That aspiration had remained unfulfilled in the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 in the United States, because of their unfavorable impact on the sector and the world economy.

Yet without overcoming that crisis, this year’s international scene was in suspense in the face of other incidents, among which the most significant has been the war on Irak, and that kept the island’s tourist institutions cautious and a bit conservative.

Local authorities of the sector assessed the possible negative consequences that could affect the arrival of travelers, above all from European markets, for they contribute more than 50 % of the vacationers that arrive in Cuba, besides strengthening actions on closer markets.

Nevertheless, optimism prevailed and results continued growing. Last July, for example, the arrival of foreign travelers on the island increased in 6 %, when over 148,000 vacationers lodged in all tourist locations of the country.

In general, tourists’ arrival in the said stage of the year averaged 16 % increase and the sector reported the one millionth visitor on June 30, for the eighth consecutive year, but this time one month before than in 2002, and even than in 2001, featuring the best results in such a branch.

Likewise in May, Tourism Minister Ibrahím Ferradaz García gave to know that 14 million travelers had arrived on the island ever since the ‘80s, when tourism’s quick development kicked off as a new economic alternative.

Months prior to that date, Jardines del Rey, a large island off the north coast of Ciego de Ávila province, reported both the first millionth visitor in all the history of the tourist destination, and the arrival of 100,000 guests in the first six months of the year.

Varadero, Cuba’s most important beach resort for it receives more than 40 % of tourists that arrive in the country, totaled 400,000 travelers in that first half, confirming that it could double the figure by the end of the year.

According to highlights by CUBATRAVEL (Web Site of Cuban Tourism), Holguín, Cuba’s third tourist location, increased its hotel occupancy to 30 % this summer, something unprecedented in all its history.

Another summer crowning and encouraging news from the Ministry of Tourism gave to know that U.S. Travel & Leisure magazine’s readers selected Cuba as Best Caribbean Island in its annual poll.

In addition to the value that a similar result coming from whatever part of the world would have, this one gains in prestige, because it deals with a virtually forbidden market for Cuba, while U.S. citizens face different travel bans on the island, backed up by acts in force in the northern nation.

Another wonderful summery news was the record of tourists who lodged in Cuban hotels last August 12, 40 384 in one day, surpassing marks that had remained shattered since 2001 and that have been surpassed so far this year, following the continuous rise in the international tourism and tourist institutions’ ever growing interests and endeavors targeting more revenues for the national economy, based on high efficiency and top-quality services.

Cubasi