Havana, Aug 10 (IANS/EFE): Cuba's revenues from tourism jumped 13 percent in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2010, authorities said.

According to the National Statistics Office, or ONE, figures, total income from Cuba's tourism sector between January-July amounted to $990,464, while in 2010 it was $874,513.

Profits are being reported this year in such areas as hotels, retail sales, gastronomy and transport, and losses in others such as recreation.

Official data indicates that more than 1.5 million foreign tourists visited Cuba in the first six months of the year, an increase of 10.6 percent over last year.

Canada headed the list of the leading sources of tourists to the island, followed by Britain, Italy, France and Spain, while Argentina remains the island's most important and fastest growing market in Latin America.

Tourism, the second largest contributor to the nation's economy after technical and professional services, last year earned $2.1 billion from the visits of some 2.5 million tourists.

This year Cuba will welcome 2.7 million tourists, above all from Canada and Europe, according to tourism ministry estimates.