During 2008, Cuba saw an increase in visitor numbers compared to previous year’s statistics. The first quarter from January to April 2008 saw the 1millionth tourist visit the Caribbean island, a 15% increase in relation to 2007.

Cuban workers standards have heightened which has lead the tourism market to stabilize, for 4 uninterrupted years Cuba has seen 2 million tourists visit the country.

By the end of 2008 Cuba recorded 2.3 million tourists mainly from Eastern Europe and Canada, an increase of 2% in holidaymakers in comparison to previous years. While Cuba saw much devastation in 2008 by hurricanes between August and November, the tourism sector still saw growth according to Manuel Marrero, Cuban Tourism Minister.

The estimate for 2009 is to see continued tourism growth; approximately 2.5 million international tourists including increasing profits is expected by the Cuban Tourism Authority, another record-breaking year for the ever popular Caribbean island.