From September of last year to date, after the José Martí air terminal in Havana, the Jardines del Rey International Airport, on that islet in the north of Ciego de Ávila, stands as the busiest in the country, with a movement of more than 75,500 passengers and 286 aircraft.

Despite the limitations emanating from COVID-19 and the prohibitions of the North American blockade against the Greater Island of the Antilles, the first vacationers arrived in September, from Montreal, Canada, a country that was later forced to interrupt flights because of of the pandemic.

At this time, the Russian segment continues as the only market in Jardines del Rey, with four weekly arrivals from the largest country in the world, with tourism that is gaining followers to travel to the Island of Liberty.

"We are pleased to have been the first one through which Cuba opened the doors to the world in the post-COVID-19 stage, under strict security measures, in accordance with the protocols adopted in the Ciego de Ávila`s destination," Mario Antonio Hernández Rivero commented to Granma, director of the Jardines del Rey airport.

He specified that everything is done under international standards and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health to prevent the presence of the disease, which has not infected any aerodrome worker due to strict compliance with safety measures, which include the use of the face mask, gloves, hand washing, foot steps, precise information on the origin and characteristics of the flights, carrying out the PCR in the country of origin and upon arrival at the airport, as well as the protocol to be followed in case of detection of suspects.

Iyolexis Correa Lorenzo, delegate of the Ministry of Tourism in Ciego de Ávila, argued that every week about 2,000 vacationers from Russia arrive at Jardines del Rey, which today constitutes the only market for one of the most promising destinations in the Caribbean, where 18 hotels from High standards and more than 9,000 rooms are available to international and national tourism, but subject to temporary restrictions due to COVID-19.

"The investment program does not stop at the tourist emporium and this year the first hotel should open, with 594 rooms, in Cayo Paredón Grande, where two others are in different construction phases," Correa Lorenzo said.