Cuba tourism crisis deepens as major Spanish hotel chains exit

Cuba's tourism sector is facing its sharpest decline in decades after Spanish hotel giants Meliá, Iberostar and Barceló announced the cessation of their operations on the island. The companies, which have operated in Cuba for up to 36 years and managed more than thirty hotels, cite insurmountable legal, financial and operational challenges stemming from tightened U.S. sanctions that now also target third‑country firms doing business with the Cuban state.

Official statistics show that between January and May only 359,491 international visitors arrived, a 58.4% drop year‑on‑year, while tourism revenues fell 42.4% in the first quarter. Energy shortages have forced airlines to cancel or reroute flights, and frequent power outages have disrupted hospitality services. The exit of these major chains removes a key source of hard currency for Cuba and underscores the growing pressure on the island's already fragile economy.

Despite the downturn, Cuban officials are exploring new investment models and private‑capital initiatives to revive the sector, but the immediate outlook remains bleak.