Tourism industry helps in increasing revenue by $1.8 billion in Cuba

The tourism sector of Cuba reported that revenues in 2013 increased to over $1.8 billion, a figure that exceeds that reported for 2012, following a modest growth in the number of visitors.

According to the National Statistics Office, the sector experienced some instability in tourist arrivals, particularly at the middle of the year.

Marketing director with the tourism ministry, Jose Manuel Bisbe, said that 2013 was a complicated year due to internal and external factors that led to a slump in the sector’s performance. But the high season was favoured by slight growth, compared to 2012, he noted.

Total occupancy rate in tourist facilities was calculated about 45 percent, nearly six percent below previous reports, according to the Office.

Some 2,000,852 visitors picked the island as their holiday destination in 2013, with Canada cementing its position as the main source of visitors to Cuba.