This Tuesday, for the first time in 15 years, Venezuela received a cruise carrying almost 500 European tourists who will visit the Venezuelan island of Margarita in the state of Nueva Esparta in the next few days.
Tourists from Germany, Spain, Belgium, France and Italy were received at the international port of El Guamache (Nueva Esparta State) by Venezuelan Ministers of Tourism and Transport, Alí Padrón and Ramón Celestino Velásquez Araguayán respectively. Representatives of local authorities, MPs and tour operators.
“We started the year happily and welcomed this cruise with 498 tourists, mostly Germans. We broke the cellophane of sanctions and coercive measures,” Tourism Minister Alí Padrón told journalists, stressing that this is the result of the joint efforts of local authorities and that “it is the first cruise of many that is yet to come”.
On the other hand, the Minister of Transport, Ramón Celestino Velásquez Araguayán, stated that it is the “cruise ship Amadea” whose arrival opens “a series of tourist opportunities” for the country.
“The ship brings tourists from Spain, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy. This benefits tourism throughout Venezuela, not just in the state of Nueva Esparta, because these cruises show the country to citizens who want to travel and discover it,” he said via Twitter.
Speaking to journalists, Tourism Minister Alí Padrón explained that visitors will visit the Lagoa de La Restringa National Park, El Agua Beach, the towns of Porlamar, Juan Griego, Pampatar and La Asunción to discover the historical sites , gastronomic routes and other local ones attractions.
“We are collaborating with the Ministry of Transport and Bolivariana de Portos (Bolipuertos, stateowned) to adapt the necessary spaces and offer firstclass attention to tourists,” said Alí Padrón, stressing that this is “a great investment” by the Venezuelan government .
On the other hand, he stated that Venezuela intends to sign an agreement with Poland on “direct flights between Warsaw and Porlamar (Nueva Esparta) with 300 passengers per week”.
Upon arrival at Margarita, visitors visited a local handicraft exhibition.
According to local authorities, more than 140 soldiers and officers from various security organizations are involved in security operations for visitors along five tourist routes in Nueva Esparta.