Ampliare

“THE CREATIVITY PROFOUNDLY EMBEDDED IN THE SOUL OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE IS AN INVITATION TO MAKE OUR NATIONS WORK TOGETHER”, SAYS HIS EXCELLENCY DR. ANTONY STOKES, AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TO CUBA

He travelled to Cuba as a tourist for the first time back in 1994. Since then, and still now, what enthralled him most were the people he came across as he was driving inland in a rented car. He enjoyed the sun and the beach in Cayo Largo and Varadero, yet his motivation had already kicked into a higher gear: to take a closer look at the country and make part of its history and culture his own.
Over twenty years later, he came back to this island. This time around, with a different role to fulfill:  as His Excellency Dr. Antony Stokes, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Cuba. “It was special to come back here. I hadn’t been able to forget the Cuban people, their character, their hospitality, the sincere friendship they offer you… That was the case even in the middle of the special period, a time of “nightmares”. However, the Cuban people never lost their smiles, their generosity. That’s also been my experience as a diplomat. Since I know the people here, that’s why my feelings about the future of Cuba are positive.”

In your view, what were the reasons that prompted the selection of the UK as the Guest Country of Honor to FITCuba 2018?
“That’s a question to ask the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), but it’s obvious that the increasing number of British tourists visiting Cuba could have been a factor. The UK is Cuba’s fourth largest outbound market and the number of visitors on a yearly basis is on the rise. As many as 194,815 Britons visited Cuba in 2016, and that number jumped to 205,727 in 2017, a 5.6 percent growth. And that happened amid the terrible aftermath of hurricane Irma, which played havoc with many of the places British tourists covet the most: the keys off the north coast of the Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila provinces, as well as in Guardalavaca in Holguin. We must recognize the efforts made by the Cuban authorities to rebuild the damaged infrastructures in a professional and efficient way.”

Can you characterize the British tourist? What do they come looking for?
“There are many interests. Most of them opt for all-inclusive travel packages on the north coast. There are tourists who enjoy the sun, the breathtaking beaches, but there are others who come looking for broader horizons. Cuba has an interesting record in terms of environmental protection, so many are drawn to ecotourism and ornithological tourism, that is, the chance to watch the migration of birds. On the other hand, exploring the gastronomy is also a reason to travel. What’s more interesting for them to see how Cuba is changing it’s not just state-run tourism anymore, but also top-quality offers made by “casas particulares” (private houses) and private restaurants.”

What’s the top allure Cuba has for the UK as far as investments are concerned?
“Cuba is a country of opportunities, teeming with smart, well-educated, creative and dynamic-thinking people. And that’s appealing because, as a nation, we share that creativity so profoundly embedded in the soul of the Cuban people is an invitation to work together. There are many areas in which the country can make headway, make its economy grow and therefore enhance its influence, which is already deep internationally. We can contribute to that advance.”
“In the realm of energy, Cuba has set out to produce roughly 25 of renewable energy by 2030. That’s an ambitious goal, but it’s attainable if the island exploited its ties with nations that have experience in that field, such as the UK. A great example is the British company Havana Energy which is building Cuba’s first biomass plant, a 62 MW generator near Ciego de Avila, using by-products of sugar cane farming. That will tackle two problems at the same time: generate energy and get rid of the marabou weed that has “colonized” a good chunk of the island’s croplands.
“Also in the course of this year, the British Council (BC) will continue working with the Ministry of Higher Education (MES is the Spanish acronym) to help train English professors on the contents of the Common European Framework of Reference, B1+. In addition, the BC will continue collaborating with the MES and the Ministry of Education (MINED) on educational policies.
“Since the City of London is no doubt one of the world’s top financial enclaves, we’re offering professional financial and banking services to the island. Many of the banks, investment funds and banking institutions the City of London represents could either invest in or support the development of this sector here, if the Cuban government adopts investment-friendly policies. The British Embassy is working with the Central Bank of Cuba on e-payments, public management, purchases and the advance of financial markets.”

What about tourism?
“Tourism generates major revenues for both countries and I hope we could see more Cuban tourists in the UK in the future. British companies want to invest in the sector and help the island implement a higher-level tourism, with deluxe apartments linked to golf courses, to mention one instance. Talks are underway with Cuban counterparts in order to advance those kinds of business opportunities.”