Ottawa, October 2, 2018- In the framework of his working visit to Canada, Cuban Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero Cruz was received today afternoon by his counterpart Mrs. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie of Canada, at her office in Parliament Hill. It was a cordial and fruitful meeting, which generated an extensive discussion on the challenges and development strategies and prospects for the tourism industry, a priority for both countries.
Minister Marrero Cruz referred to the strategic role of tourism in Cuba´s economic growth, the efforts made by the Cuban government to ensure its sustainable development as well as its key support to advance tourism industry. He highlighted the special attention granted to Canada as Cuba´s number one tourist emitting country.
After learning of the strong links between the Cuban system of tourism schools and l´Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (IHTQ) and their positive experiences, Minister Joly agreed on the existing potentials to boost cooperation among Cuban and Canadian tourism institutions, and expressed her willingness to promote bilateral exchanges with a view to improving tourism staff training.
Later in the day, Cuban Minister of Tourism met with Mr. Timothy Sargent, Deputy Minister of International Trade Diversification at the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Development. They had a productive discussion on the opportunities to expand the economic and trade relations between the two countries, focusing on enhancing Canada´s participation in terms of trade and investment, particularly, in the area of tourism, provided that Canada remains Cuba´s major tourism source market.
The meeting was also attended by H.E. Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Ambassador of Cuba to Canada; Mr. Michel Bernal Quicutis, Commercial Director at the Cuban Ministry of Tourism; Mr. Giuvel Orozco Ortega, Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission; and Mrs. Cristina Ramos Moreno, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Embassy of Cuba in Canada.
The Minister´s agenda includes important meetings with executives of IHTQ, Air Canada and Transat —one of the major tour operators working destination Cuba— on Wednesday, October 3, in Montreal.