Cuba expects to receive 200 cruise ships this season

Cuba awaits the arrival of more than 200 cruises to various ports on the island during the winter season which starts this month and will run until April 2015. The season will officially begin on November 21 with the arrival in Havana harbor cruise of about 2,000, mostly from Europe, according to data collected by the agency Cubatur Cuban television.

The state group, which manage over 75% of cruises arriving in the period between the ports added more entries are those of Havana, Cienfuegos (center island) and Santiago de Cuba (east).

Cruise tourism is one of the main commitments of Cuba to diversify their offerings, with the impulse to cultural tours and nature, health, marine, or real estate developments associated with golf.

The arrival of regular cruises to the Caribbean country fell by 89% from 2006, the year in which the Spanish company Pullmantur closed its operations in Cuba after being acquired by US Royal Caribbean Cruise.

The sector was almost extinct in the next few years, but resumed operations in 2009 and rebounded in 2010, with the arrival of some 10,000 cruise passengers.

In recent years, Cuba has established stable operations with international companies to revive this mode.