In 2024, Cuba welcomed a total of 2.2 million international tourists, marking a 9.6% decline compared to the previous year and the lowest figure in nearly twenty years. This outcome, reported by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), falls significantly short of the Cuban government's original target, which forecasted 3.2 million international visitors, later revising it to 2.7 million.
Canada remained the leading source of tourists to Cuba in 2024, contributing 860,877 travelers. Following Canada were Russia with 185,816 tourists, the United States (142,450), Germany (65,487), Spain (65,054), and Mexico (62,839). Among the top nine source countries, only Russia and Mexico saw a slight increase in visitor numbers compared to 2023, whereas other nations like Spain and Italy experienced significant declines of up to 27.1% and 15.9%, respectively.
The downturn also impacted Cuban residents abroad, whose visits to the island decreased by 17.8%. The reduction in international arrivals to Cuba is attributed to several factors, notably the severe economic and energy crisis gripping the country and U.S. sanctions that complicate quick visa acquisition for travelers who have visited Cuba in the past decade.
Tourism plays a vital role in Cuba's economy, significantly contributing to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign currency earnings, ranking as one of the country's most crucial sectors after professional services and remittances. In 2023, Cuba received 2.4 million international tourists, compared to 1.6 million in 2022, figures still far below the 4.2 million recorded in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.
Cuba's current tourism situation stands in stark contrast to other Caribbean destinations like Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Cancún in Mexico, which have reached record numbers of visitors post-pandemic. According to the United Nations specialized agency, UN Tourism, the global volume of international travelers in 2024 has bounced back to pre-pandemic numbers, reaching 1.4 billion arrivals.
Despite these challenges, the regime continues to invest in hotel infrastructure while neglecting other critical sectors that urgently need investment, such as the electricity industry, housing construction, healthcare, and education.
Understanding Cuba's Tourism Decline in 2024
Why did Cuba see a decrease in tourists in 2024?
Several factors contributed to the decrease, including Cuba's severe economic and energy crisis, as well as U.S. sanctions that make it difficult for travelers to obtain quick visas if they have visited Cuba in the last ten years.
How did Cuba's tourism numbers in 2024 compare to previous years?
In 2024, Cuba received 2.2 million tourists, a 9.6% decrease from 2023's 2.4 million and significantly less than the 4.2 million tourists in 2019, before the pandemic.