out, with 40% and 30%, respectively, as well as the end of the decrease that Euro-pean states like the United Kingdom, Ger-many and France had exhibited in the last three-year period.

The close of the first quarter of 2012 reg-istered a growth of about 4% as compared to the same period the year before. After a de-crease in January, in February 309,508 visi-tors were received, 5.6% more than in 2011. In the figures for the January-February total (the last available figures of the National Of-fice of Statistics, by markets, at the close of this edition), Canada was still in first place, followed by Argentina – which has suddenly replaced the principal traditional European markets -, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and Spain, in that order.

Tourist activity projections include the building of 25,000 new rooms by 2020, with the participation of Cuban and joint capital.

Cuban Tourist Industry Grows in Numbers in 2012


TTC On LineAS a novelty, TTC is announcing that its printed editions are also available on line in Italian, Spanish and English, so our readers can have the possibility of reading them in their preferred language.

From the webpage and from the weekly e-bulletin, they will have free access to all the information and publicity ads directly from the computer, just click on the access instruction and you will be able to navi-gate in our pages.

This is a new service that easily gets readers closer to the printed versions that TTC distributes to professionals from the sector at the most important tourism fairs in the world. In this way we are in-creasing our potential readers to close to 50,000 contacts every week throughout the world.

Cordial greetings,TTC Editorial Staff

and fifth in the Caribbean. Cayo Coco, which ranked 20th in the world, is located in the Jar-dines del Rey archipelago, whose more than 30 kilometers of beaches of coralline origin, distributed between Cayo Coco, Cayo Guill-ermo and Cayo Paredón Grande, are attractive above all for their peaceful environment and natural beauty, both in terms of flora and bird fauna. ■

Cuba’s Varadero and Cayo Coco beach resorts were chosen by Internet navigators in a spe-cialized poll and classified on the list of the world’s 25 best beaches, according to www.tri-padvisor.com. Both beaches won the Traveler’s Choice 2012 Beach Destination Prize, which is promoted by the aforementioned website.

Varadero, in the western province of Matanzas, came in 10th place on a world level

Varadero.

Varadero and Cayo Coco Among World’s 25 Best Beaches


Interior and terrace of the Palacio San

Miguel.

diving centers of Cuba: Jardines de la Reina, Cayo Largo and Cayo Levisa.»

But the promotion doesn’t stop there; the On Air EXPLORA Café! radio program hosted by Moreno Rognoni, director of Promotion, Events and Relations with the Media, on diverse na-tional radios stations and which frequently centers on Cuba, of-fers listeners interesting ideas about trips (sea, nature, culture and history, folklore and art, music, nautical and land sports, etc.)

“Press Tours has received from Cuba great economic sat-isfaction,” Landini says. “In 2011 there was a registered turnover of around 30 million euros, 10% more than in 2010, and close to 25,000 passengers. The first three months of 2012 registered a +4% increase as compared to the same period in 2011.

“The next edition of FIT-Cuba, the first to take place in Cayo Santa María,” Landini concludes, “as always foresees the presence of my entire fami-ly, with enthusiasm, to give con-tinuity to a tradition we don’t want to break: attending the pro-motional tourist manifestation in Cuba, a destination we have loved so much for many years. As always, they will be days of useful and important meetings, with the suppliers as well as with our Cuban colleagues who mar-velously organize the attendance in the place and, of course, with the authorities with which we have always been united by the wish to promote and sell a quali-ty tourism based on deep human values and the landscape that only Cuba can offer to a tourist seeking ‘the charm of the Carib-bean,’ with a reality of living in full safety.” ■

“The year 2012 won’t be dif-ferent from the previous one,” Fabio Landini continued, “since we are going to also develop co-marketing operations with MINTUR in Italy, sealing a strong, rich and attractive re-lation and collaboration, with events throughout the year. Re-garding the part dedicated to marketing, we are going to orga-nize seminars for agencies and theme trips. For the consumer sector we will continue with the promotions of and combinations in the Cuba destination, like the Underwater Salon to show the different realities and possibili-ties of tourism to a heteroge-neous public and with specific traveling wishes. Let’s remember that Press Tours manages, pro-motes and markets, exclusively for the Italian market, the three leading and renowned scuba

hand in hand with the environ-ment and the marine world; the two EXPLORA *Café* in Havana, the Palacio O’Farril and Pala-cio San Miguel, with the historic characteristics and located in the very heart of the capital; the EX-PLORA *Café* Los Delfines and Turquesa Bungalow in Varade-ro, to meet the needs of families, children, couples and groups of friends; the EXPLORA *Café* Sol Club Pelícano for scuba diving aficionados who want a complete and well managed all inclusive; the EXPLORA *Resort* Playa Pesquero, with views of the im-pressive Guardalavaca beach, in eastern Cuba, a resort of excep-tional beauty and very high qual-ity, suitable for all clients; and, fi-nally, the EXPLORA *Paradise* Jardines de la Reina, an exclusive Press Tours proposal for “really” scuba diving fans.

