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Havanareporter YEAR VI THE © YEAR VI Nº 10 MAY,17 2016 HAVANA, CUBA avana eporter ISSN 2224-5707 YOUR SOURCE OF NEWS & MORE H R Price: A Bimonthly Newspaper of the Prensa Latina News Agency 1.00 CUC, 1.00 USD, 1.20 CAN Cuban Tourism Trade Fair Points To Bright Days Ahead P. 3 Tourism Politics Economy Sports First U.S. Cruise Ship Cuba-U.K. Relations New Cuban Brazil Dominates Pan- in More Than 50 Years Have Potential to Bio-Material American Judo Contest Arrives Prosper Advances in Havana P. 2 P. 4 P. 13 P. 15 2 TOURISM First U.S. Cruise Ship in More Than 50 Years Arrives By FranciscoMENÉNDEZ A further touch of spice was added to the arrival by the nostalgia of Cuban-Americans such as Milly Martin on the cruise, who had not set foot in her homeland since she was four years old and was now returning in her role as an official of Carnival. She shared the joy of her return with the media present. The Carnival supplied t-shirts worn by passengers before sailing again for Miami, the port of departure. were emblazoned with “Fathom, Making History, Even though 12 regulations have slightly eased such Inaugural Voyage Cuba 1-8 May 2016”. contacts, the restrictions by the U.S. administration on Notable amidst many declarations of excitement by free travel to the Island by U.S. citizens are still to be those returning to the country after decades, was that removed, which form part of the unilateral economic of Carnival’s executive director and president, Arnold and commercial sanctions imposed on Havana by Emilio Herrera Donald, who spoke of the pride he felt that the trip Washington for more than 50 years. had been executed by his company, an experience he Cuban spokespersons said that cultural exchanges PHOTOs: PHOTOs: described as “unforgettable”. such as the present People to People program now form The 700 passengers -- 20 of whom were Cuban- He expressed his hope that many more North and part of the first phase of a new Havantur agenda, which Americans -- aboard the first U.S. cruise ship in 57 years to Cuban Americans would soon arrive, saying that this was foresees the arrival of a further 10,000 such U.S. visitors berth in Cuba, relished the atmosphere that surrounded indicative of a bright future for the two countries. during 2016. the occasion. He referred to growth trends within tourist related Velozo is of the opinion that the number of The arrival of the cruise ship Adonis, belonging to industries but said that the human link between two North American visitors should continue to rise with the Carnival subsidiary company Fathom, was seen as great peoples was of even greater significance. consequential economic benefits on both sides. a symbolic manifestation of the decision announced Víctor Velozo, president of the Cuban tour operator He emphasized though that the single most on December 17 2014 by both countries to reestablish Havanatur, expressed his hope that on the basis of this important things arising from the cruises were the bilateral diplomatic relations. inaugural voyage, Carnival would form part of the new opportunity to show visitors how beautiful Cuba is, and The visitors, on a cruise that has a strong cultural range of businesses included in his company’s portfolio for the two peoples to share this moment in time. content, were welcomed by traditional Cuban dancers. of products on offer. The arrival of the Adonis follows the signing of The first to disembark were members of the Carnival He explained that Fathom line cruisers planned contracts between Carnival and Cuban firms on March management team, two of whom carried the flags of fortnightly weeklong cruises visiting Havana, the central 22 to commence operations between the U.S. and Cuba each nation whilst the others spoke to the press. city of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba in the east, from May 2. Cuba for Excellence in Catering Services By WilfredoALAYÓN in general and those of the local cuisine. This annual event becomes ever more important each year, so it is necessary to preserve and expand it, the minister noted. Companies from ten countries and three other international consortiums attended the festival held at the Plaza América Convention Center in Varadero, Matanzas, a province located 140 kilometers east of Havana. The Varadero Gourmet-2016 Festival was also attended by representatives from the private sector, which is “an inspiring element because we advocate a type of Courtesy of Trabajadores.cu Courtesy of tourism that complements all choices alike, so that Cuba becomes a leading PHOTO: PHOTO: gastronomic destination,” commented Courtesy of Cubadebate.cu The 8th Varadero Gourmet-2016 Festival Palmares Company’s manager, Jorge Luis recently held at this famous Cuban Acosta. PHOTO: beach resort fulfilled its objective of The three-day event made way for conferences completed the agenda for private sectors and