If you were on Air Canada flight 370 flying from Toronto to Havana, Cuba, this past Friday — and let’s face it, you probably aren’t from the US — then you were greeted with a nice surprise upon arrival: ice cold, strong mojitos.
Cuba celebrated its 2 millionth tourist of the year on Friday. The country pulled out all the stops, throwing an airport cocktail party complete with a salsa band and welcome banners. Similar parties were held in the eastern city of Santiago and the beach resort of Varadero.
Tourist authorities in Cuba made a big deal out of it because while the country has surpassed 2 million tourists annually since 2004, this was the earliest point at which it hit this milestone.
The record for tourist visits to Cuba is 2.3 million, set three years ago. Tourist officials say they’ll pass that mark this year.
And here’s hoping the US may soon lift its pointless, anachronistic (not to mention ineffectual) embargo so that more Americans can be among those enjoying what Cuba has to offer. Who comprises the tourists traveling to Cuba these days? Canada, Britain, Spain and Italy are the island’s top sources of visitors, says the Associated Press.