Press Tours is celebrating this year 30 years of activity, a no-table achievement marked by

a growing leadership in Cuba that led it to become one of the biggest and most reliable operators on the reference target, with an offer that has not only been sun and beach but which has always centered on the island’s other products.

“For 2012 we have drawn up (as we have done for many years),” general director Fabio Landini ex-plains, “an important theme cata-logue dedicated to Cuba: some 100 pages of information, proposals, tours, hotels; in short, a compen-dium to show Cuba to the mar-ket that increasingly chooses our product.”

Our strength lies in the eight Explora *Café*, a concept that “goes beyond the villaggio (tourist villa),” structures that, in addition to the guarantees given by the op-erator in terms of constant atten-tion by the specialized staff, offers characteristics that differentiate it from the usual Italian villag-gio of animation: the location in the center of interest, an extreme characterization. Placing it in each destination always choosing the typical structures of the place, the program of events, a group of mini excursions, meetings orga-nized by the personnel that takes the guests outside the villaggio to discover the place’s “live culture.”

Explora *Café* was created to take the client “beyond the vil-laggio” and, in that sense, has be-come an attractive program for individual clients.

It must be recalled that the Explora *Café* are located in the different destinations to offer the dissimilar target clients the op-portunity to enjoy all the “plea-sures of the trip.”

EXPLORA *Café* Cayo Le-visa EcoResort for nature lovers,

Cayo Levisa.

Press Tours Celebrates 30 Years of Activity in Cuba


Cuba-Trinidad and Tobago Trade Relations Going WellTHE TOURISM and Industrial Development Com-pany of Trinidad and Tobago (TIDCO) is a govern-ment entity belonging to the Ministry of Com-merce and Industry, represented in Cuba since 2007 to promote trade between Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba, a goal it has met through the following activities:

• Information presentations for businesspeo-ple and government entities of both coun-tries

• Commercial guidance and consultancy • Business rounds to identify the correspond-ing counterparts

• Organization of programs for Trinidadian delegations and individual businesspeople

• Exhibition of Trinidadian export products in Cuba

• Participation in trade fairs and related events in CubaTrinidad and Tobago has systematically par-

ticipated in the Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV); TIDCO has attended EXPOCARIBE in Santiago de Cuba; and, for the first time in 2012, there was an official representation of the Trinidad and Tobago business community of the construction sector in the International Construction Fair (FECONS). In 2011 a Business Forum was held in the framework of the Carib-bean Festival in Santiago de Cuba, dedicated on that occasion to Trinidad and Tobago.

A notable amount of Trinidadian business-people come to Cuba every year to promote their products and services, with the aim of identifying interests and possible businesses and thus developing professional trade and col-laboration relations with Cuban entities.

Several companies are currently holding ne-gotiations with Cuba:

• Sacha, a cosmetics company dedicated to products especially made for exotic skins like the ones existing in the Caribbean

• Hyline Label Limited, a producer of labels that works with pharmaceutical and bever-age companies

• John Dickinson Limited, a manufacturer of pa-per products, currently supplies bond paper to Cuban companies

• Fluid Technologies Worldwide, in the oil sec-tor, which has been providing its services to the Cuban market for 10 years

• Republic Bank in Cuba, in the financial sector, which offers banking and financial services – letters of credit and others – to businesspeo-ple of different nationalities

• Cubatrin, a Trinidadian company that is in the business of marketing Cuban pharmaceutical products in Trinidad and Tobago

Contact: Wedding Planning TeamE-mail: [email protected]

tributed in 21 bungalows, with three stories each. Interconnect-ed rooms are available for the handicapped and non-smokers.

The Barceló Cayo Santa María Beach Colonial Resort has a peculiarity that consists in that the guests staying in the complex will be able to equally enjoy the facilities and restau-rants of both sections (both ho-tels). ■

from a private check in for the bride and groom to a romantic supper for newlyweds.

Divided into two sections (hotels), Barceló Cayo Santa María Beach – with 612 junior suites and 12 suites – and Bar-celó Cayo Santa María Colonial – with 672 junior suites and 12 suites -, the Resort as a whole has 1,308 air-conditioned rooms, completely equipped and dis-

Wedding Ceremony officiated by a Notary, Legalized Cuban Mar-riage Certificate, special decora-tion and music for the ceremony, champagne for the toast, delica-cies in the rooms and during the couple’s stay in the hotel.

