Cuba is seeing its foreign tourists disappear, its iconic sites almost deserted.

Cuba's main tourist sites, once bustling with visitors, are experiencing a marked decline in foreign tourists, according to several accounts gathered on site. In Old Havana as well as in the beach resorts, tourist flows have drastically decreased, amidst US sanctions and persistent economic difficulties.

Instead of throngs of visitors, some iconic locations now appear largely quiet. In Cathedral Square in Old Havana, everyday scenes like an employee feeding pigeons illustrate this slowdown in tourism. Large companies in the sector have reportedly been forced to leave the island or significantly reduce their operations due to US sanctions.

Despite this situation, some travelers continue to visit the island and describe an overall positive experience. This is the case for Ramiro Escobar, a 68-year-old Colombian who finally made a long-delayed trip to Cuba after decades of waiting.

He visited several major sites, including the beaches of Varadero, renowned for their white sand. According to him, even though the country is experiencing an economic crisis and facing fuel shortages, tourist services remain accessible and the welcome is still satisfactory.

According to Reuters' observations, Ramiro Escobar was among a very small group of foreign visitors present, primarily from Latin America. Their limited number contrasts sharply with periods when Havana's streets and major tourist sites were teeming with international visitors.

This decline in tourism is part of a broader context of financial and trade restrictions, particularly those related to US sanctions. Several travel-related sectors, such as airlines and credit card companies, have reduced or ceased their operations with the island, exacerbating Cuba's economic and tourism isolation.