Tourism in Cuba reported that by October 2024, only 2,490,770 travelers had arrived, well below its "adjusted" target of three million for the current year, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
In its latest report "Arrival of Travelers. International Visitors, October 2024," it is explained that this figure represents 96.1% of the total recorded in the same period of 2023, with a decrease of 101,256 visitors.
Despite the rebound in markets such as Canada and the Russian Federation, the sector faces significant challenges.
Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García recently acknowledged that the country may not reach the target of three million foreign visitors set for this year, due to factors such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and economic pressures resulting from the U.S. blockade, according to the official portal Cubadebate.
According to ONEI, the markets expected to experience the highest growth towards Cuba in 2024 include Canada (97.1%), the Russian Federation (107.0%), Mexico (103.7%), the Cuban Community Abroad (82.2%), the United States (90.6%), and other notable markets such as Spain (73.1%), Germany (95.2%), France (90.9%), Argentina (97.4%), and Italy (84.4%).
The regime highlights that Cuba currently has a hotel capacity of over 80,000 rooms, of which 75% are classified as four- and five-star facilities. However, it does not mention that most of these remain empty and that investment continues in them despite the existence of more urgent, underserved sectors.
At least 18 international chains, including nine Spanish ones, are involved in hotel management on the island.
In terms of air connectivity, 57 airlines operate from 32 countries, and the government is collaborating with the Cuban Civil Aviation Corporation to restore operational levels from 2019 through an incentive policy for airlines.
The tourism sector operates with 24 joint venture companies focused on hotel and real estate development, of which 15 have already made investments.
There are also 128 management and marketing contracts in hotels that account for 56,928 rooms, representing 65% of the country's hotel capacity.
However, despite all the aforementioned incentives, Cuba is unable to meet its travel arrival targets.
Especially in the past year, many tourists have reported the shortages they are experiencing on the island, and a Canadian agency even removed 26 hotels from its catalog due to the precarious conditions of many facilities.
Filed under: