Cuban Tourism Grows 5 Percent in November

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 17 (acn) The number of tourist that have come to Cuba till November, 2014, is 2 million 669 thousand, which translates in a 5 percent growth compared to the same period last year, Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero told lawmakers in Havana.

However, Cuba couldn't reach the projected figure for this time of year by six per cent, from causes associated with the contraction of source markets such as Argentina, Russia and UK, he said

In exchange with the Standing Committee for Care Services of the Cuban Parliament, Marrero said that by the end of 2014 they maintain the expectation of reaching a record three million visitors in a year which would mean an increase of 5.2 per percent in the sector.

Regarding domestic tourism Marrero said there had been a 15.8 percent growth in a year, with close to three quarter of a million Cubans visiting hotels throughout the island nation.

Marrero also spoke of the increasing numbers of private owners renting their houses to tourists and of private restaurants (paladares) which numbers are 1,598 and 1,478, respectively