For newlyweds who dream about an eternal honeymoon, everything is ready in this hotel complex to offer them unforget-table moments full of the most intimate details. Not to mention the daring couples who decide to renew their marriage vows…

The Barceló Cayo Santa María Beach Colonial Resort, a ro-mantic place for romantic

occasions, has prepared sever-al wedding, honeymoon and re-newal of marriage vows packag-es.

The Resort is located on Cayo Santa María, to the north of Villa Clara province, by the seashore and in perfect harmony with an environment where vegetation and a varied fauna predominate.

Its wedding programs include the Wedding Planning Services,

Splendid for Weddings, Honeymoons and Renewing Marriage Vows

B A R C E L Ó C A Y O S A N T A M A R Í A B E A C H C O L O N I A L R E S O R T


headed by Minister José Napoleón Duarte, received the passengers. In the words of the minister, “El Salvador is still positioning itself on the radar to be one of the tour-ist destinations where ships dock to get to know our attractions.

The Guatemalan Institute of Tourism, which was present in the most important cruise fair, the Cruise Shipping of Miami, an-nounced it expects to increase by 20% the arrival of cruise ships to the country during the 2012-2013 season, which ranges from Octo-ber of this year to April of next year, which would mean the arriv-al of 58 cruise ships, 10 more than during the current season, which in turn will increase 6% the hard currency currently collected. ■

cruise ship Ms Deutschland, on which 250 German, Austrian and Swiss tourists were traveling. A Ministry of Tourism delegation,

over, numerous cruise companies have docked for the first time.

El Salvador received in the port of Acajutla, for the first time, the

The Central American tourist destinations of Belize, Costa Ri-ca, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hon-duras, Nicaragua and Panama are expanding as cruise opera-tors.

Those countries “as a whole have achieved positions as a des-tination, as one of the most attrac-tive in the cruise market,” accord-ing to a report published in the region. The Ministry of Tourism of Belize indicated, for 2012 a big increase is expected, mainly be-cause 2012 is the year of the Maya World and Belize is part of it.

In terms of Costa Rica, official data from the Costa Rican Insti-tute of Tourism indicate that the season from October to May 2011 has been the best in years. More-

German “Ms Deutschland” cruise ship.

Cruise Destinations Increase in Central America

FLIGHT DAYS, FROM MAY TO OCTOBER

Luanda-Havana

DT702 LAD/HAV

Havana-Luanda

DT703 HAV/LAD

May 15 and 29 May 17 and 31

June 12 and 26 June 14 and 28

July 10 and 24 July 12 and 26

August 07 and 21 August 09 and 23

September 04 and 18 September 06 and 20

October 02 and 16 October 04 and 18

DEPARTURES ARRIVALS

From Luanda:

Tuesday at 11:00,

local time

To Havana:

the same Tuesday at

19:45, local time

From Havana:

Thursday at 01:05,

local time

To Luanda:

the same Thursday at

19:50, local time

OFFICE AT HAVANA’S JOSÉ MARTÍ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTTel.: (+537) 649 8817Email: [email protected]

RESERVATIONS AND PROCEDURESfrom 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to

Friday, in the Havana, Cuba, office.23 Nº 64 e/ P y Malecón, Vedado.Tel.: (+537) 833 3527 / 833 3528Fax: (+537) 833 3049Email: [email protected] / www.taag.com

WELCOME onboard TAAG, the Ango-lan airline that has been operating in Cuba since May 18, 1976.

TAAG, the only direct connection be-tween Africa and Cuba, announces the Summer Schedule of its Havana-Luanda route, with a fortnightly frequency.

The f leet used by these some 13-hour-long regular f lights is made up by Boe-ing 777-200 ERs with 255 capacities, 14 in the business class and 241 in the economic class.

INFORMATION FOR PASSENGERSPassengers must reconfirm their reser-

vations with a minimum of 72 hours be-fore the f light’s departure in any of TAAG’s sales offices, personally or by phone, in Lu-anda as well as in Havana.

TAAG Presents…its Summer Schedule


ents’ equipment and easy access to the Kite Center.

A great deal of Villa Cojímar evokes the figure of Ernest Hemingway, because it bears the same name of the Havana town intimately linked to the sea and literary life of the writer, where he used to dock the yacht Pilar, as well as for being located in the scenario of one of his most important novels, Islands in the Stream, in which he describes the place as a “green and promising” site.

