Cuba hopes Chinese tourists will boost industry

Cuba hopes Chinese tourists will boost industry
Reporter: Michael Voss 丨 CCTV.com
01-05-2016 00:34 BJT

Tourism industry in Cuba is also hoping to courting throngs of Chinese
visitors, especially with new direct flights between Beijing and Havana.

The first direct flight from China landed at Havana airport on December
27th. One of the first passengers off the China Airways plane was travel
writer and blogger Sun Jian.

"I've always wanted to visit Cuba. I have been to 96 countries already,
and I always wanted to come here. One of the reasons is that we are
socialist partners. Another reason is that I love Che Guevara," said Sun
Jian, Chinese travel writer.

The Cubans are well aware of the selling power of the legendary
revolutionary, Ernesto Che Guevara, and his face can be seen on posters,
T-shirts, and even walls throughout the city.

Another attraction is the home of the Nobel Prize-winning American
author, Ernest Hemingway, who for years made Cuba his home. It's a
must-see for many of the Chinese tour groups who come here.

Wang Zheng runs a travel company in Havana specializing in Chinese clients.

"There's a lot that the Chinese like here. There is blue sky and clean
air along with music, cigars and dance. The Cubans are a warm people,
and above all the rhythm of life is different," Wang said.

Cuba is only the second country in Latin America that has scheduled
flights to and from Beijing. The other is Sao Paulo, the commercial
center of Brazil. Here, though, they are hoping to attract tourists as
much as business passengers.

Some 30-thousand Chinese tourists visited Cuba over the past 12 months.
The hope is that with direct flights now available three times a week,
the number of Chinese visitors will increase substantially over the next
few years.

Source: Cuba hopes Chinese tourists will boost industry - CCTV News -
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