"For decades, Cuba's tourism sector has enjoyed a reputation as an "economic locomotive" a term used by authorities who saw it as the lifeblood of the Caribbean island country's economy. But the industry has been in decline since its 2018 peak, and the U.S. government's squeeze on Cuba's oil supply has pushed the nation's most crucial industry closer to its breaking point."
"As a result, Canadian, Russian and European airlines have suspended flights and resorts have shuttered, staunching the flow of international visitors. Without them, Cuba might not be able to survive. In 2024, the country had 2.2 million visitors, down more than 50 per cent from the 4.7 million tourists it welcomed in 2018. Some experts say Cuba now faces its worst economic crisis since the aftermath of the 1962 Missile Crisis, and the collapse of its tourism industry could be the economy's death knell."
Cuba's tourism sector was long described as an economic locomotive and served as the island's main revenue source. Visitor numbers have fallen from 4.7 million in 2018 to 2.2 million in 2024, a drop of more than 50 percent. U.S. measures to cut off oil supplies and threats of tariffs on fuel suppliers have limited energy access and prompted airlines from Canada, Russia and Europe to suspend flights. Resort closures and halted international travel have sharply reduced foreign exchange and tourist-dependent income. Experts warn that the ongoing collapse of tourism could trigger Cuba's worst economic crisis since 1962.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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