Amistur, A people to people bridge

Created more than a decade ago to bring people to the island who are interested in knowing the Cuban reality, Amistur is in great demand by those who want trips that go beyond simple leisure and rest.

In an interview with Eduardo Mederos, director of Amistur, he explained the important role played by this agency within Cuban tourism. With very affordable programs, Amistur provides a vision of the social transformations that have taken place in Cuba since 1959 that no other agency or tour operator can offer.

The agency prepares a program with options from enjoying Cuban beaches and nature to visits to social and historic places or whatever the client requests. Travelers can also design their own program and Amistur makes it happen. Some recent examples included people interested in learning more about the Cuban education system, others who wanted to know about the health system and still others who were curious about how people live in the countryside.

Since its foundation in 1994, Amistur has also provided for the expression of solidarity with the island, including an international camp and the Julio Antonio Mella and Casa de la Amistad houses that provide venues for meetings of different groups like the international brigades that come to the island each year to help in the development of the country.