Havana/Canada and Russia have practically evaporated from tourism in Cuba, while Cubans living abroad are in first place. In August, only 755 Canadians and 189 Russians arrived, according to the latest data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (Onei), compared to 47,857 and 8,463, respectively, in the same month of 2025. On the other hand, 14,956 Cubans from the diaspora traveled, 49% of the 30,490 international visitors received during the month.
Arrivals of Canadians fell by 98.4% compared to August 2025 and those of Russians fell by 97.8%, a sign of the extent to which the collapse of two of Cuba’s main tourist markets has accelerated. The diaspora also decreased, although much less: in August of last year, 20,205 Cubans residing abroad had arrived, so the year-on-year decrease was 26%.
Until August, 103,481 Cubans residing abroad arrived, compared to 160,751 in the same period of 2025, 35.6% less. That they still represent almost half of total arrivals in August gives a measure of the collapse of traditional tourist markets.
June also coincided with the total or partial withdrawal of several large foreign hotel companies from establishments linked to Gaviota, the chain controlled by Gaesa.
Something similar had already happened in June. So, 13,194 of the 28,100 international visitors received were Cubans residing outside the Island, also almost half. That month also coincided with the total or partial withdrawal of several large hotel companies foreigners from establishments linked to Gaviota, the chain controlled by Gaesa. Iberostar left the 12 hotels it managed for Gaviota, Archipelago International – operator of the Aston brand – also broke its relationship with the conglomerate and Meliá completed its withdrawal from Cuba on July 24, by ending the management and marketing of all its establishments in the country, after the departure of the Canadian company.
Canada continues to appear as the first issuing market in the accumulated year, with 128,400 visitors until August, but almost all of them arrived in the first months of the year. In July, Onei counted 127,645 visitors from that country, so in August only 755 Canadians arrived in Cuba.
The figure contrasts with the 526,239 Canadians who had traveled to the Island between January and August 2025. The market has therefore shrunk by 75.6% in one year and is about to disappear completely.
Already in March, before the withdrawal of the hotel chains, the deterioration of both markets was evident
Something similar happens with Russia. The accumulated number increased from 21,374 visitors in July to 21,563 in August, a difference of only 189 people. In the first eight months of 2025 80,653 Russians had arrived, so the accumulated drop is 73.3%.
Already in March, before the withdrawal of the hotel chains, the deterioration of both markets was evident. That month they only arrived 511 Canadians and 249 Russiansafter the two countries had led arrivals at the beginning of the year. Five months later, the Russian flow is even smaller and the Canadian flow barely exceeds that figure by a few hundred.
The lack of air connections helps explain the collapse. After Cuban authorities warned in February that there was no fuel available At their airports, all Canadian and Russian airlines suspended their flights to the Island. American companies, on the other hand, have maintained their routes: American Airlines continues to be the one with the greatest connectivity from the United States, Southwest continues to operate and Delta, although it reduced its frequencies, maintains the connection between Miami and Havana.
The general result for the month also does not show signs of recovery. Cuba received 30,490 international visitors, compared to 135,501 in August 2025, a loss of 105,011 people and a year-on-year drop of 77.5%. The figure is also below the 32,272 registered in July and just above the 28,100 in June.
