Cuba Tourism Collapse: 1.8 Million Visitors in 2025

The tourism sector in Cuba, considered for decades the “engine of the economy,” ended 2025 with figures confirming a deep and structural crisis. According to the latest data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the country received just 1.81 million international visitors, marking the worst record in over two decades (excluding the pandemic years).

A massive failure in projections

The Cuban government had set an optimistic goal of 2.6 million visitors for 2025. Missing this target by over 800,000 travelers highlights the national infrastructure’s inability to compete in today’s Caribbean.

Factors behind the collapse

The downfall is not the result of a single cause but rather a “perfect storm”:

1. Energy and Fuel Crisis: Massive blackouts and the inability of airports to guarantee jet fuel led airlines like Air Canada to suspend operations.
2. U.S. Sanctions: Tightened restrictions have deterred key markets and complicated logistics.
3. Shortage of Supplies: Local shortages of food and basic goods have affected service quality even in luxury resorts.