The Number Of Russians Booking Holidays To Cuba In 2011 Exceeded All Expectations

During 2011, Russia consolidated as one of the leading markets sending tourists to Cuba along with Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, Argentina and Mexico. The number of Russians holidaymakers booking holidays to Cuba grew significantly all over the year having a positive impact in the sales of excursions operated by Cuban incoming travel agencies.

According to Estefania Escobar, Director of Cuba's Tourist Board in Moscow, from January to December of the recently ended year the island's immigration authorities registered twice more Russians than in 2009. She said to Prensa Latina that the growth in arrivals came as no surprise since the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) had been carrying out high impact promotional actions across the Eastern European country since 2010; right after Russia was named "country of honour" in Havana's International Tourism Fair (FitCuba). Representatives from MINTUR and Cuba's travel and tourism companies have participated in travel shows such as Mitt, Leisure and Inturmarket, she pointed out.

"Increases in air capacity played a fundamental role in the market's growth. At present time, the flag carrier Aeroflot is serving the route Moscow- Havana, 5 times a week and the also Russian airline Transaero flights to Varadero and Jardines del Rey from Saint Petersburg" Estefania explained.
To keep encouraging Cuba travel, the island's board in Russia will organise in 2012 a road show through several cities of the nation such as San Petersburg, Ekaterimburg, Nizhni Novgord, Samara and Kazan. Cuban travel agencies Havanatur, Cubanacan, San Cristobal and Gaviota Tours have already confirmed their participation in the promotional tour. Each of these travel service providers, are closely related to Russian agencies ICS, Teztur and ITC which along with Havanatur sell the largest numbers of holidays to Cuba to customers throughout the country.

"We wish to increase the number of Russians in Cuba and improve quality in services like entertainment, gastronomy, shopping, nautical activities and other type of excursions as well as other special interest activities outside Cuba hotels" Escobar added.

The arrivals of Russian citizens to Cuba is expected to grow by 15 per cent by the end of 2012 while visitors from other Eastern European nations are thought to be over 42 000.

By: Susan Crown

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Russia and Cuba have an old alliance dating back to Cold War years. In the last decade Cuba have opened to the holiday industry and an increasing number of Russian holidaymakers are taken Cuba holidays regularly. Mainly visiting Cuba’s beach resorts but also taking “nostalgia” tours to old symbols of the USSR visible in Cuba. Russia can provide additional income to Cuba and Cuba is a paradise in the long Russian winter.