Amidst the collapse of its own tourism sector, the Cuban government has dispatched a team of tourism experts to St. Vincent and the Grenadines—a country currently experiencing unprecedented growth in its tourism industry. A group of eight Cuban tourism specialists has arrived in Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to conduct a month-long technical mission, which includes workshops, advising sessions, and experience exchanges.
The Cuban Embassy in this Caribbean nation announced that the mission aims to "share best practices" from Cuba’s tourism sector with their counterparts in St. Vincent.
The Irony of a Struggling Mentor
So far in 2025, Cuba's tourism rates have plummeted by nearly 30% compared to the previous year. Airline connectivity has drastically reduced, with carriers like Edelweiss and Condor halting flights to the island due to low demand. The state airline, Cubana de Aviación, is barely operating with just two planes.
Many hotel pools remain empty, power outages are frequent, and food shortages even affect services at hotels catering to foreign visitors. On top of that, the deplorable conditions of the healthcare system have endangered tourists, such as a Canadian woman who complained of negligent treatment after fracturing her hip in Havana.
Yet, the Cuban government continues to rely on tourism as an economic driver, investing in large-scale projects like the K Tower in El Vedado, while planes arrive half-empty and traditional hotels fall into disrepair.
St. Vincent Outpaces Its Mentor
While Cuba exports "experts," St. Vincent and the Grenadines is celebrating record-breaking figures. In 2024 alone, the Caribbean nation saw a 25.6% increase in overnight tourist arrivals, surpassing 100,000 visitors for the first time. Their average tourism growth rate over the past decade has been 30.8%, the highest in the region, according to state-run Prensa Latina.
This boom is attributed to investments in new international flights, global hotel chains like Sandals and Holiday Inn, the development of nautical tourism, and a policy of orderly growth. In 2025, they plan to open a Marriott hotel with 250 additional rooms.
So, what does Cuba contribute to this scenario? A delegation of technicians sent by a regime that hasn't met its tourism targets in the last three years and is facing one of the worst economic crises in its recent history.
This situation is no coincidence. Miguel Díaz-Canel himself has traveled to St. Vincent and the Grenadines twice in less than two years. His most recent visit was in March 2024, accompanied by his wife Lis Cuesta, to attend the CELAC Summit. The close relationship between the two governments now translates into cooperation that paradoxically positions Cuba as a provider of expertise in a sector where it is faltering.
Understanding Cuba's Tourism Paradox
Why is Cuba sending tourism experts to St. Vincent?
Cuba is sending tourism experts to St. Vincent as part of a mission to share best practices in tourism, despite the challenges its own industry faces.
How has the tourism industry in Cuba been affected recently?
The tourism industry in Cuba has seen a significant decline, with a drop of nearly 30% in 2025 compared to the previous year, reduced airline connectivity, and severe shortages affecting hotel services.
What factors are contributing to St. Vincent's tourism success?
St. Vincent's tourism success is due to strategic investments in new international flights, partnerships with global hotel chains, development of nautical tourism, and a well-planned growth strategy.