Havana airport to be upgraded ready for tourism boom
Cuban authorities have selected two French firms to upgrade and operate the country’s main airport gateway as they prepare for a tourism boom.
French firm Bouygues will be tasked with renovating Jose Marti International Airport in Havana as scheduled air services from the US re-start.
The Cuban transport ministry gave no specifics on the scope of the refurbishment or its cost, but said it expects to see ‘immediate actions to improve the quality of services’ and will be supported by ‘investment in the medium and long term.’
Additionally it announced French-state controlled Aeroports de Paris SA will be awarded the contract to operate the airport.
Aeroports de Paris operates French airports such as Charles de Gaulle and Orly in Paris.
Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said Cuba expects to welcome 3.8 million tourists this year and first half 2016 data showed an increase of 80% from the US market.
The US is Cuba’s second biggest market after Canada.
New York carrier JetBlue begins scheduled services to Cuba later this month.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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