In 2021, Cuba received the visit of 573,944 international travelers, according to data released today by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
The figure represents 39.8 percent of those who arrived in the country in 2020 and is equivalent to 869,181 fewer tourists, despite the fact that the Caribbean nation exhibited a slight recovery in the sector since mid-November.
The Russian Federation was the main issuer, with 146 thousand 151 visitors, and the only market that matched the numbers of the previous year and also grew.
Canada, the country from which the largest number of tourists came to the Antillean island, was relegated to second place, followed by the Cuban community abroad and Spain.
Cuba had projected to receive around 2.2 million travelers in 2021, but the outbreak of Covid-19 that affected the Caribbean nation from the beginning of the year and grew exponentially until September severely affected the expected recovery then.
By 2022, the tourism sector expects some 2.5 million visitors, services that should contribute about 1,159 million dollars to the national economy, according to the Minister of Economy and Planning, Alejandro Gil, last December before the Cuban Parliament.
Until now, Varadero reaffirms itself as the main pole of the country, with average daily stays of 13 thousand tourists, 77 percent foreigners and the rest nationals, according to Ivis Fernández, delegate of the Ministry of the branch in the province of Matanzas.
The directive classified these results as positive and that they exceeded forecasts, because despite the global epidemiological situation, during the year-end festivities 24 thousand vacationers arrived at its facilities, when 21 thousand were expected.
This spa, the largest in Cuba, has more than a dozen hotel products that won international awards in 2021, and will host the XL International Fair FITCuba-2022, which will bring together travel agencies from May 3 to 7. , tour operators and airlines, among others.
On this occasion, the event is dedicated to the sun and beach poles of the archipelago and to Russia as the guest country.
Despite the difficult economic situation and the slow recovery, the Caribbean nation projects this year the completion of 4,607 new rooms, which would reach 84,906 rooms in the state sector.
