MOSCOW, September 25 (RIA Novosti) — Cuba is set to promote itself as a port of call for cruise ships in an effort to diversify its tourism industry – one of the main sources of revenue for the Caribbean island, according to the local media.
The country’s Ministry of Tourism has laid out a development plan to reinstate the industry as an engine of its economy by 2030, Cuban Radio’s Cadena Agramonte quotes Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) Development CEO Alexander Sierra as saying.
The plan includes the construction of a modern cruise ship terminal in Cienfuegos, a city on the southern coast of Cuba, 250 km southeast of the capital Havana.
"We're thinking big, we're talking about something world-class," the local media quotes Jose Enrique Gonzalez, a MINTUR delegate from the Cienfuegos region as saying.
The city is set to welcome some 53 cruise ships during the high season this winter.
The plan also aims at improving conditions and services at marinas, nautical centers, piers, moorings, harbors, shipyards, dry marinas and in fishing and diving zones.
The country, therefore, will be able to promote sport fishing, diving, kite surfing, sea kayaking and yachting, activities with plenty of potential to attract the attention of water sport enthusiasts from around the world, Radio Cadena Agramonte quotes Domingo Cisneros, acting chairman of Marlin S.A. Nautica and Marinas Business Group as saying.
Port and marina facilities are also being improved in order for the country to offer new entertainment options such as speed-boat rides through the Canarreos archipelago, mainly in the resort towns of Varadero and Cayo Coco, added Cisneros.
Authorities hope the specified efforts will draw up to 3 million international visitors a year.
