Cuba’s Hotel Sector Faces Deep Tourism Crisis

Cuba’s tourism industry is facing severe disruption, with roughly three-quarters of its hotels reportedly closed amid fuel shortages and wider economic pressure. International tourist arrivals have fallen 58% this year, while seven global hotel groups that previously managed a significant share of the country’s accommodation inventory have exited the market. The downturn has also affected aviation, with overseas carriers cancelling services following fuel shortages earlier in the year. Tourism employs more than 300,000 people in Cuba and is the country’s second-largest source of foreign exchange. With around 73% of hotels now shuttered, the crisis is putting thousands of hospitality jobs and tourism-linked businesses under pressure.