Cuba hopes for good tourism season amid problems

Reuters

Reuters
The two hurricanes that ravaged Cuba at summer´s end won´t keep tourists from the Caribbean island during the high season but global economic woes might, industry watchers said on Monday.

They said there have been no cancellations of tours booked for the December-March peak season and that an expected increase in Canadian visitors should help offset any reduction in Europeans put off by rising air fares and other economic problems.

That was good news for the country still recovering from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which struck within 10 days of each other starting on Aug. 30, causing extensive damage, including to hotels and infrastructure.

The government said tourism increased 13 percent through August and will be Cuba´s second most important foreign exchange earner after the export of medical and other technical services, at around $2.5 billion this year.

"There will be some decline in tourism from Europe as air fares are up 30 percent, but we expect another big jump from Canada to make up at least part the difference, along with new markets like Russia," the representative of a European hotel chain told Reuters on condition his name not be used.

Immediately after the storms, some tours to hard-hit areas were canceled, but not for the months ahead, he said. The hurricane season ends in November.

"The hotels are completely taken by tour operators starting in late December and to date there have been no cancellations of flights or rooms."

The bigger uncertainty now, he said, was the financial crisis roiling markets around the world.

"We will have to see what happens with the global economy over the next months, but so far we see a good season despite it all."

The number of tourists from Canada, already the top tourism country for Cuba, could rise as much as 20 percent to 30 percent because of the weakness of the U.S. dollar and increased marketing, the sources said.

Cuba´s currency is pegged to the dollar, which makes the country an inexpensive destination for Canadians seeking warm tropical beaches during their country´s long winter.

Few citizens from the nearby United States travel to Cuba because of their country´s sanctions on the Communist nation.

While the hurricanes inflicted $5 billion in damage on the island, key tourist areas like Havana and the Varadero beach resort were largely spared.

Spanish firm Sol Melia (SOL.MC: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), which has 24 hotels in Cuba and is the largest foreign tourism company in the country, said it was back up to full speed after the hurricanes.

"Sol Melia´s hotels and resorts are open and operating normally after complete recovery from minor damage," said Gabriel Garcia, the company´s marketing director in Cuba. (Editing by Jeff Franks)

Enlaces: Solidaridad Española con Cuba

Las Damas de Blanco

Viajes a Cuba

Vuelos baratos a Cuba

Travel to Cuba