Cuba’s tourism plummets under US pressure and energy embargo
A man pushes a cart filled with water containers while another man rests on a sofa on a street in Havana, Cuba, on Aug. 27 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa photo)
Cuba’s tourism has nosedived since the U.S. has ramped up its pressure on the island this year, threatening international tour operators and imposing an energy embargo.
Tourism on the island declined by 62 percent from January to July of this year compared to the same period in 2025, according to official figures that highlighted the enormous drop in the island’s strategic sector.
A report published by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) indicated on Sept. 1 that 419,000 visitors have arrived in Cuba so far in 2026, compared to 1.1 million during the same period in 2025.
