(TAN): Cuba’s tourism sector is facing a drop in visitor numbers after the United States tightened restrictions on travel to the country, reports said.
According to reports, the Obama government had lessened limitations on travel during a brief 2014-2016 agreement, which had resulted in American tourists thronging the island. However, those restrictions were tightened again by the Trump administration leading to nearly 22% drop in U.S. visitors in 2019, as per reports. U.S. tourist inflow in Cuba was also affected after cruises were banned, reports said. The total number of tourists went down by 9.6% last year to 4.3 million, as per reports.
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The numbers could dip further this year following prohibition on U.S. flights to all destinations in Cuba besides Havana that was introduced last December, reports said. The U.S. government will reportedly stop public charter flights from flying to Cuba too.
Handicrafts shop owner in Trinidad, Lourdes Milan reportedly said she had to bring down prices owing to a fall in U.S. tourist numbers, despite which she had not sold a single item by midday, though January is tourist season.
“We are reducing prices to the minimum because there is very little tourism,” she was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Meanwhile, Russian tourists flocked to the country to fill the gap created by the dip in American visitors, reports said.
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As per reports, 125,000 Russian visitors arrived through October, posting over 20% year-on-year increase. Russian visitor numbers to Cuba could reach 200,000 this year, a report said. Also, Russia will reportedly be the guest of honour at Cuba’s tourism fair this year.
To boost tourism, Cuba entered agreements with Russian airlines such as charter airline Royal Flight to Cuban towns of Holguin and Varadero, and Moscow-based leisure carrier Nordwind Airlines to Camagüey, reports said.
