HAVANA/ANKARA - Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz said on Thursday that his country would be pleased to see Turkish entrepreneurs to manage hotels in Cuba.
In an exclusive interview with the A.A correspondent, Cruz said talks were underway with Turkish tour operators and that there was a growing interest in Turkish people to explore Cuba.
Cruz also said tourism was one of the most important sectors of Cuban economy.
Cuba is in an effort to boost its economy despite 50-year-long embargo of the United States. Nickel, sugar, tobacco, medical products as well as coffee are the most important export items of Cuba, however regular income of Cuba comes from tourism.
2 million tourists visit Cuba annually since 2004. The tourists are mostly from Canada, Germany, and Italy.
Cruz said Cuba has 10 international airports and 10 tourism centers, noting that it has 307 tourism facilities throughout the country.
On his part, Turkey`s Ambassador in Havana Sanivar Kizildeli said there has been a rise in the number of tourists visiting the two respective countries, in recent years.
Kizildeli said according to Cuban authorities, around 6,000 Turks visited Cuba annually.
"I think it will be in the interest of the Turkish entrepreneurs to invest in this country because there is a lack of servicemen in tourism sector in Cuba," he said.
(AY-ULG)