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After Rough Year for Tourism, More Americans Are Traveling to Cuba Again

Dec. 11, 2018
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3 min read
View of Havana city, Cuba.
After Rough Year for Tourism, More Americans Are Traveling to Cuba Again
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After a rough year filled with hurricanes and travel restrictions from foreign countries, Cuba's tourism sector is finally beginning to bounce back — most notably with American tourists.

Data from the Cuban Tourism Ministry shows that the numbers of US visitors to Cuba, though still in decline as compared to when the island first opened up to them, are starting to climb upward again.

US travelers to Cuba in September 2018 reached a total of 460,646 tourists, according to Reuters, which reviewed the statistics from the tourism ministry. That figure is still down 8.8% year-over-year, but it's a major uptick when compared to the 24% year-over-year decline recorded in June 2018.

The recent rebound in US visitors is a good sign for Cuba's tourism growth, which is still working to overcome recent hardships. In 2017 the Caribbean island nation faced dual difficulties in attracting American tourists: One being Hurricane Irma, which slammed into Cuba in September 2017; The other being diplomatic sanctions for Cuba and travel restrictions for US travelers implemented by US President Donald Trump in June 2017. These restrictions re-imposed many of the travel restrictions that former US President Barack Obama lifted during his administration and made it more difficult for US tourists to visit Cuba.

As recently as November, the Trump administration was adding names to a blacklist of tourist attractions, which seemed to be dampening US tourism there.

The large majority of American travelers visited Cuba on a cruise ship, a popular option as the cruise companies sort out difficult logistics and legal footwork in the wake of the Trump administration's restrictions. September's number of US tourists that came to Cuba via cruise was twice that for the same time in 2017.

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On the other hand, 222,000 Americans flew to the island in September to stay in hotels there. That's a 42% drop year-over-year, and explains why many US airlines have been cutting their service to Cuba.

Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said in November that despite the first half of 2018's lagging tourism statistics, this year's numbers are on par to beat 2017's, topping 4.7 million visitors. Next year, he predicts the amount of visitors to clock in at 5.1 million total.

Collin Laverty, president of US tour group Cuban Educational Travel, told Reuters his bookings were up 25% in 2018. As for the nation's uptick in tourism, Laverty says: “You can feel it in the streets if you walk around Old Havana.”

Featured image by Getty Images

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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