By GILDA FARIÑAS RODRIGUEZ —Granma International staff writer—

IN Cuba, where tourism is one of the main industries that sustain the economy, the renewal of the civilian aeronautical fleet remains a national investment priority, particularly given that almost all visiting tourists arrive by air.

Alert to this need, this past year Cuban authorities negotiated the purchase of several IL 96-300 and TU 204-100 airplanes from the Russian Federation. The first of the three expected TU 204’s, a medium range cargo plane, has reached the island.

The press was informed that the remaining two to be used for passenger travel should arrive before the end of the year. Cubana Airlines has already received three IL 96-300 airliners that will cover long distance flights and strengthen the commercial fleet.

As a part of recent agreements, Cuba and Russia have decided to further develop cooperation in this area and in the professional training of airline employees in both countries.

The need is an established reality since in 2006 Cuba became the preferred Caribbean and Latin American destination for Russians. 25,000 travelers from the country, the largest in the world, visited the island that year.