Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro has given one of the clearest indications yet that he may be ready to retire.
His departure, if fulfilled, could spell the end of many of the idiosyncratic characteristics that have made it such a popular destination among visitors.
The hint was made in a letter written by the 81-year-old leader, read out on Cuban state television last night, in which he claimed his duty was "not to cling to positions".
Instead, he explained his role was "to share experiences and ideas whose modest worth comes from the exceptional era in which I lived."
"Now I understand that it was not my destiny to rest at the end of my life."
Cuban tourist officials estimate that, for a fourth year in a row, it expects tourist numbers to exceed two million for 2007.
Fidel Castro has not been seen in public for more than 16 months, having undergone intestinal surgery last year.
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