Cuba’s tourism industry is facing a dramatic collapse, with international visitor numbers falling more than 60% this year.

New government figures show approximately 419,000 international visitors travelled to Cuba between January and July 2026, down 62% compared with roughly 1.1 million during the same period last year.

What Happened to Cuba’s Tourists?

The decline comes as Cuba struggles with severe fuel shortages, blackouts and shortages of basic necessities.

Major hotel operators have suspended operations, while airlines have cancelled service because of fuel shortages. The Canadian government currently advises Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to Cuba and says all Canadian airlines have suspended service to the island until further notice.

That Canadian connection is particularly significant. Canada has historically been one of Cuba’s most important sources of tourists, especially for destinations like Varadero and Cayo Coco.

The difference from Cuba’s tourism peak is staggering.

In 2019, before the pandemic, the country welcomed approximately 4.3 million international visitors and generated around $3 billion annually from tourism.

With tourism providing Cuba with desperately needed foreign currency, a 62% collapse isn’t simply bad news for hotels and resorts.

It’s another major blow to an economy already facing one of its most difficult periods in decades.