Convention, Incentive Tourism to Grow in Cuba

After cracking the much-cherished two-million-tourist plateau this year, Cuba hopes to lure far more travelers in 2005 through conventions and events.

During a press meeting at the Triton Hotel in Havana, Conrado Martinez Corona, president of the Cuba Convention Bureau, laid out the list of major events scheduled for the oncoming year. Complete information on lodging options and travel organizational details can be found on the bureau’s new website at www.cubameeting.co.cu.

One of the top events, the Fourth International Congress on Information and the International Workshop on Entrepreneurial Intelligence and Corporate Management, will unfold from April 17 to 21, 2006.

At issue will be today’s information society, know-how, evaluation of different sources of information and technology, among others.

ALIMEXPO 2005, entirely devoted to the food processing industry, will take place from March 8 to 12 next year at the EXPOCUBA Fairgrounds in the outskirts of the nation’s capital.

Members of the organizing committee expect a massive turnout of representatives from Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Italy, Venezuela, Canada and the United States. One of the event’s highlights will surely be the Gourmet Show, sponsored by Cuba’s Federation of Culinary Associations and the island nation’s Barmen Club.

Another major event scheduled for 2005 is the International Children’s Choirs Festival (from July 18 to 22), penciled in as the fourth largest meeting of its kind in the Americas. The venue will be Havana’s Amadeo Roldan Theater.

The International Book Festival (February 3 through 13 at the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress in Havana) will come around in its 14th edition with 34 host cities across the country.

Next year’s book fair will be devoted to Brazil and members of the organizing committee are hoping to see troves of writers, musicians and artists from the turf and overseas coming in. Top homage honors will go to playwright Abelardo Estorino and Cuban poet Indio Nabori.

Mr. Corona also informed about the Seventh International Habano Festival from February 21 to 25 next year, with a projected attendance of hundreds of cigar aficionados from at least 45 nations.