Havana, Cuba.-Cuban deputies gathered in the Commission for Attention to Services have dealt with the current performance of tourism as a strategic sector for social economic development of the nation.

During his speech, the Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero said that in the first half of 2017, about 2,668,446 international visitors traveled to the Caribbean island, an 23 percent higher than the same period of 2016.

This growth is closely related to the increased tourism markets, and the flow of Canadian tourists, which had declined due to, among other reasons, its currency weakening.

There was also an increase in both US and European visitors, including visitors from Russia.

This increase of foreign visitors to Cuba is influenced by the incidence of new air operations, such as the inclusion of the new Turkish Airlines operations, the change of Air Europe’s regular airplanes by larger ones and the increase in Air France airline, Marrero said.

There was also a 98 percent rise in cruiser line activity, with the operation of 5 new companies, including Norwegian Cruise Line and US Carnival Cruise Line.

The Cuban deputy also said that even if favorable data are recorded, there is still much work to do, in order to scale down dissatisfaction, which is mainly linked with the quality of airport services, road signs, currency exchange and hygiene.