The Washington times., 1931-12-10
ECONOMY LURE
.. To VISITORS
To HAVANA
All Expenses Are SIaShed
From 10 to 80 Per Cent;
Crowds Expected
BY GERRY swINEHART


HAVANA, Dec. 10.-The old
sunshine merchant of the
Antilles, father of the peanut
vendor, and otherwise known
as Cuba, has busted off the
stock and is again ready for
business.
And he means business this sea-
son. There he stands - wide
trimmed straw sombero in hand,
machete in belt, and queer little
pajama-like cotton jacket buttoned
straight up the front-surrounded
by his varied and fascinating
wares.
Economy His Motif
But this year it is not Of his
forts, his castles, his historic mar.
row streets or the glorious charms
Of his old Spanish civilization that
he wants to talk. Keen business
man that he is, he prefers to speak
this season Of facts and figures
and the economies of a winter
vacation in his tropical treasure
house. He says:
"Ah, SenOr, the first great
visitor to our shores, he spent
many weeks and much money
to find us. He was Colombo.
For his trip, Queen Isabella sell
all her jewels. But that is 439
years ago in Octubre and time
has change. This Year, my
friend, my country is only few
hour from You and no time has
my price been so cheap"
That Havana and Cuba are Of.
fering the tourist throngs from
America unprecedented reduc-
tions in the cost Of winter cruise
or sojourn this season is without
controversy, officials of the
Cuban National Tourist CommiS-
sion and other observers agreed.
According to Tirso Mesa. mayor
Of Havana, and president of the
tourist commission. prices gener-
ally have been slashed this year
from ~ to 80 per cent below what
they have ever been before. The
first great economy, the mayor
pointed out, has come from sharp
reductions in the cost of both air
plane and steamship travel to
Cuba, but additional noteworthy
savings are being realized in a
lower range of hotel rates and
general living costs.
Taxi Rates Are Lower
Even the cost of transportation
within the reSorS. always a con-
siderable item in the tourist
budget, has been cut in half in
Havana this season, with taxi
fares at 10 cents per zone.
Steamship travel and cruise costs,
a survey shows, are from S to
20 per cent less this winter, and,
meantime, through drastic reduc-
tions recently inaugurated by
Eastern Air Transport and other
regular air lines, the cost of air
travel to Florida and Cuoa is
from IA to IS per cent cheaper
than ever before.
Absorbing the increased de-
mand which has come with the
decreased costs, a great parade
of more than $50 cruise ships
will steam past old MORO Castle,
guardian of Havana Harbor, be-
tween now and early April, set
ting an all-time record for tourist
traffic to Cuba.
Leading this fleet will be the
ships of the United Fruit Com
pany, the Ward Line and the
Peninsular & Occidental Steam
ship Company, all Of which are
engaged in regular service be-
tween the United States and the
tropical island.
Cruises Are Many
Meantime, scores Of special
cruises to Havana and the West
Indies have been scheduled by
ships flying the flags Of the
United States, Germany, France,
Holland, SweCen. England, Italy
and Canada in a mad scramble
for the Cuban tourist trade.
BY air, Havana, this winter is
brought closer to Americas
greatest centers of population
than ever before in history. With
the establishment early this year
of daily passenger service be-
tween New York, Philadelphia,
Washington, Baltimore, Rich
mond, Atlanta, Jacksonville and
Miami by Eastern Air Transport,
Cuba is now only one day from
the entire eastern half of the
United States.