National tourism became the second source of visitors for Varadero beach resort, 120 kilometers east of the Cuban capital, reported industry sources. In 2010 the arrival of Cuban tourists to the peninsula grew by nine per cent. Every year Varadero receives more than a million vacationers, led by Canadians.
Read MoreDespite the four per cent growth in tourist arrivals to Cuba until last November, the tourist sector’s income did not meet the forecast of the island’s authorities, the National Office of Statistics (ONE) reported. In 2011, the Caribbean country hopes to increase by 29.5 per cent the amount of money that enters the nation through that means, as a result of a 10.3 per cent increase in the number of visitors.
Read MoreCubans are delving deeper into economic change, which means new taxes and an end to the state subsidies that for decades were a symbol of the equality so highly extolled under the Cuban Revolution.
Read MoreThe Cuban tourism authorities expect to increase the arrival of cruise ships to the island in 2011, with the operations of ships from Russia, Canada and the UK, José Manuel Bisbé, marketing director of the Ministry of Tourism, announced. Moreover, the Caribbean nation will increase air links with Canada, its principal tourist market with almost one million visitors a year, with the start of flights by the Air Transat and Sunwing airlines.
Read MoreThe Cuban International Cigar Company (ICT) increased its exports by 7.5 per cent as compared to last year, by marketing 119.3 million cigar packages, Blas Manuel Fernández, economic director of that entity, reported. In 2010 the ICT carried out sales worth 18.8 million dollars of its catalogue of 10 Havana cigar brands.
Read MoreCuban and Chinese authorities have agreed to normalize their financial relations as a result of the 23rd Session of the Intergovernmental Commission. The Asian giant also gave the island an unspecified interest-free governmental credit and a donation, both for development projects.
Read MoreCuba’s President Raul Castro addressed his country’s parliament on Saturday at the closing of a session dedicated to discuss the economic reforms the government has begun to implement that include the laying off of some 500,000 public employees by the end of March and expand the possibilities for self-employment and small business.
Read MoreWith the start of operations of the XL Airways France airline, flying from Paris to Varadero, the weekly flights between France and Cuba now amount to nine. That company hopes to bring at least 160 tourists on each trip through April 2011.
Read MoreCuba will not have a “small shop economy,” Cuban Minister of Economy and Planning Marino Murillo affirmed. He reiterated the government’s will to maintain the predominant role of the socialist state enterprise, despite the expansion of the private sector. The minister, in statements to parliament, insisted on the need to give greater autonomy to state enterprises and eliminate the subsidies to entities with losses.
Read MoreCuban President Raúl Castro headed Wednesday the start of sessions of the Cuban parliament, which will discuss the economic reforms proposed to be approved at the next congress of the ruling Communist Party.
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