The Republic of Cuba  is an island country in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city.

Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is the most populous island nation in the Caribbean. Its people​, culture, and customs draw from diverse sources, such as the aboriginal Taíno and Ciboney peoples, the period of Spanish colonialism, the introduction of African slaves and its proximity to the United States.

Tourism in Cuba attracts over 2 million people a year, and is one of the main sources of revenue for the island. With its favorable climate, beaches, colonial architecture and distinct cultural history, Cuba has long been an attractive destination for tourists. Having been Spain's last, oldest, and closest colony until 1901, in the first part of the 20th century Cuba continued to benefited from big investments, creation of industries, and immigration. Its proximity and close relation to the United States also helped Cuba's market economy prosper fairly quick. As relations between Cuba and the United States deteriorated rapidly after Castro's abrupt expropriation (without pay) of all private property following a strong Soviet model, the island became cut off from its traditional market by an embargo and a travel ban was imposed on U.S. citizens visiting Cuba.

Cuba in 2009 announced it had lost $ 1.1 billion in its tourism industry, due to the embargo that the United States impose for half a century and a ban on travel by Americans to the island, according to an official.

The director of International Relations of the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), Carmen Casals, said that this amount, 1.03 billion dollars corresponded to the travel restrictions because it is estimated that last year 1.5 million Americans have visited the communist island if there was no ban.

The official, quoted by the official daily Granma said the figure was calculated based on the estimate that 15% of the 13 million American tourists visiting the Caribbean would travel to Cuba.

Americans are forbidden by law to visit the island for nearly half a century, except for a brief period under President Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s. Academics, scientists, artists, actors, and religious people can do it with a special permit.

The vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives, a bill to allow travel by Americans to Cuba in September was postponed indefinitely by U.S. lawmakers.

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