Cuban prime minister highlights benefits of the International Hotel and Restaurant Trade Fair

By Daily Pérez Guillén

The International Hotel and Restaurant Trade Fair (HostelCuba 2025) opened its doors on Friday at Pabexpo. The announcement was made by the Caribbean country’s Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, following his tour of the exhibition grounds on Thursday.

Talking to the press, Marrero Cruz referred to the benefits of this event, which is attended by more than 40 foreign companies, most of them dedicated to the production and commercialization of food.

Regarding the impact of this event on tourism, Marrero Cruz stressed that, “It is necessary for the tourism sector to continue recovering its competitiveness because it has a direct impact to the benefit of the people.”

The prime minister described HostelCuba as useful and praised its organization. “The suppliers, despite the current difficulties, showed enthusiasm,” he expressed. “It is a gathering that shows that the country is moving in the direction we have been trying to encourage, trying to get raw materials brought in, produce here and see how we distribute.”

During his tour, Marrero Cruz exchanged with representatives of non-state enterprises that produce varied foods, such as Bagua, from the municipality of Colón, in the province of Matanzas, which makes instant soft drinks and Pikaítos from domestically produced corn flour.

The prime minister noted the importance of organizing these events, even in the complex situation the country is experiencing. “We are trying to do everything possible to make these events self-financed, so that businesspeople from other countries come and all the products stay here,” he said.

Spain and Italy are the countries with the largest representation of their businesses in the fifth edition of HostelCuba.