Havana Tourism

Before the revolution in 1959 – and especially between 1915 and 1930 – tourism was a major source of currency in Cuba (second only to sugar and snuff). Havana, where profligate attitude prevailed in all matters relating to pleasure, was the most popular destination in the Caribbean, especially for Americans, who sought to evade the restrictions of Prohibition at the time.

After experiencing a drastic decrease in the flow of tourists to the island (caused mainly by the Great Depression, the end of Prohibition in the United States and the Second World War), Havana began again to receive visitors in numbers significant to the 50’s, when U.S. organized crime took over much of the entertainment industries and tourism in the country.

It was the time when the Cuban foreign minister used to boast that Havana was spending so much money on holidays like any major city in the world. It happens that the island at that time was the most secure link in the chain of drugs controlled by the mob, whose final destination was the United States. For others, the sick, justified reputation of being a destination of sensuality and dolce vita had earned the nickname “the Las Vegas Latino”.

It was the traditional association of tourism with the world of gambling and prostitution that caused the revolutionary government established in 1959 to see it as a social evil to be eliminated completely. Many bars and gambling houses were closed after the triumph of the revolution and a new government institution, the National Institute of Tourist Industry, took control of many locals (previously affordable only for the wealthy) and put them within reach of the population.

With the deterioration of relations between Cuba and the United States and imposing a trade embargo against the island in 1961, tourism experienced a drastic drop in volume and did not recover remotely until 1989. The revolutionary government in general and Fidel Castro in particular, were initially opposed to any significant development of the tourism industry, linking this area to debauchery and criminal activities of yesteryear.

In the late ’70s, however, Castro changed its position and in 1982, the Cuban government issued a decree on foreign investment which opened several sectors, including tourism.
With the creation of signatures supported by foreign investment (such as Cubanacan, established in 1987), Cuba began to attract capital for hotel developments and managed to increase the number of tourists from 130,000 (in 1980) to 326,000 (the end of that decade).

As a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union and its allies in Eastern Europe in 1989 and early ’90s, Cuba was plunged into a severe economic crisis and found itself in dire need of foreign exchange. The solution again was to turn to tourism and the Cuban government invested substantial sums in the sector to attract visitors to the country. Because of these huge investments, by 1995 this industry had become the biggest source of income for Cuba. At present there are many luxury hotels both in the historic area, and on the beach and Miramar.

Havana has traditions, museums and institutions that are true bastions for humanity, which make it a prioritized destination in Latin America and the city Caribe. It currently receives over 1 million tourists a year.

Hotels (5 stars): Melia Cohiba, Hotel Nacional, Habana Libre, NH Parque Central, Hotel Melia Habana, Hotel Ambos Mundos.
Hotels (4 star): Hotel Palco Hotel Plaza, Shipowners of Santander, Riviera, Hotel Neptuno Triton Hotel Vedado, Hotel El Bosque, Hotel Panorama, Hotel Melia Habana, Hotel Commodore.