• Submitted by: manso
• Travel and Tourism
• 08 / 23 / 2011

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Roberto Hernández. Baracoa, the first town founded in Cuba 500 years ago by Spanish colonists, wants to move away from its reputation of having only nascent tourism with enormous potentials.

“We have an attractive offer that has grown during the past six years from nine to fourteen percent annually,” declared Misael Tamayo, commercial specialist from the provincial Ministry of Tourism in the eastern province of Guantanamo.

A small zone located over 900 kilometers east of Havana, Tamayo said that France, Germany, Holland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico and Italy are Baracoa’s main sources of tourism.

Among the ideas for increasing visits to the country's first capital, excursions to Caimanera – which neighbors the Guantanamo Naval Base, notorious for the continuing presence there of almost 200 prisoners from the wars of the United States in Asia – are being put on the market.

Likewise, the tourist sector official highlighted tours to Angel Iñigo’s Zoológico de Piedra (Stone Zoo), the only one of its kind in the world, in addition to Vía Mulata, La Esperanza farm and the semi-desert area of Cuba, all in Guantanamo.

They also have a location known as Ojito de Agua, belonging to Parque Alejandro de Humboldt which, according to Tamayo, is visited by 55 percent of the tourists in the area.

“Up to now we have experienced the excursions with vacationers from Holguín and Santiago de Cuba, both more developed points, but we need more promotion for travel from Havana to Guantanamo and Baracoa,” advanced Tamayo.

However, to escape being an unattractive destination, the territory will have to develop its hotel and other infrastructure. Currently it only has an arrangement of 380 rooms, revealed Tamayo.

Half of these rooms are located in Baracoa, which makes the situation more precarious for the province, one of the least developed in the country and known in the world for the Guantanamo Base, a territory occupied by the White House against the will of the Cuban government and people.

Luis Sánchez, Vice-President of the Baracoa Government, pointed out that they have a program to increase the capacities that will support attempts to realize growth perspectives of the “industry without chimneys.”1

“We open our hearts to them, and although there is a language barrier, tourists sense the affection, the smile and being well received,” stated Alejandro Hartmann, historian of Baracoa, in referring to the links between visitors and the local population.

“We have a combination of culture, nature and history of a people who know they have much to offer and they are more than willing to do it,” said Tamayo.

Towards this end, and anticipated as part of the celebrations for the half millennium since the founding of Baracoa, is the inauguration next Sunday of Hostel 1511. With 15 rooms, this installation recreates the typical architecture of the place.

The Guantanamo-Baracoa sight-seeing destination and the magazine Excelencias Turísticas del Caribe will also be presented as part of the two days of activities.

Excelencias will provide internet coverage through social networking in Facebook and Twitter and the digital page of the magazine Caribbean News, announced María Caridad González, representative of the Group in Cuba.

For the Vice-President of the Government of Baracoa the celebration of the town’s fifth century has international importance, in the first place because it was founded by Spaniard Diego Velasquez.

In referring to the participation of other countries, the leader noted the presence of representatives from Spain, Belgium and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“It will be a cultural, scientific and patrimonial celebration with maximum participation from local residents, who will display their culinary and handicraft traditions, dance and music in a fair,” emphasized Sánchez.

1 Tourism is often called the “industry without chimneys” in many countries which thrive on it.
 
Source: Cubanow