Cuba aims to attract 1 percent of the Chinese population to visit the country, inspired by a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens effective from May, according to Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García Granda.
“Our ultimate goal is to have 1 percent of the Chinese population, which is about 14 million people, visit Cuba,” said García Granda. “We firmly believe that Chinese tourism has the potential to significantly enhance both scale and market engagement, not only in Cuba but also within the broader regional context,” García Granda emphasized.
“Given the geographical distance, we are compelled to explore multi-destination opportunities, ensuring that visitors from China not only experience Cuban culture and heritage but also have the chance to explore other countries in the region,” he added.
As of the end of April, Cuba had welcomed more than 1 million international tourists this year, according to data from the Cuban Ministry of Tourism, and the government expects to receive 3.5 million international tourists in 2024. Identifying China as its target tourism market, the Cuban government announced adopting a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports, effective from May, during the 42nd Cuban International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2024).
Additionally, Air China commenced Beijing-Madrid-Havana flights twice a week starting from May 17. In addition to attracting visitors, the Cuban government is also focusing on enticing Chinese investors to invest in Cuban tourism.