The principal markets that come to Villa Cojímar are Canada, United Kingdom, Argen-tina and the national; to a lesser extent tourists from Scandinavia, Finland, Russia and Italy. ■

CONTACTAddress: Cayo Guillermo, Jardines del Rey, Ciego de ÁvilaTel.: (53 33) 30 1712 / Fax: (53 33) 30 1725E-mail: [email protected]: www.gran-caribe.cu

shallow waters, behavior of the tides, currents and wave height –, making it a privileged area for the practice and learning of kite surfing, a modality of the so-called extreme sports that attracts many followers.

Next winter, the Kite Center will open its doors in Villa Cojímar. It provides an access area for takeoff, maritime safety with rescue vessel and qualified personnel, as well as the Kite rooms, with specific furniture for the cli-

Since you make your entrance to Villa Co-jímar*** and come across an exquisitely redecorated and transformed lobby, you

perceive to a great extent the airs of renova-tion lying in wait throughout the Villa, after a process of general restoration and remodeling that, on a par with increasing its room plant, perfected the infrastructure of the hotel and gave it a rejuvenated image.

All the rooms by the seashore were renovat-ed, in addition to the construction of 54 new standard rooms and eight junior suites, all of them in Brazilian-style double wooden caban-as. Villa Cojímar also offers now a new Mini Club with independent swimming pool.

After the general renovation, the restaurant area benefited with the expansion of the ca-pacity of the Ranchón Playa thatched-roof eat-ing place, at present with a new design in wood to assimilate more than 100 guests; the renova-tion of the Pasta and Pizza Italian restaurant; and the total reconstruction of the snack bar.

Villa Cojímar, a Gran Caribe Hotel Group brand hotel, operates under the all-inclusive modality, and is ideal for family tourism be-cause of its completely safe and beautiful en-vironment.

Its hotel plant, conceived in complete har-mony with the natural environment, is made up by 280 rooms. All of them have A/C, tele-phone, satellite TV, safety deposit box, haird-ryer, mini fridge, private bathroom, balcony, terrace or a view to the sea.

It has three restaurants, a Ranchón Playa and four bars; it provides diverse types of ser-vices, including legal service for weddings and Internet, and has several facilities at the dis-posal of its guests to practice sports and enter-tainment.

On the stretch between Pilar and Los Per-ros beaches a group of natural characteristics converge – direction and force of the winds,

Villa Cojímar, Now Totally Renovated


Friends of Fangio Group, in La Piragua, Havana.

On February 25, 1957 Fangio won in Ha-vana the 1st Grand Prix of Cuba (the first For-mula 1 race in Havana), whose circuit on the Malecón seaside drive was almost six kilome-ters long near an area known today as La Pir-agua.

On Sunday February 23, 1958, just a few hours before the 2nd Grand Prix of Cuba, he was kidnapped by a group of youths who be-longed to the 26th of July Movement to show the world the strength of the revolutionary movement, and the news made the headlines of the principal dailies and magazines in the Americas and Europe. The Lincoln Hotel currently keeps as a museum room 810, where Fangio stayed during that trip.

Considered one of the best Formula 1 driv-ers, Fangio was five-time champion in that modality, in which, after beginning his career in 1948, he maintained the record of most ti-tles for more than four decades. At the time of his death he had to his name 24 Grand Prix before his retirement in 1958. ■

The answer to why in a country like Cuba, so far away from Argentina and where there are no professional automobile races, Fangio is venerated comes from his transcendental con-tacts with the island.

HAVANA remembers Argentine automobile racer Juan Manuel Fangio (Balcarce, June 24, 1911 – Buenos Aires, July 17, 1995) every Saturday at four in the afternoon on the Explanada de La Piragua, at one side of the Hotel Nacional and facing the immense Malecón seaside drive, jour-nalist Lupe Fuentes, public relations representa-tive of the Friends of Fangio Group, told TTC.

The Group (www.amingosdefangio.org) is a non-profit association that brings together many of Cuba’s fans of automobile and motor-cycle racing and vintage cars. It was created on July 1, 2007 by an enthusiastic group headed by Cuban Lorenzo Verdecia.

Havana Remembers Fangio

“rational”. I’m speaking of the influence of such represen-tative figures of the great South American nation like Jorge Luis Borges, a famous Argentine, an Argentine by birth and vocation.

Illustrative of these outstanding ties are the words of an-other poet, Cuban and universal – our Cintio Vitier – in one of the publications that has been a landmark in the evolution of our cultural history like the magazine Orígenes: “Because every matured guest, like Borges, because of the lucidity and inspiration, penetrates and verifies our house.”1

Borges enriches the arsenal of the Cuban poetic imagina-tion, during years in which a small group of artists aimed to reinvent in Cuba that which another illustrious Argentine, the little remembered Eduardo Mallea, revealed as the secret Argentina.

