TRAVEL

New foreign tour operators head for Cuban tourist resort Sunday, November 8, 2009 (ACN) -- Several new tour operators, including Canadian WestJet and Finnish Finair, will start bringing clients to eastern Cuba’s Holguin tourist resort through the Frank País International Airport in the province. The two new airlines are two of the 15 that fly to the airport from Canada and UK. read more... Air Italy opens direct flights to Havana Monday, August 3, 2009 (ACN) -- Air Italy began its direct flights to Havana on July 31 with the arrival at the Jose Marti International Airport by a Boeing 767 with 200 passengers on board, including a delegation of Italian journalists. The initiative constitutes the first direct connection between Italy and Cuba through that air carrier. read more... Cuba is the ideal destination, says World Tourism Organisation head Saturday, June 27, 2009 (ACN) -- Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General ad interim of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), said Cuba is an ideal destination for tourists and reiterated his organization’s support of the development of the so-called leisure industry in the Caribbean archipelago. read more... Non-stop flights from LA to Havana relaunched Thursday, June 4, 2009 LOS ANGELES, USA -- Due to increased demand on the heels of the Obama Administration lifting travel restrictions on Cuban Americans, Cuba Travel Services will be launching its first non-stop weekly flight from LAX to Havana starting June 30, 2009, utilizing aircraft operated by Continental Airlines. read more... Travel services firm to open new office Thursday, January 29, 2009 HIALEAH, USA: With increased confidence in the Obama Administration to ease travel restrictions to Cuba for Cuban Americans, Cuba Travel Services (CTS) will be opening a new office in Hialeah, Florida. Cuba Travel Services, Inc provides travel services for authorized Cuban Americans visiting family. read more... Canadian flights open Cuban tourist high season Friday, November 7, 2008 SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba (ACN): Two planes from Toronto and Montreal, Canada, opened the tourist high season in this eastern Cuban city, a season forecasted to witness an increase in the number of visitors. Antonio Maceo international airport had a livelier atmosphere than usual. read more... Old and new viruses spread by air travel, crowding Tuesday, October 28, 2008 (Reuters): Tourists traveling by plane and the growth of cities are combining to help new and old infections spread around the world, experts said on Monday.  Viruses such as Chikungunya and dengue fever are finding new homes or returning to places where they were eradicated. read more... Tourism to Cuba promoted in Japan Saturday, September 27, 2008 HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuban tourism products were promoted in Japan during their annual International Fair, JATA 2008, in an effort to boost the Japanese market. Representatives of Cuban tour operators Cubanacan Viajes, Cubatur and Havanatur participated in the fair, in a delegation headed by Miguel Figueras. read more... British Government warns against travel to storm-hit Cuba Monday, September 8, 2008 LONDON, England (AFP): The British Foreigh Office warned travellers Sunday against all but essential travelling to Cuba after Hurricane Ike strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm while closing in on the island nation. "We advise against all but essential travel to Cuba," said the Foreign Office in London. read more... Flying to Cuba? Paris airports can teach you salsa Friday, August 1, 2008 PARIS, France (Reuters): Parisian airports are offering free dance lessons in their terminals this summer to help passengers get into the holiday spirit, the company that runs the airports said on Thursday. The lessons last 15 minutes and passengers hear music and instructions from teachers through headphones. read more... Travel agencies to sue State of Florida over Cuba travel law Tuesday, July 1, 2008 HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Sixteen Miami travel agencies specializing in trips to Cuba planned to sue the state of Florida on Monday over new regulations of their businesses, which require a $250,000 bond to stay in operation, pursuant to a state law that goes into effect on Tuesday. read more... Varadero: first choice of Russian tourists in the Caribbean Saturday, June 7, 2008 HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Varadero beach resort has received the 2007 Star Award granted by the Russian Travel Portal travel.ru. Thousands of tourists voted on the Internet for the Cuban route as the Best Caribbean Destination. Varadero was the first choice of Russian travelers, who were to pick between several destinations. read more... Cuba embraces golf to boost tourism Friday, May 9, 2008 HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): The only time Cuba's Fidel Castro is known to have played golf in 1961, in a stunt thumbing his nose at the United States. Now that Fidel has handed over power to his brother, Raul, Communist Cuba is setting aside any ideological objections and is embracing golf, the most capitalist of sports. read more... Cuba set to boost Russian tourist market Thursday, February 28, 2008 HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuba received more than 30,000 Russian tourists last year, and is set to surpass the number by the end of the current 2008 season, according to Cuba tourism deputy minister. Deputy minister Alexis Trujillo will meet with Russian tour operators and airlines representatives in Moscow. read more... Cuba promotes French tourism Wednesday, February 27, 2008 HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): The Cuban Tourism Office launched a promotional campaign in France with the objective of increasing the number of tourists who travel to the island from that European country. Colourful posters with the slogan "Viva Cuba" have been placed in subway and train stations throughout Paris. read more... Air Canada Vacations opens new flights into Cuba Saturday, December 22, 2007 SANTA CLARA, Cuba: Canadian airline Air Canada Vacations will be flying into the northern keys of Villa Clara to the International Airport Abel Santamaria, Santa Clara in Cuba. Around 240 tourists will be flying weekly with the Canadian company in flights scheduled for Thursday and Sunday from Toronto and Montreal, read more... Cuba promoted as tourist destination in Argentina Wednesday, November 21, 2007 HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuban Ambassador to Argentina Aramis Fuentes expressed on Monday his satisfaction for the increasing flow of tourists from that South American nation to the Caribbean island, saying that this is the result of the work of Argentinean tour operators as well as the work of Cuba. read more... Cuba and Panama to increase flight services Wednesday, November 7, 2007 HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Daily flights between Havana and Panama City will be increased from two to four, as Cuba and Panama recently signed an agreement concerning air services. During a recent visit of Panama's Vice President, Samuel Lewis Navarro to Cuba, two important agreements were signed between both countries. read more...