One of the highlights of this year’s International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2013) in Varadero has undoubtedly been the Gastronomy Festival, a side event that in which one particular hotel chains displays its delicacies on a daily basis. Islazul, a Cuba-based hotel company, had its turn yesterday as its chefs put on a show of today’s finest Cuban cuisine.

Greater opening to foreign investment in different sectors of the Cuban economy, especially in the travel industry, is no doubt one of the top priorities for the Caribbean island nation, according to Jose Daniel Reinaldo Alonso, chief of Business Operations with Cuba’s Tourism Ministry.

Frank Oltuski, marketing vice president of Cuban tourist group Gaviota, said 2013 is a starting point for Gaviota, a group created a quarter of a century ago. Among the main projects in the works, Mr. Oltuski mentioned a modern marina and all the facilities for catering to vessels, with a modern hotel about to be completed for the 2013-2014 season.

Frank Oltuski, marketing vice president of Cuba's Gaviota group, said 2013 is a starting point for his company. Among the main projects in the works, he mentioned a modern marina and facilities for catering to vessels, with a modern hotel about to be completed for the 2013-2014 season.

Promotion plays a major role in the proper marketing of tourism destinations, which will ultimately bring in bigger revenues. That is why the addition of Trinidad in the post-tour program of the 33rd International Tourism Fair Cuba 2013 –the major professional tourism event on the island nation- is indeed a plausible idea.

Belarus and Cuba will sign a memorandum of cooperation in tourism, according to information provided by Belarusian Minister of Sports and Tourism, Alexander Shamko. Mr. Alexander Shamko also stated that this year Cuba has been visited by nearly 1,100 tourists from Belarus.