Cuba Faces U.S. Pressure as Tourists Leave: "It's So Difficult We Can Barely Breathe"

Cuba Faces Economic Blow as U.S. Pressure Cuts Tourism
"Tourism Was the Cornerstone of the Economy... Now It's Hard to Even Breathe"
Trump: "Cuba's Lifeline No Longer Exists"

The tourism industry in Cuba is reportedly taking a direct hit amid the all-out pressure campaign by the Donald Trump administration.

On the 27th (local time), drivers are seen waiting in line to refuel at a gas station in Havana, the capital of Cuba. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News, citing the Associated Press on the 27th (local time), "From January to November 2025, about 1.6 million tourists visited Cuba, a drop of more than half compared to pre-pandemic figures of 4.8 million in 2018 and 4.2 million in 2019." The Cuban government estimates that, due to U.S. sanctions, it lost expected revenue of 8 billion dollars (approximately 11.46 trillion won) from March 2024 to February 2025.

The situation has worsened further this year. The United States attacked Venezuela and ousted President Nicolas Maduro, resulting in a halt to oil shipments. Previously, the two countries had interacted through oil: Cuba provided Venezuela with professionals in the medical, educational, and security sectors, and Venezuela compensated Cuba with crude oil. Even the bodyguards protecting President Maduro at the time of his capture by U.S. forces were reportedly Cuban nationals.

Amid this, the U.S. online media outlet Politico reported on the 23rd that "the Trump administration is considering a maritime blockade to prevent Cuba from importing crude oil in order to further tighten the squeeze on Cuba's economy, which is on the brink of collapse."

Reports have emerged that the Trump administration is considering a maritime blockade plan to prevent Cuba from importing crude oil in order to further tighten the economy of Cuba, which is on the verge of collapse. Reuters Yonhap News

As military and economic tensions with the United States have increased, Cuba's tourism industry has also lost its vitality. According to Yonhap News, Gaspar Villart, who has been driving a double-decker tour bus in Havana, Cuba's capital, for 16 years, expressed concern that the country's economic situation has deteriorated since the U.S. imposed economic sanctions. According to him, when tourism was booming and oil was plentiful, eight double-decker buses operated throughout Havana, each making three trips a day.

However, currently, only four buses are in operation, and even those reportedly depart almost empty. Villart told the Associated Press, "Tourism was the cornerstone of Cuba's economy," and added, "Now, it is so difficult that it feels like we can barely breathe."

On the 27th, President Trump stated, "Cuba is on the brink of failure. It is truly a country very close to collapse," adding, "In the past, it relied on financial and oil support from Venezuela, but that lifeline no longer exists."

Due to this U.S. pressure, there have also been reports that Mexico has suspended crude oil supplies to Cuba. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a regular press conference on the 28th (local time), "There are two ways to supply oil to Cuba: one is through a contract with PEMEX (the state oil company), and the other is for humanitarian reasons." She added, "Humanitarian support for Cuba will continue," and explained, "That support includes the supply of oil."