In an effort to revive Cuba's struggling tourism industry, the regime will host the Paradise Rainbow Festival from August 19 to 25, 2024, at the Hotel Memories Paraiso located in Cayo Santa María, Villa Clara province. The initiative promises a week of parties, shows, and fun to "celebrate love in all its forms," according to the news portal Travel Trade Caribbean (TTC).
The event's program includes a Rainbow Fantasy Show for its inauguration, featuring a drag queen theme, along with participation games offering "a week-long stay at the hotel for two adults" as a prize. Pool parties, themed breakfasts, a carnival to choose the star of the event, and Cuban-themed afternoons are among other offerings of the Paradise Rainbow Festival.
Rafael Villanueva, commercial director of the Blue Diamond hotel chain, confirmed to TTC that this event reaffirms the company’s policy of renewing its offerings in Cuba under the Resonance brand. The chain plans to position the brand in both Varadero and Cayo Santa María, focusing on attracting a young audience over eighteen years old, Villanueva indicated, highlighting the regime's desperate effort to market the criticized Cuban destination at any cost.
New Concepts to Attract Young Tourists
Villanueva explained that they will handle two concepts: Music, aimed at young people seeking entertainment, animation, unique parties, and an international DJ calendar, a demographic that has not traditionally visited Cuba. The second concept is Blue, which targets those looking for wellness, yoga, and relaxation. According to the executive, this will be "something very innovative in the country."
Last January, the Cuban regime and a Galician firm announced the preparation of the island's first "major LGBTI festival," to be held in the exclusive Cayo Santa María in the summer, confirming the government's trend of trying to rescue the tourism industry. This setting has been chosen by the dictatorship to organize events that provide quick cash flow, and now it’s the turn of Spartacus, an LGBTI festival promoted from Spain as a moment of "music, art, and inclusion," reported the local newspaper La Voz de Galicia.
The initiative is being prepared by the Arousan firm Turidove and will take place from July 31 to August 4. It will be an unprecedented event on the island, according to the information. "We estimate that around three thousand people will travel from abroad—from various points in Latin America, but also from Spain—along with the Cuban audience," explained Xabier Álvarez Pombo, one of the four owners of the travel agency, whose headquarters are in Vilagarcía.
Key Details About the Paradise Rainbow Festival in Cuba
For those interested in attending or learning more about the Paradise Rainbow Festival, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
What are the dates for the Paradise Rainbow Festival?
The Paradise Rainbow Festival will take place from August 19 to 25, 2024.
Where will the festival be held?
The festival will be held at the Hotel Memories Paraiso in Cayo Santa María, located in Villa Clara province.
What activities are planned for the event?
The event will feature a Rainbow Fantasy Show, pool parties, themed breakfasts, a carnival, and Cuban-themed afternoons, among other activities.
Who is organizing the festival?
The festival is being organized by the Cuban government and the Blue Diamond hotel chain, with the initiative being promoted by Travel Trade Caribbean.