Cuba suffers a new drop in tourists despite an increase in Russians

Cuba, despite investing 14 times more in the tourism sector than in Public Health and social assistance, has still not recovered, and on the contrary, in some cases such as Canada, its largest issuer, it has suffered a decrease of 7,911 visitors this year compared to 2023 due to the “extreme caution” warning.

The Canadian government has warned its compatriots about violence, crime, shortages of basic necessities such as food, medicine and fuel, and the deterioration of Hotel infrastructure in Cuba, according to Cibercuba.

In second place are Cubans living abroad who have also reduced their tourism in Cuba, with a drop of 30,280 visitors this year. However, Russians are the tourists who continue to rise with 141% more, together with Mexicans and Argentines, with 108% more. With this, Cuba hopes to receive more than 200,000 Russian tourists this year.

Cuba, in total, received 1.9 million visitors between January and June, representing 15,263 fewer travellers than in the same period in 2023, despite the fact that the figures at that time were already considered below expectations, on an island whose best-known destinations are Havana, Varadero, Cayo Coco, Trinidad, Holguín or Camagüey.

As reported by REPORTUR.mxthe tourism crisis in Cuba is already reflected in videos like this one. Jonix Dose, a Cuban YouTuber and influencer, has shown the world the true reality of Havana, where there used to be very crowded areas that now look almost empty of tourists. (Cuba without tourists: several of its busiest areas almost empty).

Jonix Dose shows Obispo Street where there are very few tourists, the same happens in Plaza de las Palomas and the cathedral area.