Cuba Anticipates a 16% Decline in Tourists in 2024
By Magdiel Jorge Castro (El Toque)
HAVANA TIMES – The Cuban government has projected a 16% drop in tourist arrivals to the island for 2024. Consequently, the expected number of visitors has been revised from 3.2 million (as of December 2023) to 2.7 million.
This decrease aligns with figures published by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), which show a downward trend in visitor arrivals during the first seven months of 2024 compared to the previous year. From January to July 2024, Cuba recorded 1,463,097 international visitors, 15,263 fewer than the same period in 2023, representing a decline of 0.8%.
In July 2023, 190,747 visitors arrived on the island, 37,000 more than in July 2024. The data reveals a downward trend starting in April 2024 and a stagnation in the country’s tourism industry (see Table 1).
In 2023, the tourism industry also failed to meet the Cuban government’s initial expectations. In December 2022, the goal was set to reach 3.5 million tourists; however, the final figure from ONEI reflected a 30% shortfall from the plan.
Three years after the sector’s paralysis due to COVID-19, the island has not been able to recover the visitor numbers that exceeded 4 million in 2019. This contrasts with other nearby destinations like Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and Cancún (Mexico), which have matched or even surpassed their pre-pandemic figures.
According to the latest report from ForwardKeys —a European consultancy specializing in the air travel and tourism industry— Cuba ranks last (28th) in the Caribbean destinations for tourism recovery post-pandemic.
By the end of 2023, the Dominican Republic had welcomed over 10 million tourists, an unprecedented milestone for the country, which recorded 6,446,036 visitors in 2019.
Despite the stagnation in the tourism industry, the Cuban government continues to make substantial investments in the sector. In the first half of 2024, 14 times more was invested in tourism than in Public Health and Social Assistance, according to the official ONEI data.
The tourism sector accounted for 36.5% of the Cuban pesos invested during the first half of 2024, far exceeding the 2.5% allocated to investment in agriculture, despite the country’s food crisis.
Projections for tourist arrivals in 2024 indicate a significant decline. Regional competition, internal economic limitations, and the consequences of the US embargo (including the cancellation of the fast-track ESTA visa for Europeans visiting Cuba) are major obstacles to the industry’s revitalization.
Despite being aware of past statistics and the limitations hindering Cuba’s tourism development, the government continues to forecast unrealistic estimates while pouring millions into new hotels for an industry in decline.
First published in Spanish by El Toque and translated and posted in English by Havana Times.
My homeland has become a Greek tragedy.
I have visited Cuba countless times during the past 25 years. While there I live with a family in Santiago. Not too many years ago it was a fabulous place to visit for long visits, but two things happened that are destroying the country, Trump’s tightening of the embargo has been a major economic blow, but worse is the inept monetary policies of Diaz Canel, specifically the elimination of the CUC. It is beyond senseless when the CUC stores were immediately replaced by MLC stores that are more exclusive and impossible for the average Cuban. Covid was another financial challenge, but other countries have recovered and tourism is flourishing. Cuba’s tourist industry is in decline because the economic depression has caused a failure to the infrastructure, transportation, and food production. The state ignores these issues and continues to spend 36% of its resources building new hotels, which like others will have less than 20% occupancy, while at the same time, only 4% of the fiscal budget is devoted to improving the agriculture industry. All of these errors are starving the people, and their desperation has led to a massive increase in crime. In Santiago, it is now dangerous to walk the streets with a bag of food, sit in a park with a cell phone, or walk the streets at night. I have been advised by many people that I know in the city not to return because a foreigner would be an obvious target for thieves. Since I know of several of my friends who have been robbed in 2024 I am very sad to say I must take their advice and avoid Cuba at this time.
Been to Cuba over 13 times the last time we went for 2 weeks and after a week we wanted to go home and I love Cuba but now I will never go back it has changed so much. So So Sad
Cuba has become very challenging at times. Yes the resorts are are questionable at this point and time. My wife lives in Havana and I travel frequently to Havana. I also stay in Veradero and have someone drive her to the resort I have chosen. Life is tough there for many reasons. The Cuban people are awesome and I will stand and support my wife and help any way possible. Then maybe she can visit Canada.
While it is worse in the resorts, you can find everything in the MLC tiendas. Bring a few rolls of toilet paper, some soft drinks and snacks and you’ll be fine. The good hearted people, the beaches, and the cigars are why most people go. There will be beer, eggs, bread, cereal, spaghetti, ham sandwiches, fruit, desserts, fish.. can’t find cola or bottled water? Go to the tienda.
I came back from a vacation in Cuba on September 18, 2024. They have the most incredible beaches. Food wasn’t amazing but I never left the table hungry. Room was dated but had everything we needed. The people were friendly. It’s not just Covid that kicked Cuba in the teeth. When Trump was president in 2017 he did a lot of damage related to trade and tourism by banning US citizens from vacationing there. Three years of that then adding the covid lockdowns have devastated Cuba’s economic situation. They need the money from tourism to boost their economy. When people boycott it does even more damage. The only part of my trip I did not enjoy was the almost 40 degree days but my room had great air conditioning. It is definitely a place to go in the winter, not the summer unless you love it super hot. We took supplies to give away. Traveling to Cuba also makes you take a hard look at your life and makes you realize just how lucky we are by the availability of the things we need. Imagine having money but not being able to buy something like toothpaste, toilet paper or feminine hygiene products because they just can’t get it into the country. I will be going back to Cuba.
Just returned from Cuba a few days ago. My third time there and my last. Shortages of everything from bottled water to food to toilet paper. And even hotel staff working in the resort store taking advantage of guests…..telling me $2 for a small bottle of water…..only to have the price reduced to $1 when I put it back. I might expect that at a market but not at the resort shop.
