Airlines are clearly eager to serve the 77 percent increase in Americans arriving to Cuba in 2015, a year that saw a total of 161,000 American arrivals according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

The Mexican airline, Interjet, commenced flights between Havana and Merida-Yucatan, Mexico, the airline announced in a statement.

American’s first charter flight to Cuba departed Miami International Airport for Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on April 5, 1991. Now AA has bigger plans for the island nation.

Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas is slated to start commercial flights a few weeks from now. Air tickets are now available on Amadeus and BSP.

Airport staff told Hillsborough County Aviation Authority board members Thursday that Tampa Bay has a good chance of landing daily flights to Havana compared to competing cities, like Miami, Orlando or even Los Angeles.

During the launch of this year’s festival, Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, in his address, noted that the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. would be putting more resources behind the festival, owing to the increased number of extra-regional visitors coming to the island.