Cuba's Tourism Crisis: Canadian Visitors Offer Hope Amid Decline

In the face of a severe tourism crisis, Cuba has shifted its focus to Canadian visitors as a crucial lifeline. According to OnCuba News, Canada has remained the largest source of tourists to the island, prompting Cuban authorities to develop strategies aimed at revitalizing the tourism sector, which is essential for easing the deep economic crisis affecting the country.

During a recent presentation in Toronto, the Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos Garcia Granda, expressed optimism about welcoming one million Canadian tourists by 2026. He emphasized Cuba's readiness to receive visitors and acknowledged Canada's unwavering support.

Granda also addressed the challenges faced by the tourism sector in recent years, particularly supply chain issues during the winter of 2024 to 2025. To tackle these problems, he highlighted the establishment of new foreign and domestic import companies and Cash and Carry wholesale stores, which are designed to ensure efficient supply chains and maintain high service levels across hotels.

Looking ahead, there is hope that the winter season of 2025 to 2026 will yield positive results for the industry. The Minister also announced the upcoming International Tourism Fair, FITCuba 2026, dedicated to Canada, scheduled for May 6 to 10.

In the meeting, Gihana Galindo, the newly appointed Tourism Counselor in Toronto, noted that conditions for tourism are optimal, with a 25% increase in winter reservations compared to last year. She praised key local tour operators such as Sunwing, WestJet Vacations, and Air Canada Vacations for their vital role in connecting the two nations.

New flight options have been introduced, including additional weekly flights from Toronto to Havana and direct routes to Cienfuegos and Cayo Largo del Sur. Despite these efforts, Cuba's tourism sector is still struggling to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

As of September, arrivals had dropped by nearly 400,000 visitors compared to the previous year. The total number of tourists from January to September was approximately 1.37 million, marking a 20.5% decrease from the same period in 2024.

This downward trend raises concerns about meeting government targets of 2.6 million tourists in 2025, as substantial increases in visitor numbers would be required in the last quarter. With the prospects of reaching even 2.2 million visitors by the end of December looking bleak, the Cuban government faces significant challenges ahead.