By Kateryna Ivchenko

As the world begins to reopen, Cuba is one of the few countries which is currently fully re-opened with all airlines flying in and out and hotels that are ready to welcome guests and operate in the “new normal”.

Since the full reopening of the island on November 15th, Cuba has welcomed over 50,000 visitors. There are currently 45 weekly flights from Canada, rising to 69 expected in the new year.

Earlier this month, Cuba hosted over 600 global industry representatives for its annual Gaviota Travel Mart trade show at the new luxurious 5* Paradisus Los Cayos, in Cayo Santa María. This was the first international and biggest event in the country this year and it sends a clear message of what Tourism means for Cuba.

As part of Hola Sun’s 30th Anniversary FAM, WheelsUpNetwork was lucky enough to able to attend. We learned how the country has dealt with Covid-19, new plans for the tourism sector and updated protocols to make sure all visitors can feel safe while travelling to and within Cuba.

Cuba’s local response to Covid-19

Since the start of this Covid-19 pandemic, Cuba has performed over 11 million tests, with an overall 8.5% positivity rate. Out of 954,294 patients, 99.1% are fully recovered. In direct response to the pandemic, Cuba built 22 new testing labs, adding to the 5 already in operation at the start of 2020.

“We have fought this pandemic with our own resources” said Prime Minister of Cuba Manuel Marrero Cruz.

Daily, Cuba preforms over 20,000 tests to make sure guests and staff are safe during their stay.

“We put people’s health at the top of our agenda. Science has given us the best solutions to fights the virus and the quick spread of Covid-19 accelerated our understanding” said Juan Carlos García Granda, Minister of Tourism of Cuba. “Despite other variants, August had the highest number of infections, with both the Delta and Beta variants. Right now, the daily average number of active cases is less than a 100 with 0 deaths. It only proves the efficiency of our vaccines”

Cuba claims first place in national vaccination rates. As of December 6th, 28,644,008 Cuban vaccine doses were administered, with a reported 91.2% efficacy rate. Cuba is also the only country currently able to widely vaccinate infants as young as 2 years old.

Last month, Cuba began a booster vaccination roll-out to its population, offering a 4th booster shot for all workers. On top of that, the government introduced several additional actions that all tourism staff have to follow, like self-care regulations. 

“Cubans will be healthier and safer and operate under the strictest health regulations” said Executive President of Gaviota Tourism Group, Carlos Latuff.

New international visitor sanitary control measures:

• Foreign international travellers who arrive in the country must present a vaccination certificate or health passport against Covid-19
• If you are not vaccinated, you have to show a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival 
• Cuban citizens returning to the country must present an international certificate of vaccination or health passport against covid-19, either with a vaccine certified by the corresponding regulatory agencies, or Cuban vaccines approved by the Regulatory Authority of Cuba
• Travellers coming from Africa must present a negative PCR test upon arrival. They will also be tested in Cuba and will be asked to quarantine

 “Cuba will not close its borders. Countries that are infected with the Omicron variant will be forced to quarantine and Cuba is ready to implement more restrictions if required. We have implemented all necessary conditions to make tourism safe in Cuba” said the Minister of Tourism.

As an additional safety measure, all healthcare services in Cuba are available 24 hours a day. This includes in hotels and outside facilities. Clinics have been improved to provide more services and they also include a post-covid rehabilitation program.

“The fact that Covid-19 has been contained by the Cuban health authorities provides piece of mind for Canadians travelling to Cuba. I feel safer and more comfortable going to the destination already” says Hugo Rocha, General Manager of Hola Sun. 

Future Travel

“The world will never be the same after Covid-19 and Cuba is not an exception” said Juan Carlos, Minister of Tourism.

As part of future tourism plan, Cuba is preparing to offer a “Vaccination Package” for tourists who are not immunized or want to get a booster shot in Cuba. 

Gaviota Tourism Group has 36,000 staff locally to make sure your clients are safe while visiting Cuba.

