Madrid/The data published on Thursday by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) re -verified that the tourism In the country it continues downhill. Between January and August of this year, Cuba received a total of 1,259,972 international visitors, 21.64% less than in the same period of 2024.
Although this is an improvement with respect to Julio – when the fall reached 23.2% compared to 2024 -, the figures already make the governmental objective of achieving 2.6 million tourists this year. Taking into account that in the first semester of 2025, only 981,856 were received, proportionally it would not give even two million annually, which would exceed the negative record of 2024, when 2.2 million travelers were received.
It was the worst mark in 17 years, discounting 2020 (with 1,085,920 foreign visitors), 2021 (with 356,470) and 2022 (with 1,614,087), the exercises affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Onei records that in August 135,985 international travelers arrived on the island, a volume lower than that registered in July, when 142,131 did.
By countries, Canada (with 526,245 tourists), United States (with 83,981) and Russia (80,553) continue to be the three main issuers in the first eight months of 2025, although they all fall with respect to last year.
The numbers are dramatic comparing them with those around the world, which experiences good unprecedented forecasts in the sector
Of the first ten destinations, only Argentina increased in number of tourists (from 32,904 to 34,833, about 6%). Germany visitors were reduced by 41.4% (from 43,459 to just 25,477), followed by those of Russia (from 132,927 to 80,553, 39.4% less), Spain (27.7%, from 45,559 to 32,927), France (24.7%, from 37,065 to 27,901) (21%, from 665,856 to 526,245).
Similarly, the number of Cubans residing abroad who travels to the island – the second largest issuer market, folding the third – has fallen by 20.7%, from 203,206 in 2024 to 161,195 this year.
The numbers are dramatic comparing them with those around the world, which experiences some Good unprecedented forecasts in the sector, but especially putting them together with the direct competitors of Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Between January and July of this year, Dominicana received almost 7,200,000 tourists3.2% more than in the same period of the previous year, and Mexico registered, from January to June, nothing less than 47.4 million international visitors13.8% more than in the same months of 2024.
It is evident that the blackouts, the shortage, the bad conditions of the infrastructure and the systemical crisis dissuade foreigners to visit the island. With their loss, the country also loses the vital income of what is its third source of wealth, behind medical services and sending remittances.
According to the ONEI semiannual report, between January and June the income collapsed 20.6% (of almost 71,000 million pesos to just over 56,000 million). Applying the rate of 24 pesos per dollar, it is a drop of 2,950,741,875 to 2,343,539,083 dollars.
The ONEI does not provide net income after deducting operating costs – very high in the tourism sector – but in the case of Cuba it is estimated that they represent 70% of gross income, which would give a net income of 703 million dollars, in the best case.
