Cuba to Attend FITUR 2014 with Great Expectations

17 January 2014 2:30pm

Cuba will attend the 34th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2014), slated for January 22-26 at the traditional venue of Ferias de Madrid in the Spanish capital.

This time around, the Cuban delegation is determined to strengthen ties with Spanish partners that operate travel resorts on the island nation. Cuba is eager to showcase its newest attractions in terms of tourism-oriented services and lodgings, including marketing efforts of the existing guestroom stock in line with today’s travel trends.

Furthermore, the Caribbean island will show off its latest allures in the sun-and-sand destinations, coupled with such must-sees as Havana, Varadero, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba, all of them increasingly important for the Spanish market.

Havana will center the attention of exhibitors and attendees willing to learn about the upcoming edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2014) –the country’s major travel and tourism tradeshow- scheduled for May 6-10 this year.

Cuba will also cash in on its attending Fitur 2014 to spread out the specs of the FOTOSUB 2014 Underwater Photography Contest to be held in Cayo Largo del Sur on May 14-18.

For this year’s Fitur edition, the Cuban delegation will be presided over by high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Tourism; huge hotel chains like Gran Caribe, Islazul, Cubanacan, Gaviota, Barceló, Iberostar, Roc Hoteles, Blue Diamond, HUSA, Barcelo, Habaguanex, Accor, Grupo Pestana Cayo Coco and Occidental, and such travel agencies as Cubatur, Gaviotatours, Paradiso and Caracol.

The Cuban delegation will be accompanied by a representation of the island nation’s embassy in Spain and the Ministry of Tourism’s office in the European country. At the same time, the Cuban booth will gather media organizations targeting travel and tourism, and the presence of master cigar roller Jose Castelar Cairo (Cueto), recipient of the Guinness record to the world’s longest stogie.

Spain ranked tenth among Cuba’s traditional outbound markets in 2013. The country is working hard to get a bigger market share on the island nation and further branch out those segments and niches it operates in Cuba.