The Canadian airline Air Transat became the first airline in the country to connect to Havana's Jose Martí International Airport from this northern country in 2023. Although Canada is the first country to send tourists to Cuba, up to this point there has been no direct connection to the Cuban capital.
According to the Havana airport's social networks, on the night of this Friday, December 15, “the Canadian airline Air Transat was received in the said terminal with a “warm welcome” and established the route from Montreal to Havana and thus the “only connection with Canada from the country’s capital.”
“With this airline, the operations of our flight terminals are increasing this winter season. “So far, Transat will have two weekly arrival frequencies: Monday and Friday and departure Tuesday and Saturday,” the online report said.
Canada has several flight connections with Cuba, but also with “sun and sand” tourist centers such as Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Santamaría or Holguín, with Guardalavaca beach being one of the favorites of Canadians. Also to Cayo Largo del Sur, on the Island of Youth.
Canadian Tourism in Cuba
According to official data, tourism in Cuba has failed to recover from the social and health crisis that has hit the country since 2020. Despite the government's efforts to invest in hotel infrastructure and promote the island as a safe destination, the figures suggest that the arrival of international visitors is well below pre-pandemic levels.
In 2019, Cuba received more than 4 million tourists, while in 2023 barely more than 2 million were expected, although this is not true.
The main markets for tourists to Cuba are Canada, the United States, Russia, Spain, Germany and France, but all recorded significant declines compared to last year.
The tourism sector, which represents an important source of income for the Cuban economy, continues to face major challenges in its reactivation.