Cuba welcomed nearly 1.5 million international visitors between January and July of this year, marking an impressive 178.4% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2022, as reported by the National Office of Statistics and Information (Onei).
Although this rise is noteworthy, it suggests that reaching the government’s goal of 3.5 million international visitors for 2023 might be challenging, given that the first seven months, including the peak season, haven’t hit the halfway mark.
Canada leads the list of tourist origins with 630,041 visitors, followed by the United States (99,012), Russia (87,509), Spain (48,762), Germany (41,878), and France (36,549).
Each of these countries showed yearly increases ranging from 115% to 240%.
In addition, Cuban expatriates contributed 210,019 to the international traveler count, and residents made 431,580 trips, bringing the total count for the period to approximately 1.93 million people.
Tourism, a major economic driver for Cuba, plays a pivotal role in the island’s economic revival, especially amid its ongoing economic challenges and scarcities.
Tourism is a significant contributor to the country’s GDP and a crucial foreign exchange source.
In 2022, Cuba attracted 1.6 million international travelers, falling slightly short of its revised target of 1.7 million.
Before the pandemic’s onset, annual tourist numbers ranged between 4 to 5 million.
Despite the ambitious goal of 3.5 million international tourists in 2023, Cuban authorities remain committed to achieving this target.
This contrasts with nearby destinations like Punta Cana and Cancún, which have been experiencing record-breaking visitor numbers post-pandemic.