SAHIC Cuba will take place May 15th – 16th in Havana, offering an anticipated 250 attendees from the hospitality industry to expand their networks and learn about new trends and development opportunities in Cuba. World Travel & Tourism Conference (WTTC) CEO David Scowsill has been announced as the event’s keynote speaker.
“Latin America is an important tourism region showing great growth opportunities,” Scowsill says. “According to WTTC figures, travel and tourism generates 9 percent of the region’s GDP. Additionally, recent UNWTO data showed that international arrivals in South America and Central America both grew by 6 percent over 2016. I am looking forward to discuss how the region’s travel and tourism sector can further develop in a sustainable manner during the course of the event.”
Tourism rates in Cuba have increased 7 percent since December 2014, with tourism generating $2.8 billion in 2016, making it Cuba’s second-largest income generator. The nation had welcomed four million tourists as of December 30, 2016, a 13 percent spike compared to 2015.
An estimated 108,000 guestrooms are expected to open in Cuba by 2030, averaging 8,000 openings each year. Grupo Gaviota, Gran Caribe, Cubanacan, and Isla Azul will play pivotal roles in the expansion of the island’s hospitality industry. Starwood had previously agreed to operate the Four Points Miramar in Havana, before its acquisition by Marriott.
