All of Cuba’s potentials as a destination for nature tourists were disclosed in a master lecture dictated by Eduardo Rios, head of the Development Division of Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism.

Speaking to an audience of tour operators, travel agents, tourism professionals and attendants to the 2003 Tourism Convention in Varadero, Mr. Rios explained the Cuban development plan relies heavily on the sun-and-beach segment, without ruling out the possibilities of nature tourism the island nation has to offer.

Execs from Cubanco S.A. attending the 2003 Tourism Convention, announced new arrangements for cruise operations in Cuba during the 2004-2005 winter season and British company Air Tours’ intention to settle down in Havana.

In a special presentation during the marketplace, officials from that joint venture made sure Cuba is right now providing cruise service up to par with the one rendered in European ports.

Over a thousand attendants from as many as 60 nations are crowding Varadero’s Plaza America Conference Center for the 23rd Tourism Convention in Cuba. As Cuban tourism vice minister Marta Maiz put it on the eve of the grand opening of the island nation’s premiere tourist marketplace, countries like Croatia, Hungary, India, Iran, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Thailand and Turkey are making their debut in this year’s edition.

Aruba’s minister of tourism and transportation, Edison Briesen, took a grand tour around the venue hosting the Tourism Convention and talked to authorities from the sector.

In a conversation with Caribbean News, Mr. Briesen pointed out his country is keen to developing multi-destination among Caribbean countries. In that respect, he said air connection is one of the needs to be ironed out since many nations in the region have no flights among themselves.

With a view to advertise the upcoming World Tourism Expo, Wendy Hesketh is attending the Tourism Convention. Mrs. Hesketh is the planner of the aforesaid exhibit scheduled to take place next September in Mexico.

In a brief interview with Caribbean News, Mrs. Hesketh said the idea behind this effort is to lure international purchasers and boost up the Central American, Caribbean and Mexican regions as highly attractive tourist destinations.

Cuban air carriers Cubana de Aviacion and Aerocaribbean S.A. signed a shared code contract yesterday afternoon that from now on will allow both airlines to divvy up both transportation and service.

The agreement, rubricated by Eng. Ramon Valdivia Acosta from Cubana de Aviacion and Alberto Velasques Sanchez from Aerocaribbean S.A., will be in force beginning in June.