Havana, April 23 (RHC) -- Cuba’s tourism sector showed a 5.3 percent growth at the end of the first quarter of 2012 when over 950,000 visitors arrived in the country, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and Information (ONE).

According to the bureau’s website, 48,214 more visitors arrived so far this year than during the same period in 2011.  During the month of March, Cuba achieved a sustained increase compared to January and February, with the arrival of more than 300,900 tourists.

According to specialists, contributing to this increase was the recent visit of Pope Benedict XVI, who is always accompanied by a considerable number of believers wherever he travels.

Experts suggest the greater number of visitors is also due to the increase in advertising of Cuban products and events through the Authentic Cuba promotional campaign, carried out by the Ministry of Tourism at fairs and tours of Latin America and Europe.

During the first week of April, Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism reported the arrival on the island of the one-millionth foreign tourist -- five days before that number had been reached the year before.

Canada remains the largest market of tourists to the island, followed by Argentina, France, Italy, the UK, Germany, Russia and Spain.
 

Share this article