professionals and encouraging the exchange of experiences lectures, presentations, tasting sessions, the festival sponsored by the Cuban academics from the catering sector. and knowledge between businesspeople workshops, panels led by experts, Tourism Ministry, Palmares Company, the The event also highlighted the and gourmet experts and world services. exhibitions and contests. Higher Group for Business Management, importance of quality and excellence as According to Cuban Tourism Minister The main topics discussed included and the Professional Training System for key elements for competitiveness among Manuel Marrero, this event posed a gastronomy and enology as cultural Tourism. tourist destinations. challenge for rescuing Cuban catering heritage, styled Cuban cuisine: challenge The Varadero Gourmet-2016 Festival Held at Cuba’s largest sun-beach services. and reality, contemporary cuisine, and convened businesspeople and experts tourist destination, this edition of the In a meeting with the accredited a combination of cigars, chocolate and in the management, training and festival brought together people in charge press, Marrero urged professionals from coffee. commercialization of food and beverages, of developing internationally renowned the sector to enhance the quality of the Bars, cocktails and tapas, Cuban both from Cuba and abroad, as well as gastronomy and enology services through services and rescue the Cuban traditions rums, secrets, new features, and training representatives from the state-run and high quality and excellent choices. CUBA 3 Cuban Tourism Trade Fair Points To Bright Days Ahead By Roberto F. CAMPOS 126 proposed projects related to the list for holidays, a figure that is expected to of opportunities for foreign investment rise to 1,800 million. and said that by the end of April, 76 He also reflected on the ties in the administration and sales contracts had sector between Cuba and Canada, saying been approved with 17 foreign hotel that both nations are well placed to chains. further develop the sector. He added that 27 joint venture For its participants, the recently companies were currently operating 500 concluded 36th FitCuba International four and five star hotel rooms. Tourism Trade Fair confirmed the There are also now more than 1,700 industry’s growth spiral in trips to the private restaurants (known as Paladares) Island. and 18 cooperatives in the sector. Manuel Muñoa Marrero confirmed that on average 2,500 rooms per year would open in Cuba PHOTOs: PHOTOs: and that in 2019 such investments would The 2016 FITCuba International Tourism double to 5,000 per year and surpass a Trade Fair confirmed that thanks to 62,000 room total. very well-preserved natural landscapes, He reported that flight operations had friendly people, safety and outstanding risen by 8.3 %. to 25,792 in 2015. beauty, Cuba -- and Havana in particular The Minister of Tourism emphasized -- are very much in fashion. that although in the previous year 161,233 This 36th edition of FITCuba, at which North Americans had visited Cuba, travel Canada was the guest of honor, was held restrictions from this neighboring country jointly in the Morro-Cabaña Complex and remained in force. the Habana Libre 200 business people and Hotel between May 3 and 7. It was representatives from the U.S. participated the largest to date and was dedicated to in FITCuba. cultural tourism products. He said that the number of foreign At the opening of the trade fair, visitors to Havana in 2015 of 1,685,000 Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero, said had shown a 37.4% increase, reaching that this sector was the second biggest 572,000 for the first three months of 2016. source of hard currency for Cuba. Bardish Chagger, the Canadian At a conference in the Ambassadors Minister of Tourism, said at the trade fair Hall of the Tryp Marrero Habana Libre that her country (the guest of honor) Hotel, he said this was the biggest of wanted not only to reinforce its ties to the events convened, with delegates Cuba in the recreational sector, but also in accompanied by 173 photographers from other spheres. their 53 countries in attendance. Regarding this she referred in Marrero spoke at the 60th Meeting particular to the potential of her country for the Americas of the World Tourism to cooperate with commercial exchanges Organization (OMT in Spanish), that was in the renewable energy, agriculture and held in Havana on May 3 and 4, which technology sectors. had 26 member delegations, including Last year, 1,300,000 Canadians 17 ministers present and was chaired by visited Cuba and the country’s tourism secretary general, Taleb Rifai. authorities hope to match or surpass that The minister said that Cuba had figure again this year. welcomed a total of 3,524,779 visitors in In line with this, OMT secretary general, 2015, a 17% increase on the previous year.
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