Tourism in Cuba falls to historical lows in the first quarter of the year

[Nino]

Historical low figures - Only 6 % of tourists compared to last year arrived in Cuba ...

https://www.14ymedio.com/cuba/turismo-cae-minimos-historicos-Cuba-trimestre_0_3083091671.html

Tourism in Cuba falls to historical lows in the first quarter of the year

Between January and March 2021, 76,913 travelers arrived, only 6.2% of those who arrived in the same period last year

14ymedio, Havana | April 26, 2021

The worst forecasts for tourism on the island are already a reality. The Cuban Statistics and Information Office (ONEI) published this Monday that between January and March 2021 76,913 travelers arrived, representing only 6.2% of those who arrived in the same period last year (1,230,934) , more than a million less.

 

Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the island maintains flight restrictions for most countries, especially Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the United States, places from which the Cuban community travels abroad.

 

Tourism, the third source of income in Cuba behind the sale of medical services and remittances, had already suffered a decline due, in part, to the United States sanctions. In 2019, 436,000 fewer tourists came to the island than in 2018, according to official figures, and the hundreds of hotels in the territory, controlled by the military, had six out of ten empty beds during the year. However, it reported 2.6 billion dollars to the Island.

 

Despite the adverse figures this year and the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought down the arrival of tourists to the Island and to most destinations worldwide, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said in a meeting with executives that the Tourism will continue to be the locomotive of the Cuban economy.

 

To try to reactivate the sector, the Cuban government opened two of its tourist poles to Russian tourists, a decision criticized by citizens. Russia is one of the countries with the lowest vaccination rate against covid-19 worldwide (not even 5% of its population is vaccinated, according to official figures).

 

This is where the majority of international travelers who have arrived on the island this year come from (21,467 visitors), followed by 7,313 Cubans residing abroad and 4,026 Germans, among which the German parliamentarian Karin Strenz stands out, who died a few weeks ago in a flight from the Varadero resort. To travel to Cuba, tourists must have a negative result in the PCR test printed on paper and dated 72 hours before arrival, and once they land on the island, undergo other similar tests.

 

 

[Meesterjojo]

I recently read an article about folks stuck in Mexico during this pandemic. Testing positive and unable to return to the US. Rough. Can only imagine what getting stuck in Cuba would be like. US doesn't want you, cuba doesn't want you. 

[Nino]

26 minutes ago, Meesterjojo said:

I recently read an article about folks stuck in Mexico during this pandemic. Testing positive and unable to return to the US. Rough. Can only imagine what getting stuck in Cuba would be like. US doesn't want you, cuba doesn't want you. 

You'd have 2 nasty choices in Cuba - take the "tourist" quarantine that milks your wallet or take the "Cuban" quarantine in a camp that will milk your resolve ( but you don't have a choice being a Yuma (foreigner) .... 😞

[SignalJoe]

7 hours ago, Nino said:

This is where the majority of international travelers who have arrived on the island this year come from (21,467 visitors), followed by 7,313 Cubans residing abroad and 4,026 Germans, among which the German parliamentarian Karin Strenz stands out, who died a few weeks ago in a flight from the Varadero resort. To travel to Cuba, tourists must have a negative result in the PCR test printed on paper and dated 72 hours before arrival, and once they land on the island, undergo other similar tests.

 

 

This is the only reason I haven't been back yet.  That test at the airport in Cuba requires the traveler to quarantine while awaiting the results, which takes about 5 days.  Not looking to spend half my time on the island hiding waiting for the Cuban bureaucracy to produce test results.