HAVANA.- Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel announced this Friday that the regime is evaluating new investment modalities in the tourism sector with the aim of taking advantage of the island’s hotel infrastructure, affected by the partial or total departure of several international chains and by the collapse of foreign tourism.
During an intervention on state television, Díaz-Canel stated that the authorities are seeking to incorporate “new actors” into the sector to manage tourist facilities that have been left in an uncertain situation after recent changes in the market.
“We must go to new modalities, with new actors, in tourism to exploit all that infrastructure that we have,” said the Cuban leader when referring to one of the proposals that the regime plans to present in July before the National Assembly of People’s Power.
Exit of foreign hotel companies hits the sector
The announcement comes weeks after important international hotel chains, including Meliá, Iberostar, Blue Diamond and Archipelago International, announced their total or partial departure from Cuba.
The decision was linked to the Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump’s administration on May 1, which contemplates sanctions for people and companies that do business with entities controlled by the Cuban State.
As a consequence, the operations of dozens of hotels owned by the Cuban regime, many of them managed by Gaviota, a business conglomerate linked to the Armed Forces, were subject to a restructuring of their management models.
Regime explores new business schemes
Given this scenario, Díaz-Canel pointed out that the authorities are working on formulas to redefine the real estate business associated with tourism and attract new investors.
He also indicated that the regime analyzes different mechanisms than those traditionally used by large foreign hotel chains, although he did not offer details about possible partners or the conditions of participation.
The statements reflect the concern of the Cuban authorities about the loss of one of the main sources of foreign currency income for the island’s economy.
Tourism registers a historic drop
The crisis in the tourism sector, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, has deepened in recent months due to the reduction of flights, the departure of international operators and the deterioration of domestic economic conditions.
According to data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), between January and April 328,608 international tourists arrived in Cuba, which represents a drop of 55.8% compared to the same period in 2025.
In April alone, 30,551 foreign visitors arrived on the island, a figure that reflects the deterioration of an activity that for decades constituted one of the main sources of income for the regime.
The collapse of tourism adds to an economic crisis marked by blackouts, food shortages, inflation and a growing migration of Cubans abroad.
The drop in tourist revenue represents a new challenge for Havana, which is trying to contain economic deterioration while social unrest persists on the island.
SOURCE: With information from EFE/DLA Editorial Team
