The Cuban Tourism Day is a significant event, particularly in light of the government’s efforts to revive the tourism industry – a crucial sector for the nation’s economy – and address the challenges it faces.
On November 20, 1959, Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban Revolution, established the National Institute of the Tourism Industry (INIT) and took charge of its direction while serving as Prime Minister.
Since the beginning of the Revolution, the authorities have fostered the development of tourism and have begun to open or improve sites that are now landmarks in the Destination Cuba, where prominent figures, including the late Celia Sánchez and the geographer and captain of the Rebel Army, Antonio Núñez Jiménez, have made significant contributions.
Cuban Tourism Day was declared on November 20, 2019, coinciding with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of INIT and designated by presidential decree to honor individuals and institutions of all kinds that contribute to the development of this sector for the island.
To date, more than ten outstanding individuals in the sector have been recognized, including the vice president of the National Commission for Tourism History, Rafael Sed Pérez; the director of the Las Terrazas Complex, and the first Tourism Minister of Cuba, Osmani Cienfuegos; as well as the late Havana Historian, Eusebio Leal Spengler.
Recently, the Ministry of Tourism has reported on a wide range of activities aimed at rescuing the tourism industry and promoting progress. The archipelago boasts a competitive product in the Caribbean, with a remarkable historical and cultural heritage that sets it apart from other destinations in the region.
