While other destinations like Kenya, Egypt and the Dominican Republic have seen visitor numbers dip, Cuba has welcomed thousands of new tourists.

The number of UK visitors to the Caribbean island rose by 80% last summer and bookings have risen by a massive 132% for winter 1998-99.

Tour operators are also reporting a 60% rise in bookings for next summer.

"Both Cuba and Mexico are doing extremely well and offer excellent value for money," said Martin Brackenbury, the Chairman of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO).

Bookings up for 1999

Latest FTO figures also show increases in popularity for other destinations including: Cyprus, visited by 38% more UK tourists last summer; Greece, which had 20% more visitors; and the Far East, which welcomed 23% more British holidaymakers.

Bookings for summer 1999 bookings are up by about 4% at present, with Greece up 39%, Cyprus up 24%, Italy up 21% and Portugal up 15%.

Cuba, 250 miles off the coast of Florida, has been ruled by communist leader Fidel Castro since he took power in the 1959 revolution.

Fidel Castro has ruled Cuba for almost 40 years

Fidel Castro's rule has incurred the wrath of the United States in the form of 38 years of economic sanctions.

The island was the centre of global attention during the 1961 Cuban missile crisis at the height of the Cold War .

The country officially became atheist in 1962 before Christmas was dropped from the calendar seven years later.

But in 1997 Cubans were allowed to celebrate their first Christmas since 1969.

Thousands of Cubans are still living in exile in the US after fleeing communist rule.

The Pope visited Cuba in January this year as the country's religious clampdown receded.