Cuba’s tourism sector is in severe trouble, with the island’s prime minister saying nearly three-quarters of hotels are shut and the industry is operating at “almost total paralysis.” In statements reported by multiple outlets, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero attributes the collapse to U.S. sanctions and shortages of fuel, which together have constrained travel, operations, and supplies for hotels and related services. Marrero also says the scale of the problem is being detailed for the first time. He reports that seven international hotel chains—responsible for about half of all hotel rooms—have left Cuba. The reports also describe tourism as a major source of foreign currency for the country and as a substantial employer, citing that the sector previously supported more than 300,000 jobs. With the closure of many hotels and the withdrawal of international operators, the sector’s decline represents a major shift in Cuba’s economy and employment landscape as the crisis deepens in 2024.