Cuba Attends Tourism Fair in Shanghai

Cuba brought its natural beauty, beautiful beaches and centuries-old cities to Shanghai today as part of the promotion of its tourism product at a trade fair that opened today in this cosmopolitan Chinese city.

In a joint effort by the Ministry of Tourism and the Cuban Consulate, the Caribbean nation is participating in the seventh edition of the Tourism Fair in Shanghai, with a small stand where it is promoting its music, pictures, posters, materials, and traditional products like rum and tobacco.

In statements by telephone to Prensa Latina, the Cuban consul Ariel Lorenzo said that this year's fair in Shanghai has been record-setting in terms of exhibition area, number of participants, travel agents and worldwide representatives in attendance, including 20 Tourism ministers.

More than 1,200 buyers, 200 travel agents and tour operators representing more than 115 countries and regions worldwide are attending the fair, sponsored by the National Tourism Administration (NTA) of China, the Civil Aviation Administration and the Government of Shanghai, said Lorenzo.

Elizabeth Vela, from the Cuban Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), told Prensa Latina that Chinese agencies have incorporated Cuba in the offers presented by travelers who wish to visit Latin American countries such as Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, among others, and affirmed that steps are continually being taken to increase those visits.

"Authentic Cuba" is the campaign that promotes MINTUR in Shanghai and that "aims to show to the world as we are," said Vila, who noted that despite the obstacles to a greater flow of passengers, the number of Chinese visitors grew from 600 during the 1990's to 14,000 last year. China and Cuba have close relations of friendship and cooperation for more than half a century, and many citizens of China would like to visit Cuba, he said.

Source: Prensa Latina