Cuban Regime Banks on Domestic Tourism as Summer Hotel Openings Announced

The Cuban Ministry of Tourism, via state agency Havanatur SA, has released an infographic detailing the hotels that will be operational in Havana and Varadero for the summer of 2026. This move is seen as an attempt to project a semblance of tourist normalcy following the mass exodus of international hotel chains due to U.S. sanctions targeting the military conglomerate GAESA.

According to the official list, Havana will host 18 properties including the Tryp Habana Libre, Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Meliá Habana, Meliá Cohiba, Packard, Inglaterra, Iberostar Parque Central, and Chateau Miramar. Meanwhile, Varadero will offer 22 hotels such as Barceló Solymar, Meliá Varadero, Meliá Las Américas, Iberostar Selection Varadero, Sol Palmeras, and Brisas del Caribe.

The infographic itself subtly acknowledges the incomplete nature of the offerings, noting that "additional complementary properties will be added progressively."

Impact of International Hotel Chain Departures

This announcement follows the withdrawal of several major global hotel chains from Cuba. Meliá Hotels International ceased operations in 15 GAESA-affiliated hotels as of June 3, while Iberostar stopped managing 12 properties starting June 1.

Further exits included Blue Diamond Resorts, a Canadian company managing 62 hotels and over 12,900 rooms, and the Indonesian group Archipelago International, which had been operating the Grand Aston and five other Aston-branded hotels.

The catalyst for these moves was Executive Order 14404, signed by Donald Trump on May 1, 2026. This order expanded secondary sanctions on companies linked to GAESA, with a compliance deadline of June 5 set by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Government Response to Public Concerns

In Facebook comments, Havanatur SA addressed public uncertainty sparked by media coverage. When asked if Iberostar had left Cuba, the agency clarified: "No, sir. They only stopped operating facilities connected to the Cuban entity sanctioned by the U.S. government."

The state agency also admitted that some confusion arose from the manner in which the information was reported: "The information has generated many doubts because the headlines announced the changes as total, which was not the case."

Domestic Tourism as a Lifeline

The regime is now pinning its hopes on domestic tourism to avert an unprecedented collapse. In 2025, only 1.8 million international tourists visited Cuba, the lowest number since 2002 and less than half of the record 4.7 million in 2018.

The first four months of 2026 saw a 55.8% drop compared to the same period the previous year, with just 328,608 visitors. Hotel occupancy rates have languished between 10-13% so far this year, levels at which no hotel is profitable.

The Grand Aston La Habana hotel temporarily closed during the week of June 23 due to fuel shortages following Archipelago International's exit.

As part of efforts to attract local residents, the regime reopened Brisas del Caribe in Varadero on June 26, offering free vacations for children aged 0-12. Additionally, Transtur launched panoramic routes in Havana for $10 and in Varadero for $5, with free entry for two children per adult, offers valid until August 31.

The underlying issue remains that prices in foreign currency remain out of reach for most Cubans, whose average salary does not exceed $15 to $20 per month, making "domestic tourism" an option only for a privileged few.