The Cuban Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) has reported record numbers of tourists numbering close to 4m (+13%) during 2016, buoyed strongly by increased flights from North America following the partial opening up of air routings between the US and Havana in the new spirit of mutual ‘cooperation’. And now in 2017, Cuba's tourist destinations have received more than 2.53 million foreign tourists so far this year.
The Director General of Development, Investments and Business of the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) of Cuba, José Daniel Alonso, projected on Wednesday that the semester should conclude with a 22.2 percent increase, equivalent to 2.53 million foreign visitors.
So far, Canada is Cuba's major tourist-sending market, followed by the United States, although U.S. citizens can only travel to Cuba under 12 categories approved by the government.
At present, Cuba offers 67,769 hotel rooms, a number that is expected to increase to 68,200 rooms by the end of the year.
In addition, there are more than 22,500 rooms in the private sector.
The country expects to have 100 thousand rooms by 2030.
There are 114 hotels under foreign management contract, 66.8 percent of the country's total rooms.
