Stefan Geier. Jungle Tour general manager

Jungle Tour, a trademarked product owned by Queen International S.A., has been going stronger in Cuba with each passing year since the company landed on the island on Feb. 28, 1998. Jungle Tour now marks its fifth anniversary with $8 million worth of revenues. Under a slogan reading The Ultimate Adventure, the company brings emotions and nature enjoyment to tourists from over 22 nations who come to this country looking for adventure and nautical fun, Jungle Tour’s general manager Stefan Geier told Caribbean News.

CND: We’re aware of Jungle Tour’s particular attractions in the realm of Cuba’s nautical activities, as well as the preference and recognition it has in the leisure industry. Can you mention the company’s main achievements in the first five years here in Cuba?

A.- In the first five years after setting up shop in Cuba, Jungle Tour has become the second best-selling excursion in Varadero. Right now, only Havana is doing us one better in passenger volume. And in Cayo Guillermo –where we’ve been operating for a year and a half- Jungle Tour won the Silver Ibis Award as the best tour to Jardines del Rey.

CND: What about Jungle Tour’s projections? What can you say about it?

A.- The main goal is to enhance the number of choices in Varadero. The next step is to extend our fleet to some 70 to 80 Aqua-Rays, 30 percent more than the year before. We now have eight daily departures that will stretch out to 13 tours a day. We’re going to increase the morning and afternoon peak hours, so when the summer of ’03 comes, we’ll be ready to offer a departure every half hour in the morning. This is no doubt a great opportunity for sale operators to bring satisfaction to their customers at any time.

CND: We know that Jungle Tour has all along been on a rising path every step of the way. As far as this matter is concerned, we’d like to hear your comments.

A.- Queen International S.A. is a company partnered with Cubanacan Nautica that has contributed on a nonstop basis to nautical development alongside Jungle Tour. However, Jungle Tour belongs to a holding domain called Aquafun that’s bound to unveil new products in Varadero. I’d like to mention AQUAFUN VARADERO, a nautical park we’re planning to open this year equipped with cable cars for water skiers and other amenities for those who love fun at the sea. Water ski cable cars are similar to mountain cable cars, only that water skiers will be pulled on the water surface by a cord, as if they were hauled by a boat. One of these cable cars is as profitable as 30 skiing boats because as many as ten people could have tons of fun skiing in the waters of Varadero.

And finally, I’d like to say that we continue the hardworking to take the Jungle Tour experience to other tourist circuits on the island and make it a leading product of its kind. The intention is to offer new extra-hotel conveniences and keep on bringing fun and adventure all across the Cuban seas.