One of the most dynamic economic sectors, Cuban tourism industry is now all set to enhance its visitor numbers by luring larger cruise ships. Lately, some of the top International cruise operators like Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line have frequently sailed into Cuban ports. The prime emphasis is to develop the infrastructure of the ports and accommodate larger passenger vessels.
Jose Manuel Bisbe, president of the tourism business group Viajes Cuba, believes that ships can carry 2,000 passengers in the proposed cruise segment with ease. However, 12 ships which arrived at the ports of Cienfuegos in central Cuba, Havana and Santiago de Cuba had only 1,000 passengers. Bisbe believes that this scenario could change this year.
Cuba’s ports apart from the above mentioned ones and the Isle of Youth in the southwest has the capacity to handle up to 21 cruise ships a week. Each week more than 100 cruise ships from various countries sail the Caribbean Sea and generate billions of dollars every year. Bisbe said that the potential for growth is immensely present.
Until Pullmantur was bought by the US line Royal Caribbean, Cuba’s cruise segment used to get 100,000 passengers every year and generate more than $15 million revenue. Somewhere between 2005 and 2007, cruise tourism of this place started dropping by.
