The development strategy of the Cuban economy, marked by changes that incorporate the private sector, has in tourism one of its most dynamic elements.

Official figures account for a sustained expansion of the leisure industry, which requires an appropriate response on housing and complementary infrastructure to cater to vacationers.

Regattas, cruises, excursions, hiking and cuisine combine to face this scenario, where even expect a further increase once regular commercial flights between Cuba and the United States begin.

The first signs point to attractive prices on airline tickets, with the consequent positive impact on the flow of tourists.

In the case of the capital, this situation leads to the far and wide emergence of hotels, villas and hotels, among the best known varieties of accommodations for visitors.

Furthermore, the existence of thousands of rooms is complemented by an extensive infrastructure of leisure facilities for shows, sports activities, shops and restaurants, where gastronomy has undoubtedly a special place.

Havana has recognized sites such as the 1830 Restaurant, located on the west end of the Malecón (Waterfront) and with the necessary conditions to become in the short term a flagship center of Cuban cuisine.

Also as a kind of sentinel of the city is the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, owned by the Gran Caribe Group and the leading Cuban hotel, which is also a National Monument and was declared in 1982 a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The Nacional also ranks among the 10 Hotels Palace in the world. From the 1930s to 1950s, it was the only facility with five-star category in the Caribbean region.

Meanwhile, in the historic center numerous museums can be located, as well as churches, cultural centers and buildings closely linked to the colonial era with some 33,000 buildings mostly built during the 18th and 19th centuries.

For those who venture through the maze of streets and alleys of the Old Havana, there is a network of small buildings where time seems to have stopped and have all the amenities of modern tourism.

Towards the center of the island stands Cienfuegos, with two dozen libraries, 11 museums, over 30 movie theaters and five theaters in addition to cultural centers, art galleries and other monuments to bring the traditions to domestic and foreign visitors.

Added to this, in the west is the city of Matanzas - capital of the province of the same name, known as the Athens of Cuba and even once called the Venice of America - for its rivers, bridges and canals - with a dynamic commercial and cultural activity for the time.