In this Caribbean island that parallelism, necessary for the factual and daily existence, was welcomed and encour-aged by the best of our artistic representation. Poets and crit-ics like the emblematic Roberto Fernández Retamar and the already mentioned Cintio Vitier interwove that irrefutable imprint by revering one of the most loved sons of our Amer-ica: “Is it perhaps licit that we approach such a poetic wisdom without the hope of translating something of the fervor into lessons?”2■

1 Vitier, Cintio: En torno a la poesía de Jorge Luís Borges (About Jorge Luis Borges’ poetry). In: Orígenes, volume 2, N. 6, 1945, p. 33.

2 Ibídem

If we try to discern the scope of Argentine influence in the largest of the Antillean islands, we note, an idea barely conceived, the possibility of taking sev-eral paths; more or less popular paths, whose com-

mon denominator is the definitive enrichment of Cuban culture.

Suffice it to pay some attention to the city’s cultural movement to notice the proliferation of tango groups performing in the middle of

Havana’s Paseo del Prado, to delve a bit in the collective memory and feel in an ex-

plicit manner the imprint of that fanati-cism caused in our country by the magic nostalgia of a Carlos Gardel, whose mag-

netizing power won over a multitude that indefinitely devoured “El día que me qui-eras”, or simply confirm the enjoyment of an exquisite Argentine candy called alfajor. And moreover the enthusias-

tic congeniality that the South American soccer, especially figures like Maradona, has sprouted in Cuba.

However, the subtle presence of Ar-gentina in Cuba doesn’t end there, and

while it is true that in all the afore-mentioned there isn’t a lack of poet-

ry – the poetry that emanates natu-rally from all that is beautiful – we could not obviate that other trail that poetic reality builds, solidify-ing vast ties, inherent to that ex-

pression that makes up for the lack of a language only ad-

hered to the “logical” or the

■ Julio Antonio Gómez DíazProfessor of the Don Fernando Ortiz House of Higher Studies, University of Havana

f we try to discern the scopin the largest of the Antillidea barely conceived, theeral paths; more or less po

mon denominator is theCuban culture.

Suffice it to pay socultural movement tof tango groups per

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plicit manner thecism caused in onostalgia of a Ca

netizing power woindefinitely devoeras”, or simplyof an exquisite alfajor. And m

tic congeniality thsoccer, especially figsprouted in Cuba.

However, thegentina in Cub

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Subtle Presence of Argentine Culture in Cuba


Basilica Minor of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.

El Cobre Cultural Landscape and Our Lady of Charity’s Ways Declared a National Monument

found by three humble fishers who transported it from the Bay of Nipe to the indigenous farm of Barajagua, following paths that cross the regions until reaching the mining town, of which there are lasting material testimonies. ■

al evidence of the Cuban indus-trial heritage and the first Afri-can slave uprisings in the country, represented in the copper mines. To this is added the historical ev-idence of the statue of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre’s journey,

tural landscape of high historical values, based on its character as-sociated to the Temple and the re-mains of old buildings that served to venerate the virgin.

Also relevant, according to the document, is the exception-

El Cobre Cultural Landscape and names sites of the ways of Our Lady of Charity of El

Cobre – like Cayo La Virgen and Barajagua – have been declared a National Monument of the Re-public of Cuba.

The official appointment rec-ognizes the statue of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, found on the Bay of Nipe in 1612, as part of the identity of the Cuban people, which has paid her tribute and has identified in her a symbol of faith and inspiration for their most cherished wishes for freedom and justice.

The Resolution, signed by Dr. Eusebio Leal, president of the National Commission of Monu-ments, also highlights how the basilica minor of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre is a place of pilgrimage for Cubans and for-eigners; conserved there is the original statue, which has em-broidered among its attributes the shield of the Cuban nation.

The basilica as well as the town of Real de Minas, where it is situ-ated, is located in a select physi-cal and natural framework that gives place, as a whole, to a cul-


The Caribbean Hotel and Tour-ism Association (CHTA) will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a Caribbean Tourism Sum-mit that will be supported by the Caribbean Tourism Associa-tion, from June 15 to 16, 2012 in Jamaica.

The Summit, to be held at Jamaica’s Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall, is open to all personnel of the tourism and hospitality industry of the region and will offer general sessions that will deal with diverse topics: inter-national aeronautic policy and its impact on the Caribbean’s tourism; existing air routes to and in the Caribbean and pro-jections for future develop-ment; competitiveness of the vacation experiences offered by the Caribbean: Caribbean hotels, are they being relegat-ed by competitors in the Indian Ocean and South East Asia?; and person to person: the im-portance of services not only in hotels and restaurants but also taxis, shops and government services.

