Through July 2026, Cuba received 794,492 travelers, just 50.2% of those received during the same period of the previous year. Equivalent to 787,773 fewer travelers, reported the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
According to the agency, 419,863 international visitors have been received through the seventh month of the year. Representing 37.2%, or 708,968 fewer foreign travelers than in the same period of 2025.
The largest drop was among visitors from Canada, with 350,737 fewer. Followed by the Cuban community residing abroad, with a reduction of 52,021, and the United States, with 39,944 fewer. Significant decreases were also recorded among travelers from Russia, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, China, Colombia, and France.
Moreover the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) defines a traveler as any person who travels between two or more countries. When the travel takes place outside the country of residence, it is considered an international traveler. Regardless of the reason or the means of transport used.
An international visitor, on the other hand, is defined as someone who travels to a country other than their country of habitual residence for a period not exceeding one year. For leisure, recreation, business, or other personal reasons.
The Cuban tourism industry is experiencing a profound crisis. Marked by the departure of some of the main international hotel chains that operated on the island. In a context of intensified economic sanctions imposed by the United States.
As a consequence of this policy, Cuban hotel companies and groups face difficulties accessing investment funds and lines of credit from the United States or other countries.
Access to major international tourism distribution platforms, such as the Galileo, Worldspan, and Sabre Global Distribution Systems. As well as sites like Trivago, Expedia, and Booking.com, where Cuban hotel properties have been removed, is also limited.
This is compounded by the cumulative effect of unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Cuba’s inclusion on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, and the updated list of restricted Cuban entities.
Furthermore, cruise tourism has experienced a significant decline. While fuel supply difficulties are affecting the regular flow of international flights.
Amid this complex scenario, Cuba is seeking to expand business models in the tourism sector to contribute to its recovery.
With information from Prensa Latina
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