Following his press conference at the opening of the International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2013) in Varadero, Cuba’s Tourism minister Manuel Marrero told Brazilian journalists that Cuba has set out to update its economic model, and that of course entails new travel and tourism strategies that include the application of cutting-edge technology, promotion, advertising and collaboration between the public and private sectors.

“Our philosophy is very simple: come to visit Brazil during the course of the upcoming events we’re preparing,” said Brazil’s Tourism minister Gastão Vieira during his keynote speech at the grand opening of the International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2013).

Cuba is giving the finishing touches to a legislation that will give the green light to the marketing and building of real-estate properties outfitted with golf courses, one of the island nation’s latest moves aimed at both fostering and branching out its tourism offer.

Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero highlighted today the importance of working to boosting tourist integration as one more step towards achieving the dream of a greater Latin American and Caribbean homeland. The work meeting at the Havana-based National Hotel came on the eve of the opening of FITCuba 2013.

Cuba's annual international tourism fair kicked off Tuesday in a budding resort off the coast of the central Villa Clara province. Cayo Santa Maria, one of the country's newly-developed tourism destinations, hosted the FITCuba for the first time to woo tourists to the picturesque island nation.

Celebrated Cuban cigar roller Jose Castelar Cairo (Cueto) will officially lay hands Wednesday on his fourth Guinness World Record for making a gargantuan Habano of 150 feet long, a deed that was certified by the prestigious London-based company.