In the midst of the tourism crisis, Canada It has remained the largest issuing market to Cuba, which is why the authorities of the sector on the island have focused on designing strategies in order to achieve an essential recovery to alleviate the impact of the deep economic crisis.
With that objective in mind, the head of the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur)Juan Carlos García Granda, before more than a hundred tour operators from the northern nation, to whom he confirmed that Cuba hopes to reach one million Canadian tourists in its facilities by 2026.
Minister of Tourism, @JuannCarlosGG reaffirmed in Toronto that the island is ready to receive one million Canadian visitors in 2026.
More info: https://t.co/3u1WuztOap#Cuba #Canada #CubaUnica pic.twitter.com/6L6ct0TGT3
— Sol de Cuba Mintur (@SoldeCubaMintur) November 14, 2025
According to a report of Latin Press (PL), The minister told them that the island is “open, ready and deeply grateful for the unconditional support of Canadian travelers.”
In addition to recognizing that country as the main market, García Granda acknowledged to those present at the Iluminarium Toronto the challenges of the destination in recent years, especially the supply problems faced during the 2024-2025 winter season.
In that sense, he explained about the establishment of new foreign and national importing companies, and Cash and Carry wholesale stores, which guarantee efficient supply chains to maintain high levels of service in all hotels.
At the same time, he was convinced that in the winter of 2025-2026 it will show good results.
The minister also presented the International Tourism Fair FITCuba 2026, which will be dedicated to Canada between May 6 and 10.
Early expectations
During the meeting with experts from the sector, within the framework of the Commercial Appreciation Night of Cuba Única, the newly appointed Minister of Tourism in Toronto, Gihana Galindo, indicated “that the conditions are adequate, the people are ready and the association between Cuba and Canada has never been stronger.”
The board announced that winter reservations have increased by 25% compared to last year, and highlighted the dedication of the partners and the travel advisor community.
The meeting praised key local tour operator partners, including Sunwing, WestJet Vacations and Air Canada Vacations, for their crucial role in connecting the two nations.
Galindo considered, based on the increase in flights available from several Canadian cities, that the goal outlined by the minister “is within reach.”
At another time it was mentioned that West Jet will operate two new weekly flights between Toronto and Havana from December 18 to April 23, 2026.
These are joined by direct trips from that same city to Cienfuegos, through WestJet/Sunwing Vacations, which begin on December 10, as well as the route to Cayo Largo del Sur, from January 20.
Uncertain recovery
Despite the efforts deployed by the Cuban Government, the island’s tourism sector has not managed to recover the levels reached prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The visitor arrival numbers have not stopped their free fall so far, and at the end of last September the arrival of almost 400 thousand international visitors was recorded compared to the previous year.
With almost 400 thousand fewer visitors until September, Cuban tourism remains in the red
In total, between January and September the island received 1,366,720 tourists, 20.5% less than in the same period in 2024. according to published data by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
The maintained trend confirms that it will be impossible to fulfill the government plans to receive 2.6 million tourists in 2025, for which almost the same amount would have to arrive in the last quarter as in the previous nine months.
It also seems very unlikely that at the end of December we will reach 2.2 million in 2024, which was the worst record in 17 years, not counting the two years most affected by the pandemic.
