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More than 15,000 Cubans have stopped traveling to the island so far in 2026, amidst a sustained decline in tourism that reflects not only the crisis in the sector but also the growing estrangement of the diaspora from the country.
According to preliminary data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), by February, 23,002 travelers from the Cuban community abroad arrived in Cuba, a figure well below the 38,597 recorded in the same period of 2025. The difference exceeds 15,000 fewer travelers in just two months.
The decline is particularly significant because Cubans residing outside the island have historically been one of the most stable flows into the country, driven by family reasons. However, the current numbers indicate a behavioral change that goes beyond mere seasonality.
The decline is not an isolated incident. In general terms, Cuba welcomed 363,649 international travelers until February, which accounts for only 73.1% of the arrivals during the same period last year. Overall, the country saw a drop of 134,080 travelers.
Within that group, international visitors totaled 262,496, also showing a significant decline: 112,642 fewer than in 2025.
The decline affects almost all source markets. Canada, the main origin of tourists, decreased from 173,605 visitors in 2025 to 124,283 in 2026. The United States experienced an even sharper drop, declining from 25,552 to 11,791 travelers. European countries such as France, Spain, and Italy also recorded significant decreases.
This decline in tourism adds to the signs of crisis that had already been evident in January, when the country received 24,255 fewer travelers than the previous year, against a backdrop of fuel shortages, reduced flights, and operational difficulties in hotels and services.
The decrease in travel from the Cuban diaspora also introduces a particularly sensitive human component. For thousands of families, traveling to the island is not tourism, but a reunion. The drop in these figures suggests that more and more Cubans abroad are facing economic, logistical, or personal obstacles that prevent them from returning, even if only temporarily.
In a country where family ties have been a constant driver of mobility for decades, the fact that more than 15,000 Cubans have stopped traveling in such a short period signals a worrying symptom of increasing disconnection between the island and its emigrants.
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