Cuban Government Announces Summer Camp for Children of Expats

The Cuban government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) and the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), has unveiled plans for a summer camp aimed at children of Cubans living abroad. This initiative was presented by the Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda, during a meeting with travel agents in Madrid, Spain, as part of the city's Tourism Fair (FITUR), the largest of its kind in Europe.

The event took place at the Cuban Embassy in Madrid and included representatives from 21 travel agencies operating within Spain, according to the Spanish portal TTC. During the meeting, it was disclosed that over 11,000 tourists traveled to the island from Spain through these agencies, accounting for 18% of all visitors from the country up to December of the previous year.

Strengthening Cultural Ties Through Tourism

García Granda stated that the summer camp's objective is to strengthen the ties between the Cuban community abroad and their homeland by offering cultural and tourist experiences in various attractive locations on the island. He also mentioned the possibility of organizing family maritime excursions as part of the tourist offerings for Cubans residing outside the country.

Cuba's Tourism Sector Faces Major Challenges

The Cuban tourism sector is grappling with severe challenges due to a range of issues, including inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of basic supplies, and a tarnished international image due to the country's internal economic crisis, as García Granda himself acknowledged in December. Reports from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) indicate that visitor numbers continue to decline, prompting the government to intensify efforts to promote the island as a tourist destination. Despite these official efforts, tourist arrivals remain far below expectations.

Despite the regime's attempts to market the island as an attractive destination, the reality is that tourism in Cuba continues to decline. The lack of resources, instability in basic services, and difficulties in ensuring a quality offer continue to impact the industry. Recent data shows that 2024 was another disappointing year for the sector, forcing authorities to seek strategies such as organizing events and creating specific incentives for international tourists and Cuban residents abroad.

Juan Carlos García Granda: A Key Player in Cuban Tourism

García Granda has been a pivotal figure in the regime's strategy to boost tourism as a revenue source amid the island's economic crisis. Under his leadership, costly international events such as the International Tourism Fair, organized by the military-controlled Gaviota Group, have been promoted. García Granda has also strengthened alliances with allied countries like Venezuela and Russia, aiming to attract tourists from these markets through strategic agreements.

His management has faced criticism from economists, who argue that the Cuban government's reliance on tourism has not yielded the expected results and that the country should diversify its economy instead of solely depending on this sector. Recently, activists at FITUR demanded freedom for Cuba, condemning the regime's repression in spaces dedicated to promoting the island's tourism. Despite these challenges, García Granda continues to advocate for Cuba as an attractive destination, confronting hurdles such as inadequate infrastructure and growing visitor dissatisfaction.