Matanzas, July 5 (RHC)-- Some 1,170 national tourists are enjoying the hotel and rental house network in the province of Matanzas, in connection with the resumption of operations in the tourism sector, corresponding to the first post-COVID-19 recovery phase in the province which includes the famous beach resort of Varadero.

Mario Sabines Lorenzo, Governor of Matanzas, said that more than 900 visitors are staying in hotels in Varadero, including the Kawama and Tortuga Villas, the Meliá Internacional, of the Gran Caribe chain and the Memories Varadero, of Gaviota, among others, and the number will grow in the next few hours.

In the Ciénaga de Zapata, the Villas Playa Larga and Playa Girón also have national clients and the rental houses, located in the largest and best preserved wetland of the insular Caribbean, welcome visitors from nearby provinces.

So far, life in both tourist destinations is quiet, there is no crowding and the facilities comply with the sanitary measures indicated for the current recovery phase, said the governor.

Ailuj Casanova Barreto, provincial director of health, said that one of the greatest challenges for the sector this summer is the medical presence in the tourism sector to ensure compliance with biosecurity protocol, both for clients and workers.

"We must avoid a setback.  Matanzas province has not seen any positive cases in 20 days, and Varadero receives mainly visitors from neighboring Havana."

Liván Izquierdo Alonso, president of the Defense Council in Matanzas, warned about the presence of international tourism as the province moves towards the second phase of recovery, when epidemiological surveillance must be redoubled, and compliance must be ensured from the moment the visitor arrives at the airport and then at the hotel facilities.

Matanzas complies with what was planned for the current phase and is ready to move on to the next one.  Primary and secondary health care, urban transportation, obituary services, commerce and gastronomy are all functioning properly, and more than 11,700 self-employed workers have restarted their activities.