Since going to Cuba since 2008, the price had trippled for 2 weeks stays, no more gas scooters, all Chinese electric which are useless, getting stuff stolen eveytime out of the Hotel room, and now the Hotels are being leased to the Russians, who are very rude, no class and love to get stupid drunk, how can that be a family vacation. Prices for 2 weeks at Christmas time run from 7k up to 14k depending on how close to Christmas you book. Cuba is not worth it anymore, I even tried 7 days and came close to 7k…can travel anywhere in the World for that 2 week price…have not been for 2 years now…too $$$$…
Was there in June of this year and probably won’t go back mostly because of the shortages and poor quality of the food unfortunately the people were still wonderful even with all that is happening to them and their country they will be what I miss the most !
I’m afraid it’s gotten so bad that even the beautiful beaches are not enough anymore. I visited twice a year for almost 20 years and this last March was the final nail in the coffin. Food has always been an issue, but you could always get by. Now, you can’t even get by. It’s gotten so bad that tourists are going back home and telling horror stories advising people to stay away. Me included.
Got food poisoning there from a restaurant in Havana Lots of problems with hygiene. Needs to improve before tourists will flock their again . Transportation is very difficult as well A friend of mine rented a car in Holguin for a week online When he got there they said you can have the car but there’s no gas
We have traveled there 3 times in the past decade. We love it and the people. But when we hear of the shortages of food and fuel for their own people, it breaks my heart. How could we go there now and consume while they suffer? It’s a fine line between feeling like we are taking food from the bellies of the people and also supporting their tourism economy which brings jobs and helps the situation. Very tough decision.
Cuba must be saved by the international UN communities for humanitarian, economic, development, for a free democratic society, for all Cubans to be safe, healthy, and aquire their own individual richess.
Tourist also stop going to cuba, because it’s not very safe as it was once before with Fidel Castro. People with authority are stealing your gifts or food that you take for family and friends #1 airport authorities if they see something in your suitcase through the ex ray they then talk to each other in different departments and they come together, and take everything in the suitcase away and their is no upper body to complain to, so everything People visit cuba you need to lose something that is very valuable, so the Cuban government needs to have an investigation at all of the airports in cuba and also have an upper body with a ligit phone number to complain to posted in bold numbers, and if convinced possible job termination and jail time, this is one of the options to bring Tourist back to cuba.
Shitty food on the resorts, I will not go back
Visited 6 times ..
We don’t want to return for a while.
Issue is… Food and shortage of necessary items. Fuel, Medicine and Electricity.
Cuba has some of the best beaches in the world. However, it’s the people that make the island.
Would love to return, but I can’t take a chance with shortages travelling with my kids. (Milk)
The biggist problem for me in cuba as a tourist is the quality and the shortage of food! Last year 2023 we went to cuba at Christmas time and we had absolutely no eggs, no jam, no honey, and terrible quality bakery products not to mention the service quality! Also no edible fruits available in a 5 star resorts. Watermelon like i would not even feed pigs with it. Horrible! No soft drink selection but even basic things like club soda or diet coke is in shortage. Of course people choose to go to Mexico, Dominican Rep. or other Caribbean destinations.
This Island country has been on a downward curve since the pandemic. I fear it is headed towards a civil war. The locals will only take so much before they have had enough. The tipping point is usually hunger which we are seeing with increasing regularity currently.
From a tourist perspective the shortages have a direct negative impact on your holiday so why go there when there are so many other alternatives?
This Island country has been on a downward curve since the pandemic. I fear it is headed towards a civil war. The locals will only take so much before they have had enough. The tipping point is usually hunger which we are seeing with increasing regularity currently.
From a tourist perspective the shortages gave a direct negative impact on your holiday so why go there when there are so many other alternatives?
Why would we go where there no food for their own people. A disgrace.
I went in April and it is a mess.
A big problem is that one can not buy Cuban pesos until in the country. I like Cuba but never go to resorts so having to exchange money after arrival is very inconvenient. Another thing is the poor choice of foods which I accept, but is not acceptable for many tourists. I know that this is a problem in the whole country.
Although it might be a small piece of the pie in tourism the Cuban government allowed close to 50% of the ownership of Habanos SA/Cubatobacco to be purchased by Chinese investors. This new monopoly wasted no time in standardizing the cost of Cuban cigars to the Hong Kong standard including raising the prices of Cuban cigars by in some cases 300%. This new price standard also includes Cuba which once had a thriving cigar tourism industry. The cigar tourism is now gone in Cuba and its a shame. I can understand the greed of the new owners worldwide but to also punish Cuba seems ridiculous. The only people profiting from this new ownership are the Chinese/Asian investors who also have done nothing to repair the damaged infrstructure from Hurricane Ian. Habanos Sa has recorded record profits under the new ownership but I see little of this gold rush going back into the cuban economy and tobacco industry. I have my suspicions that a select few on the island are profiting from the new owners of Habanos SA.
As one with prolonged experience of living more than 505 of my time in Cuba and the rest in the free democratic world, I am able to observe the ever declining conditions in Cuba and reactions in countries from which tourists traditionally travel to Cuba. The free democratic countries have become increasingly aware of the awful conditions which now pervade throughout Cuba and the distress which its people are suffering under a merciless incompetent regime presided over by Diaz-Canel and his cohorts. They expect that eventually those entrapped within the system will react forcibly, with ensuing confusion possible reaching the level of chaos. So why risk their precious holiday time in Cuba, when much preferable alternatives are available? Those who like myself, will continue to spend much time in Cuba and watch conditions with deep concern, now have changed our question from “if” to “when”?