Beijing, November 20 (RHC)-- Cuban Deputy Tourism Minister Mayra Alvarez said in Beijing that the Beijing-Havana direct flights to start December 27th will favor the increase of Chinese tourism to Cuba and the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The Cuban official participated in an Air China promotional event for destinations such as Canada, the U.S., South Africa and Cuba, where she said that China is the 17 major source of visitors to her country.

Meanwhile, Air China's marketing manager He Zhigang announced that the first direct flight to Havana will make a technical stop-over in Montreal before arriving in the Cuban capital next month.

The direct connection, which will use a Boeing 777-300ER three times a week, will be key to promote Chinese tourism to Havana. According to official statistics, over 22,000 Chinese vacationers traveled to Cuba between January to November 2014.