Coastal areas are of particular environmental concern, since new beach front hotels are being constructed in prime habitats for a variety of rare species. Description Cuba is in the throes of a severe economic crisis. The Cuban economy has not grown since 1989. Similarly, Cuban exports and other sources of foreign exchange have dropped dramatically. In the face of these adverse conditions, the Cuban government has begun toration food, oil, and basic consumer goods.
Cuban officials have great hopes for the island's tourism sector.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists from Canada, Europe, Mexico, and other Latin American countries now visit Cuba annually. Notably, most of the reported 76 joint ventures in1991 and 1992 are in the tourism sector. An industry expert noted that, with capital and expertise from Spanish, Mexican,Jamaican, German and other foreign hoteliers. Cuba will increase its number of hotel rooms to as many as 23,000 by next year from 13,357 in 1991. Ernest Preeg, in a 1993 publication from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, puts forth more conservative estimates.