More Tourists Choose Santiago de Cuba

Tourism authorities in Santiago de Cuba closed the first half of 2014 with a 5.7 percent growth, as compared to the same period of time in 2013, thanks to an efficient and broad assortment of offers.

According to Marisol Rodríguez, Tourism representative in Santiago de Cuba, the foreign currency plan from January to June was fulfilled at 100.2 percent. The executive pointed out that the main numbers came from Palmares Extra-Hotel Group’s branch, hotels Meliá Santiago de Cuba and Brisas Sierra Mar, Cubanacán Group, Sanuan, Islazul, Campismo Popular Company, Caracol Stores, Servisa and Cubatur Travel Agency.

As for the arrivals plan, depending on the current hotel capacity, it reached 98.5 percent, which represented a 4.2-percent increase over the same period in 2013, Rodríguez noted.

These results were supported by the diversification of services and creation of attractive offers that complement Santiago’s authentic product, targeting both national and international tourists, the Tourism official stressed.

The domestic market will play a leading role throughout the summer season and that’s why the options we have created take into account the preferences of Cuban customers. Rodríguez asserted that the sales have reached out other municipalities, such is the case of Palma Soriano and Contramaestre, by means of agencies like Cubatur, Havanatur, Ecotur and Viajes Cubanacán.

On the quality of tourism products, an indicator that reflects the satisfaction of vacationers, Rodríguez said that, by the end of June, the quality was described as “good”; although there were some “regular” months. The positive elements included excursions and transportation; but there were some deficiencies in terms of hotel services.

Nowadays, the tourism-related entities in Santiago de Cuba buy products from 10 cooperatives from the capital city and Guamá municipality, in order to offer customer well-assorted products of great quality.