HAVANA.- Cuba and China announced the resumption of direct flights between Havana and Beijing. Starting on May 17, the state airline Air China will offer two weekly flights, with the aim of boosting tourism between both countries.
Air China began operations on the Caribbean island in 2015, but interrupted them due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it states. Martí News.
The cost of a round-trip ticket with Air China will be $1,350, with carry-on luggage and one free check-in bag. For those who prefer single flights, the cost will be $812, also with the same luggage facilities.
Zhang Xin, representative of Air China in Cuba, expressed his enthusiasm for this new route and announced future plans to increase flight frequencies and improve freight transportation services, which will contribute to further strengthening relations between both countries.
Chinese do not need visas
In this sense, the Cuban regime made the decision to exempt citizens of the Asian giant from requesting visas for tourist trips to Cuba. This decision, announced by the Ministry of the Interior, plans to facilitate the flow of travelers and strengthen relations of friendship and cooperation between both countries.
On the other hand, Elizabeth Vela, tourism advisor in Cuba for Asia, highlighted that tourism products adapted to the preferences of the Chinese market are being developed with the aim of turning Cuba into the preferred destination for Chinese tourists in the Caribbean.
According to official data, in 2019, Cuba registered the arrival of approximately 45,000 tourists from China annually, placing the Asian country in 13th place among the main sources of tourists to the Caribbean island.
FOUNTAIN: With information from Martí Noticias and Cubanet