Cuba Readies Tourism Facilities after Sandy’s Fallout

Cuban authorities are striving to ready tourist facilities damaged by Hurricane Sandy for the high winter season, as damages are being assessed.

"We have made a firm commitment to making a rapid assessment of damages in a bid to take advantage of the environment and rely on the full strength of Santiago de Cuba residents in the recovery efforts, said Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero during a visit to former Hotel Bucanero, razed to the ground by the hurricane.

"We cannot say that this is over and will remain as it is now," said Marrero referring to reconstruction work being carried out to restore tourism in the province, the second most populated and the worst hit by Hurricane Sandy.

In this regard, we will guarantee services during the high winter season, and tourism will continue running in the province, except in Hotel Bucanero and in La Gran Piedra, he told local television.

With heavy damages in the power system, agriculture, communications, education, health, transport, commerce and food centers, the province of Santiago de Cuba was the worst hit by the category-two hurricane.

Main damages were reported in over 130,000 houses, 15,300 of them totally destroyed, according to official figures. In its path through eastern Cuba, Hurricane Sandy, with winds of over 175 km/h, left a trail of extensive damage and 11 deaths.