Tourist arrivals in Cuba down by 7 percent

HAVANA, Cuba, April 24 (acn) The number of arrivals of foreign visitors to Cuba decreased by 7 percent in the first quarter of this year if compared to same period of 2017, according to tourist authorities, who still expect to receive 2 million tourists by late May.

Cuba expects to receive 5 million foreign vacationers this year despite the ravaging impact of hurricane Irma last September, said Tourism Ministry´s Marketing Director Michel Bernal in statements to local television.
The official said the low came after the decision of many travelers to not come to the island following the damage caused by hurricane Irma.
Over the past three months, Canada has been the leading source of tourists to Cuba, followed by Cuban residing abroad, whose number has increased in nearly 21 percent compared to last year.
Next on the list are US visitors, who are banned from coming on tourist visas due to the US economic blockade of Cuba. The number of US visitors decreased by late 2017 following the impact by hurricane Irma and the travel alerts issued by the US State Department based on alleged incidents concerning US diplomats in Havana.
In all, one million 52 thousand Cubans residing in the US and Americans visited the island last year, taking the second place after Canada in terms of visitors to Cuba.
The Tourist official said that countries like France, the U.K., Italy, Spain and Germany look interesting sources of tourist to Cuba for the current year.
In 2017, Cuba received the record number of 4,689,898 foreign vacationers, the official recalled and added that the upcoming Cuban Tourism Fair will take place May 2-5 at Cayo Santa Maria, on the northern Cuban coast, with the U.K. as guest country.