Cuba International Tourist Arrivals Declined in 2021

Last year, 573,944 Cuba international tourist arrivals declined by 39.8% compared to the same period in 2020, according to the Cuban National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported global tourism experienced a four percent increase in 2021, compared to 2020.

Russians have become Cuba’s largest tourism market. In 2021, 146,151 tourists from the Russian Federation visited, an increase from the previous year in which only 74,019 Russians vacationed on the Island.

Usually the largest tourism market to Cuba, in 2021 only 68, 944 Canadians visited last year. Travel restrictions within Canada and Cuba during the pandemic accounted for this.

Tourists from other nations included the Cuban diaspora (52,804), Spain (12,520), Germany (9,159), and Italy (5,462).

Cuba officially opened its borders on November 15 as Covid pandemic travel restrictions eased around the world.

According to Our World in Data’s report on Covid vaccination rates, Cuba has one of the highest in the world. As of today, 10,581,126 people, or 93.5% of its 11.3 million population, have received at least one dose of Cuba’s vaccines. Cuba ranks in third place for vaccinations, making it a safer destination for the reestablishment of tourism.

In November, Cuba recorded 51,184 arrivals. In December, the number of international arrivals increased to 101,339 according to the ONEI report.

Cuba expected to greet approximately 2.2 million travelers in 2021. Pandemic conditions and international travel restrictions (which lasted from March of that year to September) affected recovery.

Tourism is a major contributor to the Cuban economy and feeds into other industry sectors. It provides a large number of jobs to Cubans.