Havana, Oct 26 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban tourism sector is quickly recovering from effects of Hurricane Wilma, and the structure resisted and is functioning normally, Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero declared Wednesday.

Marrero gave press updates on the recovery after 35,000 foreign tourists had to be evacuated October 23 and relocated to safer installations of the same or better quality.

Wilma affected 14 hotels in Havana, of which 11 are totally recovered, while Pinar del Rio, the most western province, only had Cayo Levisa and the international diving center at Maria La Gorda affected, and they should reopen next week.

The famous Varadero beach resort was not disturbed at all and opened Wednesday without any difficulty, but the southwestern portion of Cayo Largo is closed and will reopen on October 31.

Marrero noted that Cuban tourism grew 10 percent this year, with 1.754 million visitors at the end of September, and reasserted the goal to close 2005 with 2.3 million visitors.

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