The fact that the Jardines del Rey international airport, in Cayo Coco, has not interrupted its operations even once during the last two years shows that, even in the midst of the most adverse epidemiological conditions, tourism activity did not stop in Ciego of Ávila.

Mario Hernández Rivero, director of the Jardines del Rey Airport Base Business Unit, exemplifies with figures that in 2021 they served more than 190,000 passengers and carried out around 1,100 aircraft movements.

Although the data is minimal compared to years of bonanza for the sun and beach destination, it highlights the dedication of the group that, thanks to strict compliance with health protocols, did not suffer from any outbreak of COVID-19 and, on the contrary, made possible the entry of some 270 million pesos into the economy.

The closure of the hotels due to the drop in international tourism was used for the renovation of the facilities and the training of workers; meanwhile it constituted a truce for the ecosystem, through actions for the recovery of the dunes and the improvement of the beaches with sand dumping.

This 2021 was a transcendent year in the consolidation of the infrastructure when completing the rehabilitation of the bridges that make up the stone-way that connects the cays with the mainland, which gives greater security to transport operations.

Likewise, investments associated with hotel development progressed, including hydraulic installations in Cayo Paredón Grande, the construction of a desalination plant in Cayo Coco and improvements in the pipeline that runs from the city of Morón to the cays.

As the locomotive of the economy, tourist activity kept other sectors active, no less important, and allowed the employment of hundreds of workers from various branches throughout the year.

With the reopening of the borders, lodgings are gradually incorporated, depending on the growing demand of foreign and national vacationers, and extra-hotel activities are revived.

Some 25 economic entities of the territory emerge as providers of food and services, among them, companies that have traditionally commercialized their productions in the country's tourist destinations; as well as local projects and mini-industries that seek to position their merchandise.

DCballos, Turiguanó, La Cuba, La Ceiba and Mipyme Media Luna stand out, as well as independent producers and cooperatives that receive in this way an injection of currency for the acquisition of resources, technology and new ventures.

With some 10,000 rooms in 22 hotel facilities, Jardines del Rey estimates a growth of more than 50 percent in the winter season, a figure that confirms the preference of the Canadian market and the sustainability of other traditional ones such as the Russian, with a high level of fidelity and satisfaction with destiny.

After the opening, airlines such as Transat return to the enclave, with five weekly frequencies; Air Canada, with seven; and Sunwing, Webjet, Hola sol and Caribe sol, with two flights each; while other operations are maintained from Russia and Cancun.

Undoubtedly, the so-called locomotive of the economy not only moves in Ciego de Ávila, but also carries with it numerous items, creating opportunities for growth and development.