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Cuban Tourism Benefits from Russian Visitors

The Cuban tourism industry experienced a slight increase in the first half of the year, primarily driven by bookings from Russia. However, the overall occupancy rate remains significantly below pre-coronavirus levels, insufficient to address the severe lack of foreign currency. While there has been gradual improvement, meeting the goal of attracting 3.2 million visitors by the end of 2024 remains uncertain. This uncertainty is largely due to multiple sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump and continued by his successor, Joe Biden, which have impacted the tourism sector.

According to the National Office for Statistics and Information (ONEI), 1.3 million international guests arrived on the Caribbean Island by the end of June, an increase of 11,300 compared to the previous year. The slower-than-expected growth is partly attributed to reduced flight capacities from Europe. For several years, Canada has been the top source market for travelers to Cuba, with nearly 580,000 visitors.

The second largest group of visitors are Cubans living abroad. Notably, tourists from Russia saw the largest increase, with just under 113,000 guests by June, marking a 67 percent rise compared to almost 68,000 visitors during the same period last year. This makes Russia a promising force behind the modest recovery, alongside Canada.

Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García emphasized the island’s proactive steps to ensure a steady flow of tourists. The expectation of 200,000 holidaymakers from Russia this year and up to half a million in the coming years demonstrates the government’s commitment. Since December, conditions for this influx have been improved, including the acceptance of Russian Mir credit cards in Cuba. Cuban banks are currently considering issuing Russian Mir payment cards.

Additionally, Havana is anticipating increased tourism from China. In early May, García announced that Chinese citizens would no longer require visas to visit Cuba. Later, direct flights between Beijing and the Cuban capital resumed with two flights per week.

In the stagnant European market, Cuba aims to attract visitors interested in its unique landscapes, culture, and beauty, offering an experience beyond sun and beach tourism. The goal is to position itself as an archipelago of peace, health, and security. However, the current crisis, mainly due to US sanctions, continues to impact the sector the government hopes to boost.