The number of Russian tourists visiting Cuba has dwindled to nearly insignificant levels. Data from the Russian Tour Operators Association (ATOR) and the booking platform Sletat indicate that in March 2026, only 249 Russian travelers arrived on the island. This represents an unprecedented collapse for what was once Cuba's second-largest tourist market.
The primary cause of this sharp decline is the aviation fuel crisis that erupted in February. The Cuban socialist regime informed international airlines that it could no longer guarantee kerosene supplies at nine airports.
Russian airlines Rossiya and Nordwind promptly suspended their flights to Cuba on February 11. Between February 13 and 22, they conducted nine repatriation flights to evacuate nearly 4,300 stranded tourists from Varadero, Havana, Holguín, and Cayo Coco.
The Dramatic Decline in Russian Visitors
Before the evacuation in February, 7,314 Russian tourists had arrived in Cuba. The drastic drop to just 249 in March highlights the severity of the decline.
The impact on Russian travelers' preferences has been swift and profound. Cuba has vanished from the top 10 favorite destinations for Russians in 2026. In May 2025, it still held a 1.6% share in this ranking. Now, destinations like Egypt, Vietnam, and China have captured that tourist flow.
The Russian Ministry of Transport has stipulated that the resumption of flights will only occur if the "normalization of aviation kerosene supply in Cuba" is achieved, a condition that remains unmet.
Wider Implications for Cuban Tourism
The Russian tourism debacle isn't an isolated incident. In 2026, eleven airlines have halted flights to Cuba, with only eight maintaining their routes. From Canada, the island's largest tourism market, four companies have canceled operations: Air Canada and Sunwing until October, WestJet indefinitely, and Air Transat with a possible return in June.
This resulted in a widespread collapse of the sector. Tourism in Cuba fell to 52% of the previous year's level in the first quarter of 2026, with only 298,057 international visitors. In March, total arrivals dropped to just 35,561 tourists, compared to approximately 170,000 during the same month in 2025.
Economic and Political Consequences
Hotel occupancy plummeted to 18.9% in the first two months of the year, forcing hotels to drastically lower prices or shut down, leaving hundreds of thousands of industry workers unemployed.
Cuba's image as a tourist destination had already been deteriorating. Russian tourists began leaving the island three days after arrival as early as January, citing power outages, lack of water, food shortages, and a general decline in hotel services.
The internal political landscape exacerbates the situation. The Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC) recorded 1,133 protests in April 2026, a 29.5% increase over April 2025. This is set against a backdrop of intensified repression and an official campaign demanding citizens sign a loyalty document to the regime.
Throughout 2025, Russia was the second-largest source of tourists to Cuba, with 131,882 visitors. At this rate, 2026 is shaping up to be the year when this flow is reduced to a mere trickle, with no signs of short-term recovery.
FAQs on the Decline of Russian Tourism in Cuba
Why did Russian tourist numbers fall so dramatically in Cuba?
The sharp decline is mainly due to an aviation fuel crisis that began in February 2026. The Cuban regime informed airlines it couldn't guarantee fuel supplies, leading to the suspension of flights by Russian airlines.
How has the fall in Russian visitors affected Cuban tourism overall?
The overall impact has been severe, with a significant drop in international visitors, hotel occupancy, and employment in the tourism sector.
What conditions has Russia set for resuming flights to Cuba?
The Russian Ministry of Transport requires the normalization of aviation kerosene supply in Cuba before flights can resume, a condition that has not yet been met.