Another key focus for the future of travel in Cuba is Cuban Gastronomic Heritage. Gaviota Travel Mart saw the launch of “Nativa” a program designed to promote native Cuban food and make people feel like locals while they are in the destination. Your clients will delight in authentic food and local entertainment from across every province in the country. Your clients asked for it and Cuba is delivering!

“The feedback we received from our clients is that when they go to Cuba, they want to experience more of the authentic Cuban cuisine and culture. However, currently hotels are focusing on international food. Some travellers haven’t been able to experience true Cuba. Now with the help of Nativa, they will have a taste of local cuisine, settings and entertainment. The new trend now is Nativa!” comments Hugo Rocha.

Cuba offers a wide variety of products, with the new authentic trend, we can now enjoy more traditional Cuban food like Ropa Vieja (Cuban Braised Beef), Yuca Con Mojo, Traditional Cuban Churros that you can see below and so much more!

Other steps Cuba is making to improve tourism:

• New language training for staff
• Introduction of digital payments
• Improved FREE WiFi with access from the beach and all common areas of the hotel
• Improved and modernized transportation for airport transfers and excursions, some of the buses have already included WiFi service
• Foreign specialist companies will be permitted to manage various airports for more efficiency
• Developments of world class hotels in existing and new tourist destinations such as Cayo Cruz, Cayo Paredon and Antillas (Holguin/Cayo Saetia areas)
• The cost of the PCR test ($30 USD) is the same across the island and results are available within 24 hours

“The Cuban government continues to prioritize the tourism sector. It is at the top of the agenda for social and economic development through to 2030” said the Prime Minister of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz. “There will be further advancement in the sector. Cuba, as a tourism destination, has to become more competitive. Our new quality of service will make a difference.”

Cuba is of course, famed for its friendly and hospitable people. That warm welcome is as strong and heartfelt as ever, regardless of all the challenges this pandemic has thrown at them.

New Developments

The Minister of Tourism confirmed that in 2022, Cuba will open 4,000 rooms for international tourists and these new hotels will have 4- and 5-star rating.

“New hotels will widen the variety and offer more vacation package options for Canadians. With 4- and 5-star hotel developments, the aim is to attract the higher-end customers. I believe that the overall customer service is going to improve, which in turn will improve the customer satisfaction with the island” says Hugo Rocha, General Manager of Hola Sun.

All hotel developments will be environmentally friendly and will protect vegetation and beaches. The government of Cuba is controlling the building process to make sure no negative impact on nature and the environment has been done. 

There are two big projects in Varadero and they include a creation of 4-5 golf courses, building new international marinas and more. It is just one example of the bigger plan created by the government. There are projects all over the island, transforming Cuba as a destination.

Digitalization

In addition to the WiFi improvements, soon you will be able to book everything you need for your vacation on your phone! A new app will allow you to pre-check-in to your hotel, pick a room category, book your excursion, or even a romantic dinner at the hotel. No more paper waste.

As part of its digitalization plans, starting from January 1 2022, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba are implementing a new online form that all customers can use to provide all travel information in advance prior to entering and leaving Cuba.

Nieves Ricardo from Cuba Tourist Board says:

"Cuba is getting better by the day and the destination is ready to receive Canadians, the country is completely open, tourist can travel around and explore a wide range of excursions and attractions across the country.

Besides the new generation of modern hotels that recently have opened, the Ministry of Tourism and all the companies of the tourism sector, used the down time during Covid to renovate and upgrade the tourist infrastructure inside and outside of the hotels, all the facilities are up and running and ready to serve guests, Canadians visiting Cuba will enjoy a higher level of service this winter.

Special emphasis has been placed on the extension of the WiFi service to all the areas of the hotels and the country is looking forward to a complete digitalization of the migratory documents, working on providing paperless services, use the QR codes to access menus, etc.

Canadians can have confidence in Cuba’s unsurpassed healthcare, the health and safety protocols are working efficiently, and it is reassuring to see Cubans always wearing mask wherever we visited.

There is no doubt that in this current world full of uncertainty, Cuba offers an oasis of safety to Canadians eager to take off and enjoy the Cuban sun."

Pack your bags and travel to Cuba, because they are ready and waiting for you!