Havana.- The Grupo de Turismo Gaviota S.A. reported a significant increase in tourist arrivals during the first semester of this year.
According to Gaviota executives, tourist arrivals rose by 40 percent, mainly from Canada, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

Founded in 1988, Gaviota promotes and commercializes the Cuban tourist product in the international market, and provides such services as hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, transportation, marinas, shops and recreational activities.

The increase in tourist arrivals has been accompanied by an average annual growth of 33 percent since the company was created, experts said.
Early this year, the Cuban group started running the 900-room Playa Pesquero hotel – considered the largest facility of its kind in the country.

Gaviota S.A. will also run the 360-room Meliá Cayo Santa María hotel, on Villa Clara’s northern keys, and the Yaraguanal hotel, in eastern Holguín province.