• Submitted by: lena campos
• Travel and Tourism
• 06 / 22 / 2012

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Almost one and a half million people have visited Cuba in the first five months of 2012, a new record according to the Cuban National Statistics and Information Office (ONEI).

The figure released by ONEI means there was a 5.5 percent growth
considering the same period of time last year, and it shows a steady
increase since February.

The statement points out that during the last four years May, which is
considered low season by the Cuban Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), has seen
the number of arrivals increase, up to 7.1 percent more in 2012 compared
to the previous year.

In 2011, 2 716 317 people arrived in Cuba, which translated in revenues
for over 1.7 billion dollars,  made out of transportation, lodgement,
retail and food services.

That figure doesn’t include the revenues of the self-employed sector,
whose presence in the tourist industry grew considerably in 2011, thanks
to the new measures implemented by the Cuban government.

Domestic tourism also grew, and some 1.3 million Cubans stayed at MINTUR
facilities generating over 117 million dollars income for this industry.

Source: ACN