Cuba Tourism - North America, Europe Biggest Markets In 2016 For Caribbean Nation As Tourism Surges

Cuba Tourism: North America, Europe Biggest Markets In 2016 For
Caribbean Nation As Tourism Surges
BY VISHAKHA SONAWANE @VISHAKHANS ON 01/09/17 AT 4:11 AM

The tourism industry in Cuba saw a boost in 2016 with over 4 million
international tourists traveling to the Caribbean country the past year,
according to reports. The country also witnessed a 13 percent increase
in tourists from North America and Europe — Cuba's biggest markets in
terms of tourism in 2016.

Cuba surpassed its goal of drawing 3.8 million international tourists by
6 percent and it is likely to get over 4.1 million tourists in 2017,
TeleSur reported Saturday, citing the country's tourism ministry. The
growth in tourist numbers is attributed to access to larger number of
international flights.

Increasing number of tourists from the United States are heading to Cuba
despite the U.S. embargo on the country. Although trade embargo does not
allow Americans to visit Cuba for tourism, they can travel to the island
nation for reasons such as family visits, educational, humanitarian or
religious.

Last October, U.S. President Barack Obama eased several travel and
commerce sanctions against Cuba. Commercial airlines began flying to the
country last August after the Department of Transportation approved
flights to Havana and nine other cities with international airports by
American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Silver Airways,
Southwest Airlines and Sun Country Airlines. Southwest Airlines launched
its inaugural flight from Tampa, Florida, to the Cuban capital last
December.

In Europe, Austrian Airlines and Russia's Azur Air began weekly flights
to Cuba and Virgin Atlantic started a weekly flight from London to
Havana. French airliners XL Airways and Air Caraibes have also started
flights to Cuba. According to the Cuban tourism ministry, over 165,000
French tourists visited the country in 2016.

Source: Cuba Tourism: North America, Europe Biggest Markets In 2016 For
Caribbean Nation As Tourism Surges -
http://www.ibtimes.com/cuba-tourism-north-america-europe-biggest-markets-2016-caribbean-nation-tourism-2472129