By Kateryna Ivchenko

There have been quite a bit of rumours circling in the industry about what Cuba is working on, like a sustainable golf course, the possible use of the new airport, supplies, etc. 

WheelsUpNetwork is here to dispel the latest rumours and let you know exactly what to expect in the near future!

1. Can you please give us an update about the sustainable golf course that you mentioned during your presentation in Destinos Gaviota? Will it be in Cayo Santa Maria?

The sustainable golf course is a new way of playing golf where the shooting points are in the front of the sea and the ball is thrown towards a basket placed at a certain distance in the middle of the sea. The players use biodegradable balls which disintegrate as they pass water and become food for fish. We have 8 points distributed along the coast of Cayo Santa Maria and the golf carts are already at the destination so that they can be used by travellers to get around. The goal is to begin using it this winter and we have news that it would be the first golf course of this type in the Caribbean.

2. There are rumours that the airport in Cayo Las Brujas is being conditioned to receive international flights. Is this true? If yes, when can we start seeing the first flights?

This is a project that is approved already. The idea of activating the Cayo las Brujas airport has always been something that we have taken into account, this depends on many factors, including environmental, noises for nearby hotels, etc. and that is why it takes time to reach a decision regarding its implementation. It would be available for the B737, which are the aircraft most used by Canadian airlines, but no dates off operation establish yet.

3. Some of the feedback we are getting from customers and Travel Agents is the lack of certain supplies at hotels in Cuba like butter, yogurt, cola etc. What plan does Gaviota Hotels has to fix this issue?

Both the Gaviota Group and the other companies linked to tourism have taken measures to guarantee that the purchase and provision of the necessary products in our facilities flows. In our specific case, during the celebration of the Destinos Gaviota tourism fair, a visit was made with the event attendees to one of our storage centers to show them that the necessary products were guaranteed.

4. Is there a plan to open a new hotel in Ramon de Antillas in the short/mid-term? So far only Grand Memories Holguin is operating.

The Ramon de Antillas area has planned the construction of several more hotels, due to the quality of its beaches and the virgin spaces areas. Two more hotels are currently under construction and the first of them should be ready for opening in the course of 2024.

5. A few years ago, when the Minister of Tourism of Cuba visited Canada, he mentioned that there might be a visa system coming up which will replace the Tourist Card Canadians have to fill out before entering. Do you have any updates on that?

Work has been underway on a new visa system for Cuba that facilitates the entry of tourists to the destination and does not create problems for tourists visiting the island. It is currently in final testing with the aim of putting it into operation as soon as possible.

6. Are there any new tourist destinations in Cuba on the horizon or maybe new products?

Cuba is a large island with more than 360 km of beach on both coasts, north and south, in addition to its cultural, architectural and natural attributes, for this reason we are always looking to develop new destinations, at the moment we are promoting, for example, the diving areas in the western area of Pinar del Rio, the natural areas of the Sierra Escambary in Topes de Collantes and the easternmost point of the island in Baracoa, the first town founded by Diego Velazquez in 1511. In addition to the existing projects in Cayo Paredon and Cayo Cruz, where several hotels are also under construction, which were presented to the general public during the Destinos Gaviota fair.

Cuba is ready, Gaviota is prepared and we hope to be able to exceed the number of Canadians received in previous years, who are considered as a family in our country!