CUBA WELCOMED ALMOST ONE MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS UP TO AUGUST

From January to August, Cuba welcomed 971,456 international tourists, which represents 807,732 more foreigners than in the same period of 2021, according to data from the National Statistics and Information Office (Onei).

Canada, the Cuban community abroad, and the United States are the three main source markets for international tourists.

International arrivals increased by 593.3% during the first eight months of 2022 and August was the second busiest month (136,565 visitors), after July (152,480). August replaced April, which had achieved outstanding figures following the elimination of PCRs and COVID certificates.

When all travelers are added together, the cumulative total is 1,396,921, 556.1% more than the 251,178 of the previous year.

Of the total number of international visitors, 298,410 came from Canada, far exceeding last year’s 7,366. They were followed by the United States (60,885 vs. 1,872), Spain (55,102 vs. 5,416) and Russia (38,488 vs. 103,022). From Germany, there came 34,898 visitors and from the United Kingdom 30,813.

The Cuban community abroad accounted for 212,485 arrivals, compared to 16,518 in 2021.

Cuba’s goal is to receive 2.5 million tourists this year, more than quadrupling the total figure for 2021: 573,944 tourists. If official forecasts are met, the income to the Cuban economy would be about 1,159 million dollars.

Before the pandemic, in 2018 and 2019, the island had received between 4 and 5 million international tourists a year. Tourism is the second largest source of the gross domestic product (GDP) and the second largest source of foreign currency, following the export of services, mainly in the health sector.