The event will also serve to hand over the industry’s prizes, including those for the Caribbe-an Employee of the Year, Carib-bean Supervisor of the Year, Ca-ribbean Allied Member of the Year, Caribbean Association Ex-ecutive of the Year and Caribbe-an Hotel Manager of the Year.

Jamaica’s Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall.

Caribbean Tourism Summit in Jamaica

ism professionals (organized by province), with their addresses, telephones, email addresses and websites (if they have them). It is structured in the following items: banks, entities, foreign hotel companies, hotels, air-ports, cruise terminals, air cargo terminals, airlines, land trans-portation, marinas, real estate agencies, international scuba diving centers, convention cen-ters, healthcare centers, travel agencies, tour operators and In-fotur. The remaining pages com-prise publicity for entities, pal-adares and accommodations in houses.

The COB Monographic Cubawill be distributed by courte-sy at FITCuba and in the world tourism fairs where TTC par-ticipates, as well as during other tourist meetings. ■

Sites, cultural as well as natural, and Biosphere Reserves.Following this it describes the principal tourist destinations, organized by the three geograph-ic regions – western, central and eastern – and by provinces.The second part is strictly speak-ing the directory, which lists around 1,500 references of plac-es of interest basically for tour-

AS PART of the days of confer-ences parallel to the negotiations that will take place during FIT-Cuba 2012, on Tuesday May 8, at 15:30 hours, in the presentation room of the town of La Estrel-la, TTC will have a space for the launching of the second edition of the Caribbean Operators Book (COB) Monographic Cuba.The COB Monographic Cuba is basically divided into two parts: a mini guide of Cuba in Spanish, Italian and English and a strictly speaking directory.The mini guide begins with gen-eral information about Cuba that offers: geographical, demo-graphic and social data accord-ing to the official statistics of the latest annual close of the Nation-al Office of Statistics; political-administrative structures, na-tional symbols, places declared by UNESCO as World Heritage

TTC Invite to Launching of COB Monographic Cuba at FITCuba

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more than in 2010, had traveled from that South American nation to different tourist destinations in the Cuban archipelago.

According to the official site of the aforemen-tioned Office, www.turismodecuba.com.ar, the providers of services in Argentina who support the marketing of the Cuba destination are, as tour operators: All Seasons, Chasma Tours, Del-fos Operadora Mayorista, Empretur, Eurotur, Eu-rovips, Eves, Free Way, Geomédica, Grupo On-line, Havanatur, Iberojet, Juan Toselli, Julia Tours, Logan Travel, MDC Marcelo Da Cunha Turismo, Mulemba, Ola Turismo, Organización Piamon-te, Scubatour, Siga Turismo, Soles, Solways, Sta-tion Travel, Tip Travel Bureau, Top Dest, Tower Travel, Trayecto Uno and Viajes Barceló; and as airline companies: Copa Airlines, Cubana de Avi-ación, Grupo Taca y LAN AIRLINES S.A. ■

IN THE January-February, 24,833 Argentine tour-ists arrived in Cuba (+37.3%), only preceded by Canada, thus displacing the European countries that have traditionally been the principal markets, like the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France and Spain.

A preliminary report published mid last March by the Cuban Tourist Information and Promotion Office for the Southern Cone, based in Argentina, said that in the first nine weeks of 2012 more Ar-gentines had traveled to Cuba than in 2005 - pre-liminary estimates indicated then that up until last March 4, a total of 26,401 passengers, almost 40%

Argentine Arrivals to Cuba Increase


With the new frequencies, Delta departs from New York to Santo Domingo at 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., and returns from the Domini-can Republic at 1:40 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. In the case of Santiago, the departures from New York will be at 8:10 a.m. and 9:10 p.m., and the return trips at 1:15 p.m. and 2:02 a.m.

THREE NEW ROUTES FROM COSTA RICA WITH AVIANCA-TACAMontreal, Brasilia and Monterrey are the

three new routes Avianca-Taca will open in the first week of June from the Juan Santama-ría International Airport in San José, Costa Ri-ca, from where the holding flies to another 18 destinations with direct flights.

The flight to Monterrey, Mexico, will be op-erated directly three times a week; to Montre-al, three times a week with a stopover in its San Salvador connection center; and the service to Brasilia, with four weekly frequencies, will make a stopover in Bogotá, Colombia. These three flights are added to the 18 destinations serviced directly from the Costa Rican capital.

In 2011, the San José hub operated 306 flights a week, with an average 72.5% occupancy rate, offering 36,000 seats per week and more than 1.3 million mobilized passengers.

AIR CARAÏBES INAUGURATES SANTO DOMINGO-PARIS FLIGHTAir Caraïbes inaugurated the Santo Do-

mingo-Paris Orly route on an Airbus A320-300 – the first flight was on March 25. The two flights to Paris will offer services on Fridays and Sundays, thus responding to the growing demand of passengers to that destination.

