Cuba gets fit


FITCUBA – MAY 6-10 2014 SHOW REPORT


Cuban exhibitors welcomed delegates from Europe and Canada at FITCuba 2014, held at the Morro Cabana fort in Havana. Dave Richardson reports


THE largest Cuban inbound operator, Cubanacan,


Cubanacan gets rural has introduced


accommodation in family homes and rural tourism projects as it bids to give visitors a deeper insight into the country's rich culture. Many of the houses have only one or


two bedrooms, but they are available to book throughout the country including Havana. Apart from offering accommodation on farms, it also offers visitors the opportunity to get involved with farm work


including both coffee and


tobacco plantations. Cubanacan is also developing


adventure travel including diving and kayaking, and off-road driving. It also operates many hotels, and is properties


developing buildings. viajescubanacan.cu


"CUSTOMER SURVEYS SHOW THAT THE MAIN REASONS TO VISIT ARE BEACHES, NATURE, HISTORY


AND CULTURE" MARIA DEL CARMEN ORELLANA


Major hotels development


CUBA'S north coast, characterised by many small islands, called cays, is to see major hotel development in the coming years. Many of the hotels are managed by


international groups such as Iberostar and Occidental. Over 1,000 new rooms are opening this year, bringing its total to 55 properties with 24,000 rooms.


in historic


CUBA is facing a drop in arrivals from the UK after Thomson withdrew its charter flights at the end of the winter season. Although Thomas Cook still operates


charters to three Cuban gateways from Gatwick and Manchester, there is a shortage of scheduled flight capacity affecting smaller tour operators. The only direct flight is Virgin Atlantic's twice-weekly


although you can also fly via Europe on Air Europa (Madrid), Air France (Paris) and KLM (Amsterdam). About 150,000 UK visitors came to


Cuba last year, down from a peak of about 200,000 a few years ago. Cuba does not have a major promotional


IN BRIEF Golfing on course: Plans for up to 12


new golf courses around Cuba were announced during the FITCuba event. The two best-known existing courses are the El Varadero Golf Club – which includes several salt water lakes – and the Habana Golf Club. Most of the newly planned courses will be located in the centre and west of the country. varaderogolfclub.com


Celebrating discovery: Several of Cuba's main cities are planning to stage major cultural activities over the next six years as they celebrate 500 years since they were founded by the Spanish colonialists. These include Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus and Camaguey during this year; Santiago de Cuba in 2015; and Havana in 2019. travel2cuba.co.uk


December opening for Melia: Melia


Hotels' 27th managed property in Cuba is due to open in December at Jardines del Rey. The company already has a Melia and Iberostar property in the area. All of Melia's Cuban hotels operate on an all- inclusive basis except for the city hotels. The hotel operator runs nine all-inclusives in Varadero alone. melia.com


route from Gatwick,


budget like some of its Caribbean neighbours, although the UK is its second biggest market after Canada. But it will probably run a promotional campaign in November and December online and possibly on London buses. While Thomas Cook concentrates on all-inclusive at beach resorts, Cuba also wants to encourage cultural, historic and Eco-tours by smaller operators using flights into Havana. Maria del Carmen Orellana, Commercial


Director of the Cuban Ministry of Tourism, said 65% of Cuba's 60,000 hotel rooms were of four- or five-star standard. The largest resort of Varadero has one third of them and Havana has 22%. cubatravel.cu


Cuba looks to culture Cruise base in Cuba


CRUISING is becoming a popular option in Cuba following the launch of two successful operations during the winter season.


Star Clippers brought its sailing ship


the Star Flyer to the southern port of Cienfuegos in December, for a series of seven-night itineraries also visiting the Cayman Islands. Several tour operators feature the cruises in conjunction with time in Havana, and the cruises will resume in December this year. Canada-based Cuba Cruise also had


a successful, 15-week debut season in conjunction with Louis Cruises, operating the Louis Cristal on seven- night trips from Havana which also take in Montego Bay in Jamaica. The next winter


season will run from


December 22 to March 30, with prices from € 469.


Although some 12 cruise ships visit


Cuba each year, this is the first time in recent years ships have been based there. starclippers.com; yourcubacruise.com


www.sellinglonghaul.com


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