Cuba : Havana is back on the caribbean cruise stage

In 2013, Havana in Cuba had become the first emerging destination in the world, just above La Fortuna de San Carlos in Costa Rica and Kathmandu in Nepal.

However, far from a new destination, Havana is one of those products which are having a brand new start.

In fact this city and more globally this country, was during the early 20th century the first destination in the Caribbean, mainly thanks to the American who came to Havana during winter time to escape from the cold and from the prohibition law, restricting the alcoholic retail sales.

In this period Tourism was the third revenue of the country, just after sugar and Tobacco industries.

But with Fidel Castro arrival on the political stage, the tourism industry took a step back mainly because of the American Embargo which prevented the American citizen to visit Cuba.

Moreover the government had the idea that the touristic infrastructures were corrupted places. In the sixties, the number of tourists fell down from 272 000 in 1957 (just before the Castro’s regime) to 87 000.

And it’s only during the seventies that the Cuban government decided to re-invest around 3, 7 millions of US Dollars in the tourism field.

Since the end of the 20th century the tourism is growing even if it is a seasonal demand and the island is surrounded by the Caribbean competitors.

Nowadays, the country counts over 50 000 rooms spread in 300 hotels all over the archipelago. Developing the tourism in all the islands of the country (Santa Maria, Coco…) is one of the main goals of the government, as well as cleaning the main cities of pollution.

In 2011, after a long time out of the main touristic destinations, Cuba became the third destination of the Caribbean, proving its come back on the international stage.

Today, the Cuban visitors are mainly from Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, United Kingdom and Mexico.

As the American Embargo is still preventing the American tourists from visiting Cuba, the country is losing a potential market.

But the government is trying to attract more the families from closer countries, and also to develop attractiveness for Argentina, which is a growing market for Cuba.

One of the main reasons of the Cuba development could be the growth of the cruise industry. Actually, like all the islands of the Caribbean, most of the tourists come through cruises.

Three years ago, this sector brought about 16 000 000 of passengers all around the world, and the Caribbean Islands are the privileged destination of these tourists.

After the development of the historical part of the city and its cleaning up, the government decided to attract more people through the Havana harbour improvement.

First of all, the buildings’ renovation on the coast will help Havana to develop its touristic side in harmony with the rest of the old and historical city. And then, important works on the bay’s depth will be done, so as to improve the access of cruise ships directly in the old town.

For now this is probably the best way for this country to increase its touristic market and to face its Caribbean competitors. Havana will never stop amazing us...

By Marion Depuntis and Juliette Lamarque
Contact : Marion.depuntis@get-mail.eu & Juliette.lamarque@get-mail.eu