Xi's motorcade arrives at Malaysian PM Residence

President Xi Jinping arrived at the official residence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday afternoon for talks between the two sides.

Xi arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday for a state visit, the second leg of his three-nation Southeast Asia tour.

Cuba's tourism sector has witnessed rapid decline over the past years due to a combination of U.S. sanctions, a deepening economic crisis, and persistent structural challenges.

With its pristine beaches, vibrant culture, rich historical heritage, and famously warm hospitality, Cuba has long stood as a premier Caribbean destination for international travelers.

From 2014 to 2019, Cuba received 3 million to 4 million international visitors annually, which generated about 2.5 million to 2.6 million U.S dollars every year for the economy.

During this peak period, tourists filled historic plazas, dined at local restaurants, browsed artisan souvenir shops, and cruised through Havana's streets in iconic American vintage cars.

However, in recent years, Cuba's tourism sector has contracted significantly. Last year, Cuba received just 1.6 million international tourists, prompting airlines and travel agencies to scale back operations.

Senior tourism expert Jose Perello described the current phase as a difficult transition shaped by external pressures and domestic constraints.

"Tourism depends on other sectors for its development, and the current scenario, caused by foreign pressures, has led to a lack of energy, blackouts, and shortages of jet fuel. All this directly impacts tourism," said Perello.

Despite new hotel openings on the island, many remain under-occupied, while plazas and streets previously packed with tourists no longer see that many visitors. U.S. sanctions, including an oil blockade, have increased flight cancellations from countries like Canada, Spain, Mexico and Russia.

"We need to recover 'the Cuban ambiance' for tourists who come to tour the cities, visit museums, and we must strongly boost our sun-and-beach modality, and find new roads to revive our tourism," said Perello.

Recently, officials announced that this year's International Tourism Fair, scheduled for May 7 to 9, will be held in a hybrid format, allowing for both online and in-person participation. The online event aims to showcase Cuba's cultural assets and coastal attractions while facilitating exchanges with representatives from emerging markets like China.

Despite the decline in Cuba's tourism sector, local authorities insist that the industry can recover from its current downturn.