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The 44th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FitCuba 2026) will take place from May 7 to 9 in a virtual format, an unprecedented approach for the event that the authorities present as an opportunity to expand international participation and enhance the promotion of the destination Cuba.
Officials from the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) assured this Thursday that less than 48 hours after the launch of the digital platform on the official event site, hundreds of tour operators and travel agencies from various countries confirmed their attendance.
Among the registered participants are operators who, according to the organizers, had never participated in the fair before, reported the official newspaper Granma.
During a press conference, the directors of Marketing, Communication, and Events of Mintur, Lessner Gómez, Yadira Ramírez, and Sonia Beltrán, stated that the virtual format could even exceed participation in previous in-person editions.
The platform will remain active for up to two months after the fair to facilitate communication between exhibitors and visitors.
The program includes tours of digital stands, presentation rooms, and competitions related to gastronomy and mixology, as well as meetings with international hotel chains present on the Island, including Meliá, Iberostar, and Gaviota.
National entities such as Palmares, Ecotur, and Campismo Popular will also participate, while for the first time, the Cuban private sector will be able to set up its own virtual booth to promote products and services.
Additionally, the promotion of sports and health tourism modalities is expected through collaboration with institutions such as the Ministry of Culture, Cubadeportes, and MediCuba.
The fair will run from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on the seventh and eighth of May, with daily summaries of the most significant activities.
The closing event will take place on May 9th in Varadero, at the Josone Retiro Park, featuring a cultural day open to the public, which will include promotional offers for tour packages, performances, and recreational activities.
The announcement comes at the worst time for Cuban tourism since 2002: the Island closed 2025 with just 1.81 million international tourists, a drop of 17.8% compared to 2024 and a staggering 62% decline from the record of 4.7 million visitors achieved in 2018.
In the first two months of 2026, Cuba received 112,000 fewer visitors than in the same period of 2025, with a 30% drop in February alone.
The energy crisis worsened the situation. In February, the lack of Jet A-1 fuel at nine international airports led to the cancellation of over 1,700 flights and the repatriation of more than 27,900 Canadian tourists and 4,300 Russians.
At least 11 airlines have suspended operations to Cuba, including Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing, Iberia, and Turkish Airlines.
Air Transat has extended its suspension until the end of October 2026, canceling 129 scheduled flights, while Air Canada will not resume operations until November 1.
Chain hotels such as Meliá, Iberostar, and Valentín temporarily closed in Varadero, Cayo Coco, and Cayo Guillermo between February and April.
The economist Pedro Monreal has described the situation as a "structural and sustained decline" and pointed out that Cuban tourism is unable to recover.
Despite the collapse, the Marketing Director of Mintur, Lessner Gómez, stated that "we are going to show the world that tourism is not dead, that Cuba is still alive."
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