With this new connection the airlines has six transatlantic flights, in addition to flying to Guadeloupe, Martinique, Port-au-Prince, Cuba and Brazil.

The Air Caraïbes fleet was expanded with five new Airbus A320s that in the first se-mester will offer a new Madras business class (Business-Affaires), as well as a new Caraïbes class (Premium economic). ■

OPENING OF NEW FLIGHTS IN CANCUNCancun’s tourist authorities were able to

come to an agreement with several wholesale agencies and airlines for the opening of seven new flights to the famous destination of the Mexican Caribbean. Thanks to those negoti-ations, it hopes to achieve during this year a 20% increase in European visitors.

This was said by Jesús Almaguer, general director of the Cancun Office of Visitors and Conventions (OVC), who also highlighted that the German Condor Airline will increase its weekly flights to Cancun from four to seven, departing from Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich.

Moreover, the executive announced that the Air Berlin Company has accepted to increase the weekly links between the German capital and Cancun from three to four, and that the opening of three charter flights a week was ne-gotiated by TUI.

Almaguer also said that a Condor flight be-tween Vienna and Cancun is in the process of negotiations as well as the possible reestab-lishment of the KLM flights from Holland to the Mexican Caribbean, thus increasing this market that now arrives indirectly to the re-gion through Aeroflot, Air France and British Airways.

DELTA AIR LINES ADDS FLIGHTS TO DOMINICAN REPUBLICIn March Delta Air Lines added two new

flights from the New York John F. Kennedy Airport to the Dominican Republic. The U.S. airline previously offered a daily flight to Santo Domingo and another to Santiago, the Carib-bean country’s second city, close to the tourist area of Puerto Plata and its Costa Norte, and now there will be two in each case.

NEW COLOMBIA-CUBA FLIGHTAvianca-Taca Airline began a direct and

nonstop Bogotá-Havana flight twice a week. The link between Colombia and Cuba will be operated on Airbus A319s with capacity for 120 passengers, 12 in Business Class and 108 in Tourist Class, on Mondays and Fridays.

The flight schedules available now in the reservation systems will enable travelers from the Caribbean to have access to connections via Avianca to several Colombian cities. They will also have access to the principal capitals and cities of the region, like Caracas, Quito, Panama and Sao Paulo, among others.

The president of the company, Fabio Ville-gas, said that the aim of this route’s operations is to consolidate the connection options for the Latin American tourist market seeking lei-sure and enjoyment alternatives in the Carib-bean. “We are very pleased to offer our clients this new route to get to Havana, a destination known for its history and natural attractions,” he underlined.

AIR EUROPA TO OPERATE DIRECT BARCELONA-SANTO DOMINGO ROUTEFrom June 24 to September 30 of this year,

coinciding with the summer season, Air Euro-pa will start operating a direct route between Barcelona and the capital of the Dominican Republic, which could be a permanent link de-pending on its success. The connection will ini-tially be operated with two frequencies a week on an Airbus A320, with capacity for close to 300 persons.

Air Europa already has a regular link to San-to Domingo, but from Madrid’s Barajas Air-port. The novelty of this new route lies in that in Barcelona the airline will not have another competitor, which is why the majority of the travelers going from that city to Santo Domin-go will do so this summer using these flights.

N E W C U B A N A N D C A R I B B E A N A I R C O N N E C T I O N S


Accommodation Capacities Expanded in GuardalavacaTHE TOURISM authorities in the Guardalavaca beach resort, in the easternmost part of Cuba, announced that they plan to expand their ac-commodation capacities with the construction of new installations. An agreement has been reached for the design of a work that will add 483 rooms to complete that tourist destination’s infrastructure.

The future accommodation and services unit, designed by the Vér-tice Company of the Cuban Ministry of Construction, will be operated by the Cubanacán and Iberostar tourism chains. Under the all-inclusive system, it will have five blocks for accommodations and three for ser-vices, supported on the recovery of already existing installations. More-over, it will have five suites, an open-air spa service, Led illumination system and will use light colors with wooden carpentry. ■

tination into a leader in Latin America’s tourism growth.

