Cubavirtual.net

The proposed plan to allow foreigners to develop golf courses, marinas and land projects will ensure a fillip in the tourism industry of Cuba. The Cuban government is considering granting foreigners medium- to long-term leases of real estate to lure affluent tourists to this beautiful island.  Cuba does not allow foreign ownership and this has been a major impediment in the development of tourism infrastructure in Cuba .

Over  2.4 million tourists visited Cuba last year and golf is one of the most popular ingredients in the tourist itineraries in Cuba   but many of them came for short stays and spent less money. The cash-strapped Caribbean island is planning to attract a bigger-spending class of tourist and golf is seen as the  key for this.

At present there is only one 18-hole golf course in the whole of Cuba and there are plans to set up  10 new courses, several of which are in an advanced stage of planning.  Some European and Canadian investment firms have expressed their interests in building  golf courses along with luxury sea front apartments and villas.  Cuba has no  real estate market and Cubans are not  allowed to buy or sell  homes and the new lease arrangement will alleviate the problem  of allowing foreigners to develop  the properties in Cuba.