Chinese tourists may boost the tourism in Cuba

A direct flight between Havana and Beijing was organized recently, which was expected to increase the number of Chinese tourists to Cuba in the next few years.

Cuba is the second country in Latin America which has a direct flight to China, and the first one is Brazil. Due to the long-term embargo against Cuba, its economic development has been relatively slow and the promotion of tourism may become a new way to boost the country’s economy. As China has become one of the world’s most important sources of outbound tourism, opening a direct flight between China and Cuba may prove to be an effective measure to raise the tourism income of Cuba.

There are several reasons for Chinese tourists to visit Cuba, and one of them is the revolutionary history of the country. As Cuba is the only socialist country in Latin America, Chinese tourists would like to visit Cuba to experience a country which has a different culture, but yet runs a similar social system. The stories of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro are widely spread in China as signs of struggle for equality and against oppression. In order to show the appreciation of the revolutionary history of Cuba, the photo of Che Guevara can be found on posters and T-shirts in China, which could prompt more Chinese tourists who previously know little about Cuba to visit there.

Another attraction of Cuba is Ernest Hemmingway. He spent several years in Cuba and mentioned the country in some of his novels. Due to his popularity in China, his home in Cuba has also become a must-see for many Chinese tourists who visit the country.

Meanwhile, China is one of the biggest buyers of the Cuban cigars. For Chinese tourists, the opportunity to purchase original hand-made Cuban cigars is also a factor that drives them to visit the country. Apart from that, Cuba is famous for its sunshine, beautiful beaches, and a passionate rhythm of life, which are preferable for Chinese tourists who want to escape from the air pollution at home.

In the past 12 months, around 30,000 Chinese tourists visited Cuba. With the new direct flight between Beijing and Havana, this number is estimated to grow over the next few years.

Source: CCTV

Photo: flickr