The last MITM assessments by the exhibitors, highlighting that it is a forum to seek and achieve businesses in the MICE segment, characterized by the quality of the attending buyers, affirm that the 2012 edition will again be a success. ■

PANAMA will be the venue of the 18th edition of the Meet-ings and Incentive Travel Mar-ket (MITM) Americas between December 5 and 7, 2012, with the support of the Tourism Author-ity.The venue was requested by the authorities of that Central American country, involved in a great effort to promote tourism, and especially business tour-ism (conferences and incentive groups) and is turning that des-

Panama to Host MITM Americas in 2012


FECONS 2012 ENDS IN SUCCESSFUL NOTE

UNDER the slogan “Construc-tions guaranteeing the fu-ture”, the 9th International Construction Fair (Fecons 2012) concluded recently in Havana with a useful total of 4,060 m2 of exhibition area and the participation of 693 exhibitors, represented in 143 firms (20 Cuban and 123 foreign), from 26 countries: Germany, Argen-tina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, South Korea, Cos-ta Rica, Cuba, Chile, Domini-can Republic, Spain, United States, France, Virgin Island, Italy, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Panama, Czech Republic, Rus-sia, Switzerland, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Thus it exceeded the 8th edition in 2010 – with 3,241 m2 of exhibi-tion area and the participation of 23 countries.

The wide presence of busi-nesspeople in Fecons 2012 is a sign of the trust investors have in the Cuban market. Sponsored by the Ministry of Construction of Cuba (MI-CONS), in its nine editions Fe-cons has achieved an impor-tant space in the international commercial activity as a spe-cialized biennial event.

As usual, the 9th Scientific-Technical Conference, an asso-ciated event, was held parallel to the congress in the frame-work of the 3rd Pan American Convention of Engineering UPA-DI 2012.

MICONS is immersed in im-portant works that cover the tourism, housing, roads, port and hydraulic sectors, among others, as its first deputy minis-ter, Angel Vilaragut, explained in the event’s opening session.

Bungalows area.

tipurpose hall, animation theatre with an area for shows, health center, nautical point and three swimming pools – one for chil-dren.

In accordance with the ho-tel’s concept, a contemporary at-mosphere is achieved under the inf luence of the international modern movement, with Cuban traits provided by the materials, the furniture and visual works, translated into the cultural heri-tage, tradition and material con-text of the country.

The pool is the project’s back-bone, and the point of departure, the preservation and increased value of the natural character-istics of the place, elements that have permeated the treatment of the landscape. Groups of five to seven bungalows, all of them two-story high, emerge among the trees blending in with the landscape with their lively col-ors.

The principal building is a big house with four wings where green patios, terraces or corri-dors, protected by eaves and wa-ter pools that decorate the walks, predominate.

Buildings in full harmony with the environment that con-tinue as architectural referenc-es: Cuban wooden architecture, sloping roofs, balconies and roofed galleries, fine structural elements and integration into the plant element; and as interior references, warm and welcoming atmospheres of the Caribbean houses, wooden and rattan fur-niture and natural colors. ■

ism Group and will be managed by the Spanish company H10 Ho-teles, whose catalogue has includ-ed it as Ocean Varadero Aqua to open in 2012.

The work was begun on Sep-tember 28, 2010 by the INMO-BILIARIA ALMEST investment entity; Varadero’s ARCOS Con-struction Company; and Matan-zas’ EMPAI drafting company – the latter of the Ministry of Construction.

The plot of land where the ho-tel stands has a good beach along almost all its width, and takes up a total land area of 171,100 m2 (17.11 ha) – 33,182 m2 of built area. It has 421 rooms – 348 standard, 72 junior suites and an indepen-dent suite – of which 210 are mat-rimonial and 211 are double – four are for the handicapped.

The common objects include four bars, four restaurants, mul-

A simple panoramic tour of Varadero is enough to be-come aware of the major in-

vestments being made to expand and upgrade the tourist, hotel, social, road, electricity, hydraulic and communications infrastruc-ture of the famous beach resort.

Several works are simultane-ously under way, from the simple expansion of hotels to the large-scale investments like the exten-sion of the Gaviota Marina, a whole complex.

But in all of them a common element has top priority, the strict control of quality, for which the System has been upgraded and executives, professionals and workers have been prepared. The experiences gained in Varade-ro will serve as reference for the constructions in Cuba’s other tourist destinations.

With this work TTC is begin-ning a series of articles about the construction works in the tourist sector which we will publish in successive editions.

EL PATRIARCA HOTELOn km 18.5 of Las Morlas High-

way, between Las Salinas (current Memories Varadero Beach Re-sort) and Paradisus hotels, a villa resort type of hotel is being built, whose investment, 100% Cuban, responds to the name of El Patri-arca Hotel.

Planned to operate under the all-inclusive modality, with a five-star plus category, it is at-tached to the Gaviota S.A. Tour-

To the left the current state of construction and to the right what the terrace of El

Patriarca Hotel will look like. Illustration courtesy of New Angle.

Varadero Stamps Seal of Quality on Constructions for Tourism

Documents

TTC-211-FitCuba-web-Ingles