Cuba’s tourism sector struggles to recover amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. sanctions

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Cuba’s tourism sector continues to struggle in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the tightening of the U.S. sanctions, significantly affecting the island’s economy.

Despite some signs of recovery in 2023, with increased visitors from countries like Canada and Russia, the overall numbers remain far below pre-pandemic levels.

The Cuban government has been heavily reliant on tourism as a vital source of foreign currency.

However, the pandemic’s impact, combined with the U.S. sanctions—particularly those introduced during the Trump administration, which restrict Americans from staying in Cuban hotels or purchasing Cuban goods like tobacco and alcohol—has severely hampered the sector’s ability to bounce back.

These sanctions continue to limit access to the U.S. market, one of the most significant potential sources of tourism revenue for the island.

Moreover, economic challenges in Cuba, including shortages of essential goods, blackouts, and a lack of fuel, have also deterred tourists. While efforts are underway to promote tourism through partnerships with countries like Russia and to offer niche travel experiences, such as health tourism, Cuba still faces substantial hurdles in fully reviving its tourism industry​.

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