Collapse of Tourism in Cuba
First covid, now the crisis and blackouts, the sector has more than halved
It was covid that initially brought Cuba’s tourism industry to its knees. One of the biggest sources of income for the Caribbean country has been visitors from all over the world who come to the country to enjoy Havana, its beaches, its culture, and charm, a place that seems frozen in time…
The pandemic inevitably damaged the sector, but unlike other tourist destinations, tourism here is struggling to recover due to the disastrous economic situation. Blackouts have become commonplace, food and fuel are scarce…
Government statistics released by Tourism Minister Juan Carlos Garcia state the figure 2.2 million foreign visitors this year, the goal was to reach 3.2 million, compared to 4.7 million annually before the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, Cuba is becoming more unique by the day for all the wrong reasons and therefore less attractive as a tourist destination,” explained to Reuters Paolo Spadoni, an economist at Augusta University in Georgia and an expert on the Caribbean country, adding that the outlook for 2025 is far from positive.
The Ministry of Tourism explains that accommodation activities are progressing normally, and that they are being equipped to avoid power outages in an attempt to reassure potential visitors, but tour operators and governments are proceeding with caution. For example, Canada has warned potential travelers that Cuba “lacks basic necessities, including food, medicine, and fuel.”
Instead, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that “due to a shortage of aviation fuel, flights to and from Cuba may be delayed, postponed, or canceled,” and for both flights and accommodations, be cautious and inquire in detail about actual accommodations.
