International tourism fair FITCUBA 2012 opens in Cuba
08.05.2012,
15:46
An international tourism fair FITCUBA 2012 - the central event of the Cuban tourism industry – has opened Tuesday on the island of Santa Maria, one of the youngest and fastest growing tourist destinations of the country.
YEREVAN, 8 May. /ARKA/. An international tourism fair FITCUBA 2012 - the central event of the Cuban tourism industry – has opened Tuesday on the island of Santa Maria, one of the youngest and fastest growing tourist destinations of the country.
The 32nd annual fair is dedicated to the northern coast islands in the province of Santa Clara (Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Las Brujas and Cayo Ensenachos). Argentina is the guest honor of FITCUBA 2012. Cuba has become the most promoted tourist destination in that South American country, according to RIA Novosti.
Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero has delivered a keynote speech in the opening day, as well as Daniel Pablo Aguilera, Argentinean secretary of Tourism and Carlos Vogeler, Regional Director for the Americas at UN World Tourism Organization.
Tourism has become one of the most significant sectors of Cuban economy. According to official figures, in the first three months of this year the country hosted more than 950 thousand foreigners, 5% more from a year before. The authorities expect that the country will receive this year some 3 million foreign tourists.
In the list of Cuba's main tourist partners Russia is seventh. In the first quarter of the year some 27,800 Russians visited Cuba, which is 24.7% more from a year earlier. Russia is behind Canada, France, Argentina, UK, Italy and Germany. -0-
