Cuba's tourist facilities that suffered some kind of damage after the latest natural events - hurricanes Rafael and Oscar, and the earthquakes - have a schedule for their recovery and, thus, be ready for the 2024-2025 high season.This is what Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García Granda told Granma, adding that the challenges facing the sector are high, but "it is essential to have a good high season; the country and the Cuban economy need it."He added that they are working hard in the destination Cayo Largo del Sur so that it is ready before November 30 and can receive its first customers on December 4; while the popular camps in Artemisa, which today serve as support to the brigades that are in the territory, will also begin the recovery work.He specified that, in the case of the Marea del Portillo Hotel, located in Pilón, Granma, the tectonic movement caused some damages, although not of great dimensions according to the reports made, so it is another facility that should be ready before December 15.García Granda pointed out that the sector has dedicated workers who bet on the quality of the service, with the aim that every client who comes to Cuba always takes with him the best image of the country.The minister acknowledged that the Island will not meet the aspiration of receiving three million visitors in 2024, taking into consideration the scenario in which tourism has developed this year."For this reason, we have taken all possible measures to improve the indicators, at the same time that tourism wholesale companies were created, some of them with 100% foreign capital, so we will have a better position than last year's high season," he remarked.He stressed that tourism has to be the locomotive of the Cuban economy and there is a high commitment of all workers in the sector.According to information from Mintur, the sector has renovated hotel facilities that exceeds 80,000 rooms; 75% of them in four and five-star hotels, and the presence in the hotel management of 18 foreign chains of international recognition.For the current winter season, there are two new products, Resonance and Blu, through the Blue Diamond hotel chain, and other new products are expected to be added. The island is committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible products, based on the use of renewable energy sources, and has diversified its tourist offer through the design of innovative experiences in modalities such as nature and adventure tourism, cultural and historic and heritage tourism, events and incentives and health tourism, which have a great potential for development in the country and show Cuba as a destination that has much to offer beyond its internationally renowned beaches.
