Key facts
- Cuba's tourism industry is experiencing a severe decline in foreign visitors.
- U.S. sanctions and economic crisis are cited as primary reasons for the drop.
- Several international hotel chains and airlines have scaled back or suspended operations in Cuba.
- Credit card services from Visa and Mastercard are no longer available on the island.
- Visitor numbers are less than half of what they were a year ago, and well below pre-pandemic levels.
Cuba's tourism sector is facing a severe downturn, with foreign visitors becoming increasingly scarce. This decline is attributed to a combination of the island's ongoing economic crisis, persistent fuel shortages, power blackouts, and recently imposed U.S. sanctions. The number of international tourists has struggled to reach pre-pandemic levels and has fallen significantly this year.
Major international tourism players are scaling back their presence. Spain's Melia and Iberostar hotel groups announced reductions in their Cuban hotel portfolios starting in May, while Canadian firm Blue Diamond has withdrawn entirely. Several airlines, including Iberia, World2Fly, Rossiya, WestJet, and Air Canada, have suspended routes to Cuba, citing unreliable jet fuel supplies. Furthermore, credit card giants Visa and Mastercard have ceased operations on the island, adding another layer of difficulty for potential visitors.
Representatives from Cuban tourism agencies report that tourists are fearful of traveling to the island due to the sanctions and perceived threats of military aggression. Official statistics show a stark drop in arrivals, with less than half the number of visitors recorded in the first months of this year compared to the same period in 2023. While some visitors, like Colombian Ramiro Escobar, have reported positive experiences despite the country's challenges, they are among a dwindling number of foreigners seen in tourist areas.
The U.S. administration contends that Cuba's government is corrupt and incompetent, justifying the sanctions as a means to force change. Conversely, Cuba maintains that decades of U.S. sanctions are the root cause of its economic struggles. The downturn has severely impacted local businesses, with many small, privately owned hostels and restaurants forced to close or offer steep discounts to attract domestic customers while awaiting an improvement in the situation.