Re: Tourist arrivals

[bellagio]

I found this article this morning which you all may find interesting:
 
 Cuba set a new record in tourist arrivals for one day
 
 Cuban Destination set a new record in tourist arrivals for one day, when on February 14, 2006, the San Valentine´s Day, the Island received 65,280 tourists in one day, the first time in the history of the country. The previous record was 64,956 on March 25, 2005.
 
 In spite of the complex international situation, the worsening of the measurements imposed. by the US Government against the island and the affectations provoked by the natural disasters, the results achieved by the tourism sector are a very stimulating sign. In 2005, Cuba received 2,32 million visitors, representing a growth of 13,2 per cent over the last year.
 
 During the last 15 years, Cuba is offering its beautiful landscape, its dream-like sandy beaches, its culture, its tradition and its folklore, its history and its people’s happiness that will make visitors feel welcome.
 
 Our country is open to the world, a tourist destination where the visitor has the possibility of enriching his life through the contact with the sun of the tropic and the Cuban social reality, walking its streets and meeting its people.
 
 
 Ministry of Tourism of Cuba
 February 16th, 2006  
 
 Now I have calculated that at an average of 300 people per aircraft that means 217 aircraft from overseas destinations landed in Cuba on that day - is that possible?
 
 The figure surely more accurately represents weekly arrivals.  What do you think?

[Gambitt]

To me, I think it means, that on that day, there were that many tourists on the island.
 
 Not, that they arrived then, but an aggregate total.

[bellagio]

Yes you could be right Gambitt, certainly sounds more plausible.

[flopnfly]

I agree Gambitt.  
 
 If it was arrivals I'm sure we'll here about it in the trip reviews.  I wouldn't want to be one of the many thousands at the airport.  
 
 I don't think it's even possible.

[Steve_YYZ]

There's got to be something wrong with that figure.
 
 Cuba has approximately 40,000 hotel rooms in the tourism sector.
 
 Figure 2 people per room and if 65,000 arrived in one day, well that would mean that approximately 75% of all Cuban hotel rooms changed guests on a single day.
 
 Even allowing for Business and Independent travellers, does anybody think that is possible?
 
 Also, Cuba gets about 2 million visitors per year. That's about 40,000 per WEEK average. Not per day. Even allowing for high season, that would be almost 400,000 for the week if that was a daily figure.
 
 Sorry, but I don't believe that report.