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Golf 'could reinvigorate Cuban tourism'

The Cuban government reportedly has plans to reinvigorate its struggling tourism industries by boosting the number of golf opportunities on the island.

Golf has been a marginalised pastime in Cuba for the past 50 years, partly because a number of courses were dismissed as capitalist ventures during the socialist revolution of the late 1950s.

Former leader Fidel Castro's loss to fellow revolutionary Che Guevara in a round of golf also did little to boost the sport's popularity, meaning that there are now only two major courses open on the island, in Havana and Varadero, the Guardian reports.

However, this situation could be about to change, as the government has encouraged investors to build new courses as part of a £90 million tourism development plan.

A western diplomat told the Guardian: "They know they need to get more money into here and they know golf may be able to do that."

Cuba's tourism industry is worth some £1 billion a year but in recent years visitor numbers have been falling, with high prices and mediocre facilities being blamed for the flagging figures.

The island's plan could see it follow in the footsteps of the Dominican Republic, which has enjoyed a boom in tourism as a result of new golf developments.

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