HAVANA, Cuba.- President Miguel Diaz-Canel qualified Cuban tourism as one of the most dynamic and impressive sectors in the country’s economy, committed to becoming the locomotive that pulls the nation’s development.

During a checkup that reviewed the role of the Ministry of Communications in support of that branch, Diaz-Canel acknowledged that we have been able to build a large hotel plant and open demanding markets, however the support of agencies in providing quality products and services to tourism has not progressed with the same rhythm.

Jose Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, Minister of Communications, said it is an important task to increase coverage with WiFi technology in hotels, one of tourists´ demands.

While most pf hem have Wi-Fi, Perdomo commented, the work is now aimed at offering services in rooms and other hotel sites.

With a View to the Development of Tourism

The Minister of Tourism, Manuel Marrero, commented on the timely approval of the Government to import, with the sector’s own resources, the necessary equipment to install Wi-Fi in all hotel areas, starting with those categorized with four and five stars.

The Minister of Communications also works on providing broadband technology to the agencies managed by tourism; to facilitate the use of roaming with lower prices, and covering the areas of silence with mobile coverage, both in tourist areas and in their access roads.

Cuba Continues Betting on Increasing Its Hotel Plant

Diaz-Canel considered that the communications sector should be projected in depth with a view to the development of tourism, and indicated to carry out a program to extend Wi-Fi areas in hotels.

The new facilities being built, he reiterated, have to conceive this technology as part of the concept of investment.

Foreign Investment in Cuban Industry

The Cuban President also monitored the development of foreign investment in the country, this time in the industry, a primary sector and a decisive contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

Minister Alfredo Lopez reported that in the portfolio of opportunities for foreign investment there are included 27 projects of the branch of industries, some in the negotiation phase, such as those related to recoat tires, repair lifting equipment and the electronics industry.

Lopez also explained that two joint ventures are constituted this year in the Mariel Special Zone of Development, one for glass containers for the national industry and another dedicated to the production of detergent.

In particular, he commented on the need to materialize a joint venture for the management of an integrated urban solid waste management system in Havana.
The Industry, Vital to the Country

Among the main difficulties in the development of foreign investment, the Minister of Industries mentioned the lack of staff to address these issues, insufficient training of those involved in business and delays in the negotiation process.

Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, highlighted that in addition to the guiding role played by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, each agency should prioritize attention to that activity.

Diaz-Canel emphasized the importance of this activity for the country, especially in the industry, because of the weight this sector must have in the increase of the Gross Domestic Product.

The president described as slow the rhythm of business concretion, which often happens because of the training of those involved and the time the agencies spend to this issue of transcendental relevance for the country.