Tourism Drop in Cuba

tourism (now Cuba's main hard-currency earner) dropped by 3.6% last year.

visitors fell to 2.2 million last year from 2.3 million in 2005. it was the first drop since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States hurt the travel industry worldwide in 2002. it was not related to King Fidel's illness or any sense of uncertainty over Cuba's future. of course, should Fidel die, things may change.

rather, more mundane concerns played a part: a revalue of Cuban currency by 8% in 2005 made a vacation in Cuba less of a deal. also, the quality of Cuban tourism has never been great, with cited lack of adequate service for tourists, theft of luggage at airports and hotels, and failure to attend to tourist complaints.