In statements to Prensa Latina, Cuban First Deputy Minister of Tourism Maria del Carmen Orellana commented on her expectations for the event, which will close on Wednesday and will contribute to building consensus on tourism and sustainable development in the continent.

We seek to maintain our main tourist-sending markets (Canada and Europe), but at the same time we promote others that were not fundamental and now are an alternative, with emphasis on Latin America, the head of the Cuban delegation to the meeting stated.

She assured that the number of visitors coming from this geographic area can grow much more and “with that objective in mind we are working to increase air connections and look for alternatives to financial flows, despite the blockade imposed by the United States and its policy to isolate Cuba.”

That is one of the challenges that Cuba is facing to advance in the development of tourism, noted Orellana, who charged that Cuba’s inclusion on Washington’s State Sponsors of Terrorism list hinders one of the main branches of Cuba’s economy.

She noted that Cuba is working to diversify the offer by developing new products and experiences that will respond to new global trends and encourage the interaction of travelers with local communities.

The purpose is to ensure that the benefits of tourism translate into profits for the population, in both the major tourist destinations and the communities, she added.

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