The Cuban tourist industry, a key element due to its dynamism in the national economy, gains prominence with its offers throughout the island, from East to West.

The tourism sector shows figures of interest, with 27 joint ventures that are responsible for the management of more than 5,000 rooms, in four- and five-star hotels.

Add to this that there are 20 international chains that, through 88 contracts, run 43,252 rooms, accounting for 63.6 percent of the hotel rooms in the country.

Likewise, the Portfolio of Opportunities for Foreign Investment includes 176 projects linked to the execution of new hotels and extra-hotel facilities, such as leisure centers, marinas and camping sites.

Experts highlight actions such as the opening of new destinations, including Sagua la Grande, and works in Santiago de Cuba.

In fact, in that eastern Cuban province, six new hotels will be inaugurated in a short term, two of which are linked to nature, in addition to actions to have hotels in the town of El Cobre.

Undoubtedly, the strategy is advancing, since some 9,480 rooms are in different stages of construction throughout the country, with prospects to open up to 5,000 rooms in 2019.

In that regard, work is underway in the future Melia Trinidad Hotel, which will offer 350 rooms and will be run by a joint venture, and construction of the Iberostar Ancon Hotel will start soon.

In addition, the schedule includes the construction of small establishments in places like Viñales, Gibara, Baracoa, Sancti Spiritus and Camagüey.

As part of the comprehensive development of Havana, efforts are being made to transform social clubs, with buildings of great cultural value, to rescue them and build new tourist facilities.

The Cuban capital, the country's main urban nucleus, holds a special place in the development plans, since new plots are already being evaluated with a view to building hotels.

Nine such projects will support the growth of the accommodation capacity, including the one negotiated by the Cubanacan Group with a Vietnamese company in the El Vedado neighborhood.

Big international chains also make their contribution, as is the case of Melia Hotels International in Camagüey, where the Spanish group concentrates its actions after managing 34 hotels totaling 14,600 rooms.

In addition, dozens of kilometers of beaches with crystal-clear waters and white fine sand are a major attraction for thousands of visitors who come to Cuba every year.

The traditional sun and beach options are complemented by more than 70,000 kilometers of the Cuban insular platform and about 5,000 kilometers of coasts, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

There are three dozen specialized diving centers that operate throughout the Caribbean island, with facilities for introductory courses and diving in coral reefs and caverns, all under the international parameters required for this kind of activity.

Coupled with this are the added values contributed by nature, historic heritage and culture.