According to the Sputnik agency, tourism from Russia was ranked second as a destination in Cuba, with the arrival of more than 66 thousand vacationers

Havana, April 24 (RHC) The arrival of Russian tourists to Cuba currently shows an increase, especially during the first quarter of this year.

The Sputnik agency reflects this Wednesday in a note released in Havana, that tourism from Russia was ranked second as a destination in Cuba, with the arrival of more than 66 thousand vacationers in the aforementioned period, only surpassed by Canada.

The Russian news agency points out that it exceeded 400 thousand visitors, and mentions data from the National Office of Statistics and Information.

Among the main sources of travelers to the island are Canada, Russia, the United States, Germany, France, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain and Argentina, as well as the Cuban community residing abroad.

Regarding Russian tourism, 66,887 tourists from that nation traveled to Cuba from January 1 to March 31, 2024.

This figure represents a record number, doubling the number of Russian vacationers compared to the same period last year. In general, the Caribbean island received more than 809 thousand travelers from different countries in the first quarter of 2024, which represents a growth of 7.5 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

On March 15, Cuban Minister of Tourism Juan Carlos García stated that Havana and Moscow are strengthening their initiatives to encourage the presence of Russian tourism on the island, such as the possibility of making payments with Mir system cards.

He explained that the stability in the use of Mir cards positions Cuba as a safe and competitive destination for Russian travelers.

García emphasized that there are already 20 thousand point-of-sale terminals in Cuba that accept Mir cards, located in the main markets and tourist spots on the island, and that they can be used in ATMs. He added that since December 2023, basic consumer services in stores and restaurants or car rentals can be paid in Cuba with these Russian cards.

He also insisted that work is being done to increase the number of Russian cities from which there are direct flights to Cuba, and in particular from Saint Petersburg.

The minister was optimistic and assured that Cuba expects to receive more than 200,000 Russian tourists in 2024 and, in the short-term future, up to half a million. (Source: PL)