A six percent increase in tourist arrivals to Varadero, Cuba’s most popular holiday resort, was registered at the end of April, reported Ivis Fernández, Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) representative in the province of Matanzas.
Fernández noted revenue rose by a little over three percent during the period while rates of customer satisfaction remain positive.
Canada continues to be Varadero’s principal emissary market constituting almost 44% of visitors during the period cited, while Germany took second place and the national market, third.
On the other hand – he said – arrivals of Russian and Argentine visitors decreased. Fernández commented that during the recently concluded high-season (winter) various records for bookings were broken daily at the resort, with an average 34,500 clients registered in the first three months of the year.
”Cuba, our Revolution and its achievements are attractive features which impact tourist activity,” noted the specialist, who explained that conditions are being prepared for the possible opening of new markets.
Varadero is located some 140 kilometers east of Havana, on the Hicacos Peninsula in northern Matanzas, and has a hotel complex offering 20,200 rooms and a large network of non-hotel establishments.
It has 50 hotels, almost 70% of which are four and five star rated, and receive the third largest number of visitors to Cuba.
Also known as Playa Azul, Varadero features among the top 10 beach resorts in the world, and in 2014 received - for the seventh consecutive year - more than one million international tourists.
FRENCH COMPANY EMBARKS ON CUBAN HOTEL ADMINISTRATION
The French company Warwick International Hotels and Resorts (WIH) announced in Havana, the commencement of its hotel administration and marketing operations in Cayo Santa Maria and Varadero.
These two important leisure resorts are currently the preferred choice of the majority of visitors to the island, the former given its nautical offerings and the latter as Cuba’s most popular beach resort.
According to the website traveltradecaribbean.es, the French company is debuting with the Warwick Cayo Santa María Resort and Naviti Varadero Resort.
In a statement, the chain noted that the expansion of its portfolio reflects collaboration with the Cuban state enterprise Gaviota, one of country’s principal tourism entities.
It was reported that the French company is scheduled to open Warwick Cayo Santa María Resort in June in, a five star all-inclusive hotel, spread over 26 hectares and set in beautiful natural surroundings.
The Naviti Varadero Resort (formerly the Allegro Varadero) is a four star all-inclusive hotel located directly on the beach, and is marketed toward families and couples.
Representatives of WIH stated that to the company’s expansion in Cuba reflects its growth in the Caribbean, along with its purchase of the Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas, in Nassau, a five-star resort with 250 rooms scheduled to open this year; and the Balaji Palace Playa Grande, in Río San Juan, the Dominican Republic.
Warwick has operations across four continents, with 57 hotels and more than 9,500 five-star rooms.
