Cubavirtual.net

Foreign tourists arriving in Cuba on a visit is on the rise in the first four months of 2011. The figure increased by 11.9 percent during the first four-month period of 2011, as compared to the same period of 2010.

According to the National Office of Statistics report, until the end of April, the island had welcomed one million 179,963 tourists, and that in that same month the figure of one million travelers was registered 13 days in advance with respect to 2010.

Standing out countries among those sending tourists to Cuba are Canada, Russia, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Chile and France. Cuban tourist industry plans to welcome some two million 700,000 vacationers in 2011.

The increase in competitiveness is the main challenge of the island, presently the third most important tourist destination in the Caribbean, preferred by 30 million travelers since 1990.