The Cuban tourism industry has suffered a catastrophic collapse, with arrivals from the United States and Europe plummeting after Washington tightened travel restrictions. The island, which relies on tourism for 10% of its GDP, saw a 40% drop in visitor numbers this month compared to last year. British tour operators, including TUI and Jet2, have cancelled packages to Havana and Varadero, citing a lack of demand and rising costs.
The ripple effects are already being felt in the UK: small travel agencies specialised in Cuba are shedding jobs, and the British Travel Association warns that holidaymakers could face higher prices for alternative long-haul destinations as capacity tightens. Meanwhile, the Cuban government blames the US embargo, which was reimposed by the Trump administration. Havana says the policy has choked off dollar inflows, pushing locals further into poverty.
For the first time in decades, there are reports of shortages of basic goods like rice and cooking oil in tourist hubs. The crisis has also hit local workers: thousands of hotel and restaurant staff have been laid off. The UK’s Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, warning Britons of reduced consular services.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, Lisa Nandy, called the situation a ‘humanitarian disaster’ and urged the government to push for a lifting of the embargo. But with the US election looming, analysts say a change is unlikely. The collapse of Cuban tourism is a stark reminder of how geopolitical force majeure can shatter the livelihoods of ordinary people.
For the British holiday industry, it means a scramble for alternatives in already stretched markets like the Canaries and Tunisia. The true cost will be paid by the Cuban waiters, guides, and cleaners who now face an uncertain future.
