France to Be Guest Country at FITCuba-2014 Tourism Fair

France will be the guest country at the FITCuba-2014 Tourism Fair, an event that will be held in Havana and is meant to promote the capital as a travel destination, Cuban Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero announced here.

At the official closing of FITCuba-2013, held last night at Josone Park here, Marrero highlighted that at this moment France is the island nation’s fifth largest outbound market with as many as 100,000 sunbathers every year.

Mr. Marrero said this year’s fair had a turnout of 1,319 delegates from 58 nations and the largest delegation was from Brazil, which was the guest nation this year.

The Minister considered the event a success and said it offered the opportunity to contribute to an updating of the local tourism product, to raising the quality of service and the diversification of tourism offers.

The closing ceremony, which included a performance, also served as an awards ceremony for the winners of the "Cuban Cuisine" Culinary Festival, a competition held in five categories.

The Islazul team won in the traditional category, Gaviota Group for stylized cuisine, and representatives of the Cubanacan Company grabbed top honors in artistic cuisine.

Specialty buffet table grand prize went to the Iberostar Varadero Hotel, while Yahiti bar at the Ocean Patriarch hotel also won the top prize.