In the morning hours of Monday, May 5, the XXXV th edition of Internacional Tourism Festival of Cuba was officially begun at Jardines del Rey. The newly inaugurated resort Meliá Jardines del Rey, the world’s largest hotel from Meliá Hotels International, served as the venue for this event, the most important event in the tourism sector of the Caribbean island. It is the first time in 35 years that a Tourism Festival has been held at a hotel complex.
In the presence of the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Manuel Marrero and with the special participation of the president of Meliá Hotels International Mr. Gabriel Escarrer Juliá and the vice-presidente Mr. Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony began, and afterwards the unveiling of a plaque that categorizes this resort as a Five-Star resort.
The festival program started off with a conference by the Minister of Tourism of Cuba where we highlighted the potential, successes and future project of Cuba as a destination, and he gave special thanks to Meliá Hotels International for the 25 years of collaborative effort. Next came the contribution of Dra. Francesca Barracciu, Sub-Secretary of State from the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities and Tourism of Italy, country to which the Festival is dedicated, and the words of Mr. Carlos Vogeler, Director Executive Secretary of the WTO, about the current state of international tourism. The close of the inaugural gala was a performance by the well-known ballet company Lizt Alfonso.
By night Meliá Jardines del Rey will be decked out for gala again to serve as host for the celebration for the 25th anniversary of the presence of Meliá Hotels International in Cuba. A dinner created by the company’s best chefs, the participation of important figures from the national and international tourist sector, and also a performance of a well-known Cuban orchestra are some of the details of a ceremony that is sure to remain in the memory of the Cuban tourism industry.
