Cuba’s Tourism In Freefall As Mexico, United States, Canada, Germany, France, Argentina, Spain, And Italy Inflict A Shocking Twenty-Five Percent Decline, Amplifying The Economic Crisis For 2025

Published on July 28, 2025

Cuba’s tourism industry is facing a significant crisis in 2025, with a 25% drop in international visitor numbers, particularly from key markets such as Mexico, the United States, Germany, France, Argentina, Spain, and Italy. This sharp decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including ongoing economic struggles, stricter U.S. sanctions, and a reduction in international flight connections. While other Caribbean destinations are experiencing post-pandemic booms, Cuba’s tourism sector is struggling to recover, threatening its economic stability and long-term growth.

Cuba’s once-thriving tourism sector is now experiencing a sharp decline in 2025. International arrivals have dropped by 25% in the first half of the year compared to the previous year. Data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) shows that only 981,856 tourists visited Cuba between January and June, highlighting the significant downturn the industry is facing. This makes the government’s target of attracting 2.6 million visitors by year-end increasingly difficult to achieve. Without the impact of the pandemic years, this could become one of the worst periods for Cuba’s tourism in nearly two decades.

Sharp Declines Across Major Markets

The decrease is particularly notable in Cuba’s major source markets. Canada, traditionally the largest market for Cuban tourism, saw a significant 25.9% decline, from over 577,000 visitors in the first half of 2024 to 428,000 in 2025. Russian tourism experienced an even steeper drop of approximately 43.5%. Other long-standing markets, including the United States, Germany, France, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, and Italy, also reported double-digit decreases in arrivals. The only exception to this trend was Colombia, which recorded a modest 2.4% increase, with 16,622 visitors.

Economic and Structural Pressures

Tourism has long been a vital source of foreign currency and GDP for Cuba, but the sector is now facing considerable challenges. The country is experiencing its fifth consecutive year of economic recession, with a reported GDP decline of 1.1% in 2024. Cuban officials attribute these struggles to ongoing U.S. sanctions, stricter tracking of financial transactions, and restrictions on international payments, all of which have disrupted the flow of money to suppliers. On top of this, a severe energy crisis and diminishing international air links have further strained the tourism industry.

When comparing current trends to the pre-pandemic years, the difference is stark. In 2018 and 2019, Cuba welcomed over 4 million visitors annually, partly due to a temporary diplomatic thaw with the United States. Since then, the numbers have consistently fallen: Cuba welcomed 2.4 million tourists in 2023, 2.2 million in 2024, and approximately 1.6 million in 2022. Meanwhile, other Caribbean destinations like Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Cancún in Mexico have enjoyed tourism booms as the world recovers from the pandemic, highlighting Cuba’s struggle to regain its former popularity.

External Criticism and Domestic Struggles

The U.S. State Department has weighed in on Cuba’s situation, claiming that the country’s internal issues play a more significant role in its economic struggles than external sanctions. A statement from the Office of Western Affairs attributed Cuba’s ongoing crises to “decades of corruption, administrative failures, and power structures designed to maintain authoritarian regimes.” The U.S. agency also criticized Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro for perpetuating these challenges. The statement urged the international community to denounce the lack of freedoms and poor governance in both Cuba and Venezuela.

A Bleak Outlook for Cuban Tourism

Cuba’s tourism industry faces a grim future, with declining tourist numbers, continued economic struggles, and infrastructure issues stifling any significant recovery. Despite efforts by the government to revitalize the sector, Cuba remains far from its pre-pandemic tourism highs. While other Caribbean destinations thrive, Cuba risks being left behind unless it can address these ongoing challenges and revamp its appeal to global travelers.