Havana, September 29 (AIN-RHC) -- The most recent figures on tourist arrivals in Cuba, published by the National Statistics Office (ONE) appear as a good sign following a 6.7 percent increase for August, when compared to same month of 2013.

Following a two-month consecutive slump in arrivals, which could have thwarted the country's goal of receiving three million foreign visitors this year, a total 199,789 arrivals in August could mean a change in the lowering trend registered previously.

Cuba has already received 2,071,533 vacationers, which translates into a 3.7 percent growth with respect to 2013, while the high tourist season is already at the doors with possibilities to help reach the 3-million-visit goal thanks, to a large extent, to promotional campaigns undertaken in Latin America and Europe.

Canada continues to rank as Cuba's major tourist source with 850,000 visitors, followed by Germany, the U.K. and Italy. This latter country was reported as the fastest to increase its numbers of tourists to Cuba in August, with over 12 thousand arrivals.

France and Spain were also reported with significant growth up to date, with 7.6 and 5.1 percent respectively over the figures released last year. And in Latin America, Venezuela has noticeably increased the number of tourists visiting Cuba after recording 102 percent more in August, and with 18 thousand more visitors in the total record.