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Writer's pictureRenaud Canuel

Canadian tourists will be able to pay cash in Cuban hotels starting in August.

The measure will begin to be effective from August 1.



Starting next August 1, Canadian tourists will be able to pay in cash in Cuban hotels, in a move by the regime to attract foreign currency in the midst of the serious economic crisis affecting the country.


The measure, announced by the Cuban Tourism Office in Toronto, does not invalidate payments that are already accepted by debit or credit cards issued by banks in the Nordic country. Both payment methods will coexist in Cuban hotels, and will later be extended to some shopping centers.


"Now they will accept both [payment methods]. It will start with tourist facilities," an employee of this Tourism Office confirmed to Martí Noticias.


Canadian tourism represents the main transmitter of international travelers to the island, hence the importance of starting this measure with this sector. Precisely, on July 1, several Cuban airports participated in the Canada Day celebrations.


Until last June, 577,549 travelers had arrived from Canada, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics and Information (ONEI).


A figure much higher than that of Cubans residing abroad (155,320), Russia (112,721), the United States (83,186) and Germany (36,343), which represent the countries that have contributed the greatest number of travelers to the island.


Among them, there is the acceptance of cash payments in foreign currency in certain sectors and activities, such as tourism.


Regarding this measure, he clarified that it is imperative for the government "to accept payments in foreign currency" in state institutions.


"We are losing a lot of money. We are not going to eliminate banking, but tourists cannot arrive and not book an offer because the cards do not work. This measure will not only be in tourism, but also in stores and other sectors," he expressed.


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