Cuba Reports 145% Increase In Visitors From US During First Six Months Of 2017

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba (MINREX) reported 284,565 individuals using a United States passport visited the Republic of Cuba during the period 1 January 2017 through 31 May 2017.  

The 284,565 did not include individauls of Cuban descent (meaning having a passport issued by the government of the Republic of Cuba and using that passport to enter/exit the Republic of Cuba) who may also have a United States passport and reside in the United States.

MINREX reported that the 285,565 represented an increase of approximately 145% compared with the same period in 2016.  MINREX reported the value for individuals of Cuban descent increased by approximately 45% compared to the same period in 2016, but did not provide the number of visitors.

During the period 1 January 2016 to 31 May 2016, air services from the United States to the Republic of Cuba remained operational using charter flights.  Regularly-scheduled commercial airline service commenced on 31 August 2016, so date-to-date comparisons need be carefully evaluated.   

In 2016, the total number of visitors to the Republic of Cuba who hold United States passports and/or Cuban passports was 614,433, representing an increase of 34% compared to 2015.

In 2016, the total visitors to the Republic of Cuba who did not hold Republic of Cuba passports was 284,937 compared to 161,233 in 2015.

In 2016, the total visitors to the Republic of Cuba who held Republic of Cuba passports was 329,496 compared with approximately 350,000 in 2015.

According to The Miami Herald, total passengers (United States passport holders and Republic of Cuba passport holders) traveling from Miami International Airport (MIA) to the Republic of Cuba was 588,433 compared to 444,667 in 2015.

According to the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, total passengers arriving and departing for the Republic of Cuba through MIA was 1,029,045 (arrivals- 518,247 & departures- 510,798) in 2016 compared to 808,791 (arrivals- 412,778 & departures- 396,013) in 2015, representing a year-to-year 25% increase in arrivals and 29% increase in departures.

In 2016, United States air carriers requested a combined 3,404,496 seats on an annual basis from the United States to the Republic of Cuba.  In 2016, the Republic of Cuba reported approximately 4,000,000 visitors.  The Republic of Cuba has approximately 66,547 hotel rooms, primarily in the one-star to three-star category based on United States ratings.

In 2016, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded route authorities to eight (8) air carriers for US-HAV routes and seven (7) air carriers for non-US-HAV routes.

For the US-HAV routes, the USDOT awarded 1,242,748 seats on an annual basis.

For the non-US-HAV routes, the USDOT awarded 1,060,148 seats on an annual basis.

The USDOT awarded a total of 2,302,896 seats.

The total number of visitors to the Republic of Cuba in 2016 was 4,035,577 compared to 3,524,779 in 2015.  The Republic of Cuba expects 4,199,977 visitors in 2017.