In brief
Cuban tourism suffered a 65.1% hit in the first nine months of 2026, with 477,707 visitors marking an 890,140‑visitor decline. Analysts cite strengthened U.S. sanctions, suspended air routes and the exit of major hotel chains. In response, the Cuban government approved a broad set of economic reforms aimed at restoring the sector.
Cuba’s tourism sector contracted sharply last year, as the island received only 477,707 international visitors from January to September 2026, down 65.1% from the same period in 2025, official figures released by the National Office of Statistics and Information show.
The drop amounts to 890,140 fewer arrivals, with Canada’s visitor flow falling 430,460—the largest single source market—while arrivals from Russia slipped by 67,205 and visits by Cubans living abroad fell 60,081. U.S. tourists also saw a decline of 42,984.
Experts point to hardened U.S. sanctions, the suspension of multiple air routes, hotel closures and the withdrawal of international operators as the main drivers of the downturn. A July statement by the Cuban government confirmed that U.S. pressure had prompted seven international hotel chains, including Spain’s Melia, Iberostar and Barcelo, to pull out of the island.
In June, Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power approved a package of 176 economic and social reform measures aimed at liberalising the economy, with provisions intended to attract new investors and broaden private‑sector participation in tourism.
