MOSCOW – The number of Russian tourists visiting Cuba has increased by up to 40 percent this year, Russia’s tour operators group said on Saturday.

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia said in its digital newsletter that demand among Russians for travel to Cuba had increased by about 40 percent so far in 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016.

“Russian tourists rush to visit Cuba while its socialist attractions are still preserved,” the publication said.

Yana Kuchegura, public relations director for the operator “Anex Tur,” explained that most reservations the company had handled were until the month of November, although Christmas season also showed high demand.

“In general, our clients prefer to stay at four- and five-star hotels, and their vacations last an average of seven to ten days,” Kuchegura said. “There is high demand for day trips in Havana and around Varadero, including safaris, boat outings and shows.”

According to the Russian tourism ministry, more than 52,000 Russian tourists visited the Caribbean island between January and June this year.

Cuba was expecting a total of 4.7 million foreign visitors in 2017, a 16.5-percent increase compared to the previous year.