The recession worldwide has resulted in changes in visitor numbers from various countries, according to People's Daily Online. Canadian tourists, who had been the largest group, decreased by 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2010. The number of Italians fell by 6 percent. There were also 5.5 percent fewer French tourists and 4 percent fewer German visitors.
Still, the total number of visitors to Cuba rose by 1.2 percent in the first five months of 2010 due to more overseas Chinese and Russian visitors, according to People's Daily Online. Numbers should rise even more if in the United States the Obama administration loosens travel restrictions.
The Cuban government lacks the resources to upgrade its infrastructure and hotels for a sudden increase of visitors. Up to 3.5 million Americans tourists have been predicted if travel is permitted, but Cuba may only have the capacity for 500,000 Americans, in addition to visitors from other countries, according to Cuba Headlines.
