Cuba as one of the most popular destinations among German travelers

Interview with Cuban Tourism Counselor in Berlin, Orlando Ramos

By Daily Pérez Guillén

Analysis and statistics indicate that the 2025 outlook for the travel sector in the German market is positive. Bookings for international getaways could reach 9% compared to 2024, with package tours sold for a value of close to 2 billion euros. The data confirms Germany’s influence in driving this sector in Europe and globally.

Long-haul destinations and ocean cruises are among the top choices of a population eager to discover new horizons. Patterns demonstrate German travelers’ interest in sunny, culturally rich places with sustainable solutions on offer.

In this context, a diverse and representative Cuban tourism delegation arrives at ITB Berlin 2025, an essential platform for the generation of business and the consolidation of trade agreements, networking, the establishment of strategic alliances and the presentation of new products.

“For Cuba it is a unique opportunity to present new tourism products and services in the most relevant B2B space of global tourism; carefully designed by our national receptive and hotel groups to increasingly satisfy the interests of potential German and European travelers, in the broadest sense,” states Orlando Ramos, tourism counselor of the Caribbean country, speaking from the German capital.

The island’s entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the event to present new excursions, hotel openings and other extra-hotel offers, with a sustainable approach committed to activities that are friendly to the natural and physical environment, reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, and prioritize the incorporation of social and community projects and their contribution to local human development, Ramos adds.

Orlando Ramos, tourism counselor of the Caribbean country

Despite the complex scenario in which Cuba strives to maintain its tourism offers, judging by the statistics and the opinion of the counselor, 2024 showed that the country remains among the travel preferences of the German market. Tour operators, travel agencies and distribution channels maintained connections and avoided cancellations.

“These were tense moments that only a historical relationship of mutual trust and willingness to seek alternative solutions could save. This is demonstrated by the emission figures at the end of 2024, which place Germany in fifth place among the top 20 markets and number one among the traditional European markets, despite the limited air connectivity with direct flights. This decelerating trend in terms of falling numbers with respect to previous periods or plans is maintained so far in 2025,” the Cuban tourism representative in Berlin explains.

During their stay in Cuba, German travelers, regardless of the way they organize their trip, prioritize national tours, which they usually combine with sun and beach options. “The circuit modality is undoubtedly the most preferred; they appreciate the great advantages it offers to get closer to the Cuban reality, enjoy its tourist, historical, cultural and patrimonial resources and make contact with Cubans.”

Ramos also confirms that the deep-rooted travel culture among Germans allows them to appreciate with very clear criteria and contrast and evaluate their experiences with respect to other destinations. “In the case of Cuba, a very high opinion of safety, the possibility of moving freely and the guarantees of medical assistance in case of illness prevail. Visitors highlight the richness and diversity of the landscape, the culture, especially the music and dance expressions, but above all, they recognize the Cuban identity as the distinctive attribute. Most of them describe their experience in Cuba as an enriching and unrepeatable life lesson.”

The suspension of Condor airline flights represents a strong blow to that relationship of empathy. At the moment, a series of measures are being evaluated as part of a strategy to recover direct flights from Germany to Cuba in the medium term, the counselor notes. “The early announcement of the withdrawal of the destination in next summer’s schedule represented a challenge for tour operators, who protected reservations with alternative routes using the possibilities associated with the main European scheduled airlines and others.”

Despite obstacles and challenges, 2025 will be a year to recover demand and growth in visitor numbers. “In this regard, of particular importance are the introduction of new hotel projects in Havana, Cayo Cruz and Holguín, just to mention a few; continuing to promote MICE, nature and historical-cultural tourism; working toward the growth of cruise ship operations; and taking advantage of opportunities identified for the development of multi-destination tourism, based on the air capacity of direct flights from Germany to the Caribbean and Central America. Forecasts ratify Germany’s potential as an outbound market, hence the importance of continuing to work to stabilize the competitiveness of the Cuban tourism product, boost demand and recover direct flights.”