HAVANA.- Cuba reached two million visitors today, coinciding with the start of the International Tourism Fair, FITCuba 2019, despite the recurrent defamatory campaigns and the resurgence of the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States.

Manuel Marrero Cruz, Cuba´s tourism minister, announced the news on Twitter, and added that the figure is reached 12 days earlier than in the past year.

He also said that as part of FITCuba 2019, a Foreign Administration Workshop and a Cuba-Spain Business Forum will take place today.

A cultural gala will be held at Alicia Alonso Theater in the evening and tomorrow will be the official opening of the event at Havana's Conventions Palace, the minister noted.

At a press conference, officials of the Ministry of Tourism reported that during the recently concluded high season the leading European markets - France, Germany, UK, Italy and Spain - recorded decreases between 10 and 13 percent in the issuance of travelers to Cuba, a reality similar to that of the Caribbean.

However, the country closed the first four-month period with a seven percent growth in the arrival of international visitors.

In that period, Canada remained first among the issuing markets, with 624.530 tourists, while USA appear second with 257.500 visitors, for a year-on-year growth of 93.5 percent, despite the policy of the government of that country.

Markets such as Russia, Chile and Colombia increased their issuances to Cuba, thus contributing to offset the arrival figures to the Caribbean island.