In brief
Cuba’s tourism sector has collapsed in 2026, with visitors falling 65.1% from January‑September compared to the previous year. The drop was driven by tighter U.S. sanctions, suspended air routes and the withdrawal of hotel chains, while the government signs measures to liberalize the economy.
According to Xinhua reporting official data released by the National Office of Statistics and Information, Cuba received 477,707 international visitors from January to September 2026, a 65.1 percent decline from the same period in 2025, a drop of 890,140 people. The figures, published Wednesday, illustrate a deepening tourism crisis amid heightened U.S. sanctions.
Canada, the island’s largest source market, saw the steepest fall, with 430,460 fewer arrivals than a year earlier. Visits from Russia fell by 67,205, while the number of Cubans living abroad decreased by 60,081. The United States recorded 42,984 fewer visitors, reflecting the ongoing restrictions on travel and trade.
Experts attribute the collapse to a series of U.S. actions: expanded sanctions in May, threats of tariffs on oil suppliers, suspension of air routes and the withdrawal of seven international hotel chains—including Spain’s Melia, Iberostar and Barcelo—following U.S. pressure. The government says these moves have driven travelers away and forced hotel owners to close.
In June, Cuba’s National Assembly approved a package of 176 economic and social reform measures aimed at liberalizing the economy. The package includes provisions to attract new investors and expand private‑sector participation in tourism, with the hopes of reviving the sector and restoring foreign‑currency earnings.
