Havana, April 29.- The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, held a meeting today with directors of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and with ministers and businessmen of the sector in the region.
At the meeting, held at the Palace of the Revolution, the president thanked the directors of UN Tourism for choosing the island as the headquarters of the 69th Regional Commission of the Americas of the specialized organization.
In addition, he expressed his appreciation for the 100 scholarships offered for the development of the island's training capabilities in tourism.
According to a national television report, the head of state told the participants about the impact that the United States blockade has on tourism in Cuba and media campaigns.
From tourism we can do a lot in defense of the social, sustainable development, culture, peace and our people, Díaz-Canel said.
For his part, the Cuban minister of the sector, Juan Carlos García, expressed the priority that the Government of the Antillean country gives to local development, to the autonomy of the provinces and municipalities and especially to sustainable local tourism.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of UN Tourism, Zurab Pololikashvili, referred to the importance of the tourism market in Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 700 million inhabitants.
Likewise, he expressed his support for Cuba for the development of tourism despite the current economic circumstances it faces, and assured that the Caribbean nation is one of the safest countries he has visited.
The executive director of UN Tourism, Natalia Bayona, highlighted that Havana is the only city in Latin America that has American, French, Spanish, and African historical influence, and that cultural wealth must be taken advantage of through investment.
At the meeting, tourism ministers from the region expressed the willingness of their governments to continue working with Cuba in this area and praised the resilience of the largest of the Antilles.
The Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, highlighted that the holding of the 69th Regional Commission of the Americas of UN Tourism and the seminar Enhancing tourism development through innovation in community tourism has a high significance, since they take place in complex moments for the island.
He indicated that his country has a lot to offer in terms of history, culture and has many attractions that make up the tourist map of the Caribbean nation.
Until tomorrow, the Meliá Internacional Varadero Hotel will host the 69th Regional Commission of the Americas of UN Tourism, a specialized agency of the United Nations in promoting responsible tourism. (Text and photo: PL)
