The Cuban people, advances day after day with its hardworking thrust. These last years of admirable transformation that the Cuban people has made possible the preparations to be one of the major tourism in the Caribbean region where it belongs, in less than 5 years, Cuba received over 400,000 tourists and 2000,000 are expected to come this year.

But to see the future, we only have to raise our eyes before the efforts being made to recover the architectural heritage. For instance in Havana, Eusebio Leal, the Historian of the City and a man of an admirable strong willpower and thrust is achieving that Old Havana recovers step by step the beauty that used to characterize the city.

During these days, the 480th anniversary of the founding of Havana city and the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of States and Government are going to be held; the latter will be one of the most significant events in the world.

FIHAV99 seems to achieve this year the largest numbers of exhibitors since its foundation, therefore, the end of this year apparently poses the challenge to Cuba of achieving in the last year of the millenium the definitive take-off of its economy and that in the year 2000 starts the beginning of the millenium with the success the Cuban people deserves for the efforts and sacrifices made.

José Carlos de Santiago