Declining Tourism Revenues in Cuba Amidst Global Tourism

Overview of Cuba’s Tourism Performance in 2025

While global tourism is hitting new heights this year, Cuba’s tourism sector is experiencing a significant downturn, with revenues falling by nearly 21%. The island's tourist occupancy rate for the first half of 2025 stood alarmingly low at just 21.5%, indicating a troubling decline in visitors and earnings.

Key Statistics Highlighting the Falling Tourism Figures

Indicator	First Half of 2024	First Half of 2025	Change
Tourist Occupancy Rate	28.4%	21.5%	-6.9%
International Visitor Arrivals	1,462,909	1,123,987	-23.2%
Revenue (Cuban pesos)	1,309,655 million	981,856 million	-25%
Revenue (converted to USD)	~2.95 billion	~2.34 billion	-20.6%

International arrivals are down by more than 338,000 tourists compared to last year, with all major source countries seeing fewer visitors. This reduction is coupled with a notable dip in occupancy rates at Cuban accommodations, signaling less demand overall.

Tourist Spending Patterns and Duration

Interestingly, despite the falling numbers, tourists who do visit spend slightly more during their stay. The average spending per visitor increased from $2,253 in the previous year to $2,387 in 2025, suggesting that while fewer tourists are coming, those who do tend to be high spenders or stay shorter periods but with more intense expenditure.