Cuba Hits 1.5 Million Tourist Mark for 2011

Hotel Valencia in Old Havana

HAVANA TIMES, July 21 — Cuba received more than 1.5 million tourists during the first half of 2011.  The goal for the industry is to reach 2.7 million by the end of the year.

The National Statistics Office (ONE) informed on Thursday that arrivals were up 10.6 percent with 1,537,865 visitors by June 30th.

Tourism is considered one of the key motors of the Cuban economy for much needed foreign exchange along with nickel, other mineral, agricultural and biotechnology exports, and medical services at home and abroad.