American interest in traveling to Cuba is waning, according to a report from Allianz Global Assistance. The study tracked the share of U.S. travelers who are likely to plan a trip to the island nation.
The year 2019 marked Havana’s 500th anniversary, and the city expected roughly 5.1 million international visitors for the milestone. Yet the survey found 90 percent of Americans were unaware of the anniversary. Of those who knew about the celebrations, 6.8 percent said it made them more likely to visit Cuba, while 2 percent said it made them less likely to go.
Overall interest in visiting Cuba has declined since U.S.-Cuba travel restrictions were relaxed in 2017. In that year, about 5 percent of respondents said they were likely to visit the island; the portion who said they were somewhat likely fell from 19 percent in 2017 to 12 percent in the most recent survey.
Allianz suggests the drop in interest is partly driven by confusing and uncertain travel rules. The survey found that more than 60 percent of U.S. travelers do not understand the current restrictions governing travel to Cuba, a factor that can discourage planning and bookings.
“Our survey indicates that Cuba scores highly for its resorts and beaches, as well as its cultural attractions, with 34 percent of Americans listing one of these as the top reason for their interest in visiting the island,” said Daniel Durazo, director of communications for Allianz Global Assistance, USA.
In short, while Cuba remains appealing for its natural beauty and cultural offerings, public awareness of major events like Havana’s 500th anniversary is low, and unclear travel policies appear to be suppressing American travel interest.