Cuba welcomed a total of 1,680,485 travelers during the first half of this year, according to official statistics. This represents a 101.1% increase, approximately 18,845 more compared to the same period last year, as detailed in a report by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
The Cuban government entity highlighted the distinction between international tourists arriving in the country, numbering 1,309,836, which accounts for a 100.9% increase or 11,284 more visitors than the same period last year. The countries contributing the most travelers were Canada (577,549), Russia (112,721), the United States (83,186), and Germany (36,343), while 155,320 Cuban residents abroad visited the island.
March saw the highest number of international tourists (281,139), whereas June had the least (134,948). Based on these figures, noted economist Pedro Monreal commented that "halfway through the year, the official visitor data does not seem promising, showing a dynamic very similar to the same period in 2023 and far from the numbers of the pre-pandemic years (2017-2019)." He referred to the pre-COVID-19 era.
"The accumulated figure from January to May was slightly lower for Canada (the top source) and 11.9% lower for the Cuban community (the second source), compared to January-May 2023, which was offset by a significant 66.7% increase in visitors from Russia (the third source)," Monreal noted.
Monreal had previously detected falsified data by the Cuban regime regarding the number of tourists reported up until May, where they claimed an arrival of 1.8 million visitors. Monreal explained, "it is known that the accumulated figure from January to May was 117,488 visitors, and it is not possible for the accumulated figure from January to June to be 1.8 million because to accumulate 1.8 million visitors from January to June, 625,112 visitors would have had to arrive in June. However, the highest number of visitors received in a month of June in recent years was recorded in June 2018 (342,195).
In April, the Ministry of Tourism celebrated the arrival of one million foreign visitors to the island. "Today, April 26, just days before the start of our International Tourism Fair FitCuba2024, Cuba receives the figure of one million international visitors," said Juan Carlos García Granda, head of the sector, from his profile on X.
This news seemed encouraging amid growing negative opinions toward tourism in the island, entangled in a streak of poor reviews regarding service, facilities, and food supply. In 2023, with nearly 3.2 million visitors (including nationals), Cuba failed to surpass the 3 million foreign tourists mark, a goal they had set at the beginning of the year.
Insights on Cuba's Tourism Statistics
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers to provide more clarity on the tourism statistics and the current situation in Cuba.
What is the total number of tourists who visited Cuba in the first half of 2024?
Cuba received a total of 1,680,485 travelers during the first half of 2024.
Which countries contributed the most tourists to Cuba in 2024?
The countries contributing the most tourists were Canada, Russia, the United States, and Germany.
What concerns were raised by economist Pedro Monreal regarding the tourism data?
Pedro Monreal raised concerns about the accuracy of the reported data and noted that the figures do not appear promising when compared to pre-pandemic years.