Havana/The Cuban Government recognized this Thursday that the tourism sector is going through a complex situation and that it will not meet its forecasts for income and international visitors by about 25 percentage points in each case.
The Minister of Economy and Planning, Joaquín Alonso, took stock of the situation of the former engine of the national economy when speaking before the plenary session of the National Assembly of People’s Power. According to his department’s calculations, the sector’s income will reach 917.4 million dollars, 75.8% of what was expected, and the number of visitors will be around 1.9 million people, 73.1% of the state estimate for the entire year.
If confirmed, this number of travelers would be the worst annual record in the Cuban tourism sector since 2003, not counting the three years most affected by covid-19. In comparison, the island attracted about 4.6 and 4.7 million visitors in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
This would be the worst annual record for the Cuban tourism sector since 2003
The State Office of Statistics and Information recently reported that between January and October the country received a total of 1,477,892 international visitors, 19.9% less than in the same period in 2024.
The weakness of the Cuban tourism sector, the island’s economic engine for years, has as its main factors the serious economic and energy crisis that the country is suffering – and which has an impact on services and experience -, the cutting of air routes and US sanctions.
Tourism is fundamental to the economic recovery plans of the Cuban Government, due to its contribution to the gross domestic product and the inflow of foreign currency it represents, which is usually among the most important, along with professional services and remittances.
Tourism is fundamental for the economic recovery plans of the Cuban Government
Currently, the tourism situation in Cuba contrasts with that of similar destinations in the Caribbean, such as Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Cancun in Mexico, which are registering historic highs in visitors after the pandemic.
In this context, the Cuban tourism crisis coincides with a broader political, economic and social deterioration, marked by prolonged blackouts, shortages of basic services and internal tensions.
In recent weeks, in addition, several countries have issued health warnings that directly affect travel to the Island. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain warned of a serious epidemic with simultaneous outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya, recommending refraining from traveling if you do not have adequate vaccination. Russia, one of the main sending markets to Cuba in recent years, issued a similar warning through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, advising extreme precautions and even reconsidering travel, amid growing concern reflected by the press and by tourists already present in the country.
