London, 3 July 2025 — A roundtable discussion with members of the Cuba Initiative was held at the headquarters of the Caribbean Council, focusing on opportunities for foreign investment in Cuba’s tourism sector.
The event was attended by Mr Chris Bennett, Executive Director of the Cuba Initiative and President of the Caribbean Council. Joining virtually were the Cuban Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda; Vice-Minister Adalberto Venero Lemus; senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism; and executives from key tourism business groups. Also participating remotely were representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment and the Cuban Chamber of Commerce.
The Cuban Embassy in the United Kingdom was represented by Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Pablo Ginarte; Counsellor for Tourism, Mayté Suárez; and First Secretary for Economic and Commercial Affairs, Soima Méndez.
During the meeting, Cuba’s strategies and priorities for attracting sustainable and mutually beneficial investment in the tourism sector were outlined. Participants discussed the range of available business modalities, including joint ventures, hotel management contracts, international economic associations, and wholly foreign-owned enterprises.
The discussion highlighted the strengths of Cuba as a tourist destination, offering a diverse portfolio of products, including health and wellness tourism, nature tourism, sun and beach options, and the modernisation of nautical infrastructure — all within a safe environment and enriched by the island’s vibrant cultural heritage.
Despite the ongoing economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government — which continues to hinder the development of Cuba’s tourism industry — the Cuban authorities reaffirmed their commitment to advancing viable, sustainable, and mutually advantageous projects in partnership with international stakeholders.
The event provided a constructive and open forum for dialogue between the Cuba Initiative and the Caribbean Council. It served as a valuable platform for exploring tangible avenues of cooperation and establishing strategic partnerships in a sector vital to Cuba’s economic growth.
