US, Cuba and Jamaica Bleed Tourists Ahead of Holiday Season

A 19 October 2026 Travel And Tour World analysis reveals a stark split in Caribbean and Americas tourism. Cuba suffered the most severe contraction, with international visitor arrivals crashing approximately 63% from January to July 2026 compared with the same period in 2025—dropping from 1.13 million to just 420,000—blamed on energy shortages, economic instability, limited airline connectivity and the effects of US sanctions. Jamaica recorded a 24.4% decline in stopover arrivals through May, with tourism revenue falling roughly 18% to $2.5 billion, partly due to infrastructure damage from Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 and a 22% reduction in available airline seats. The United States saw a 5.8% drop in overseas arrivals for January to August 2026, with August alone showing an 11.8% year-on-year decline. European arrivals were especially hard hit: France fell 15.3%, Germany 14.9%, the Netherlands 16.1% and Italy 12.2%. The head of the US Travel Association warned the country was 'the only major country in the world losing visitation.' By contrast, Mexico welcomed 32.68 million visitors, up 3.9%, while the Dominican Republic reached 9.24 million, up 7.5%.