Cuba reports decline in travelers amid rising migration trends

Cuba has experienced a significant decline in travelers through the first half of 2025. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the island received 699,878 travelers, representing 51.3 percent of the volume seen during the same period in 2024. This constitutes a decrease of 664,522 travelers compared to the previous year. International visitors specifically accounted for 387,591 arrivals, a 39.3 percent share of the total.

The most notable decreases in arrivals originated from Canada, the Cuban diaspora, Russia, and the United States.

Concurrently, migration trends show a record number of Cubans arriving in Uruguay. In 2025, arrival figures have tripled compared to 2024, with the nationality receiving more identity documents than any other group in the country except for Uruguayans. This migration is driven by severe domestic crises in Cuba, including fuel shortages, energy interruptions, and healthcare instability.

In the United States, mass deportation campaigns utilizing artificial intelligence for tracking and surveillance have been implemented. The U.S. administration has allocated approximately $3 billion to encourage state and local cooperation in these operations. This has led to diplomatic discussions between the United States and Uruguay regarding the potential reception of deported individuals.