Raul Naranjo Aday. Delegate of Cuba’s Tourism Minister to the province of Ciego de Avila

Q:/ What new things is Jardines del Rey ready to provide for the rest of the year?

A:/ Many. We’ve got quite a heavy agenda for the remaining of the year that includes the opening of a new hotel and the reopening of another one that was recently refurbished. In November and December we’ll stage a salsa music festival, another event on old-timed locomotives and the traditional Jardines del Rey Fair, this time around devoted to the German market.

Q:/ Are you going to complete new hotels?

A:/ We should finish a resort that’s going to be run and marketed by Jamaican group SuperClubs, plus another one that underwent an all-out refurbishment process and will be in the hands of Spanish hotel chain Blau. The Cuban owners will be Gaviota and Cubanacan, respectively.

Q:/ In all, how many hotels are now operating in Jardines del Rey?

A:/ As we speak, we’ve got eleven lodging facilities adding up 3,300 rooms.

Q:/ And what about the infrastructure?

A:/ We’ll soon see the completion of a recreational center on Cayo Guillermo outfitted with bowling facilities, a miniature golf course, amusement areas and great food. We’ll also open a clinic specialized in mud therapy on Cayo Guillermo, and there’s a bus ride already shuttling a 70-kilometer span with 22 stops in sightseeing locations all along the routes between Coco and Guillermo keys.

Q:/ What’s ESMAR all about?

A:/ ESMAR is a month-long project –for the time being we’re thinking of November as our best choice- aimed at gathering a group of renowned sculptors who will be making great works of art here. Their pieces will be exhibited on the premises with a view to enrich the Jardines’ cultural outlook.

Q:/ Any other offers?

A:/ Many people travel to Havana eager to see this destination, therefore we’ve mapped out a tour entitled “King For A Day,” a great opportunity to get a much clearer picture of the entire area, including beach time, a grand tour around the Baga Nature Park and transportation from the tourists’ hotel.

Q:/ How do you assess these first-half results?

A:/ They can be labeled as positive. Up to now, the number of arrivals has grown by 116 percent, revenues have skyrocketed 125 percent, while gross earnings have shot up to 164 percent. We believe that during these summer months (the off-peak season), we could end up with roughly a seven percent upturn in the number of arrivals.

Q:/ What are your perspectives for the winter season?

A:/ According to the way things have been going, we should close this year with a 12 percent increase in the number of arrivals. By and large, we should comply with all budgetary plans scheduled for 2003.

Q:/ What about your development strategy?

A:/ Our purpose is to continue expanding our stock of beachfront accommodations. By 2005, we’re supposed to have some 5,000 rooms. Nautical sectors will get top priority, especially those linked to nature and other recreational choices. Among the projects in the pipeline, we should also complete a marina on Cayo Guillermo for some 40 docking vessels and construction works for the keys’ main marina, for as many as 400 docking yachts, will soon get underway.

Q:/ Are you going to build golf courses?

A:/ Yes, we are. That’s going to be another product. The master plan includes the construction of three golf courses. One of them, an 18-hole course, is nearing completion and will be ready to tee off in the next few days.