A Cuba tourism and cultural promotion event is held at the Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai on Nov 22 on the sideline of the China International Tourism Mart. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A Cuba tourism and cultural promotion event was held at the Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai on Nov 22 on the sideline of the China International Tourism Mart. The event, aimed at fostering mutual exchanges and exploring new opportunities between China and Cuba, was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba and the Consulate General of the Republic of Cuba in Shanghai.
The night party attracted a diverse group of attendees, including Cuban officials, representatives from hotel chains and travel agencies, and two honored Cuban athletes, who were members of the Cuban delegation led by Jorge Alberto Garcia Domínguez, the first deputy minister of tourism of Cuba, to the mart.
Among them was Mijain Lopez, widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Lopez, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion, emphasized that promoting tourism is a powerful way to boost the economy and strengthen the bond between China and Cuba.
Two Cuban Olympic gold medalists and honored athletes, Javier Sotomayor and Mijain Lopez, address the audience at a Cuba tourism and cultural promotion event on Nov 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Earlier this year, in May, the Cuban government announced a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports during the 2024 Cuban International Tourism Fair (FITCuba). This announcement was quickly followed by the launch of direct flights between Beijing and Havana by Air China, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
Looking ahead, 2025 will mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cuba and China. To celebrate this milestone, FITCuba 2025 will be held in Havana from May 1 to 5, with China as the guest of honor. According to Domínguez, this event will be an ideal platform to showcase Cuban tourism products and strengthen commercial ties between the two countries.
Li Junfeng contributed to this story.
