Havana, March 19 (RHC)--The arrival of tourists to Cuba fell by 95.5% during January and February compared to the same period last year, said academic and university professor José Luis Perelló.

"During the first two months of 2021, some 35,600 international travelers arrived on the island, representing 4.5% of the 792,507 tourist arrivals at the end of February 2020," the specialist told Chinese news agency Xinhua.

The recovery of the tourism sector in Cuba will not only depend on the control of the COVID-19 pandemic on its territory. In  Perelló's opinion, it will also depend on the success of the vaccinations in Canada, Spain, Germany, England, and France, the leading source markets for tourists to the island.

The expert also explained that the eventual return to normality of international tourism after "the hard blow" caused by the health emergency depends on the recovery of travelers' income and the aeronautical sector.

"People could be immunized and not have the income to travel," he argued.