Cuba Issues 2026 Tourism Bulletin: Long-Stay Perks, Pickleball, New Brands

Cuba's tourism authorities issued a travel-industry bulletin on Jan 29, 2026, laying out product and destination updates that reshape offerings for travel agents, tour operators, and visitors. The package centers on a new Long-Stay program that requires a minimum 15-night stay and promises added values - described as VIP-like perks - at selected properties, while a broader push toward sports, families, and themed experiences appears throughout the notice.

The Long-Stay program is the bulletin's headline item and will affect booking patterns for agents and operators. Minimum-stay rules are explicit: 15 nights or more. Agents should adjust inventory, pricing and marketing to reflect longer-stay availability and to highlight the extra services bundled into qualifying stays. The bulletin frames the change as a way to capture longer bookings and higher-value clients, particularly in low- and shoulder-season windows.

Sport and activity upgrades play a visible role. Pickleball facilities will roll out across multiple resort destinations, bringing the fast-growing racquet sport to beachside courts and resort complexes. Kitesurfers gain a dedicated club in Cayo Guillermo, creating a new focal point for wind-sports travelers and local operators who run lessons, equipment rental and guided sessions.

Weddings and family travel are explicitly targeted. Resorts will offer redesigned symbolic wedding packages and will place on-site wedding coordinators in many properties, simplifying planning for couples who want a legal or symbolic ceremony on the island. Gaviota announced two new hotel brands: Playa Luxury for higher-end offerings and Playa Kids aimed at family-focused, child-friendly programming. The bulletin also signals a conceptual shift in parts of Cayo Santa María toward all-inclusive operations under the "Santa Maria All-In" approach.

Property-level moves include new or rebranded openings such as Iberostar Selection La Habana, Gran Muthu Habana Tower, and Bristol Habana Vieja. The bulletin lists a series of resort renovations and reopenings across Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa María and Trinidad, meaning temporary inventory shifts and fresh product to promote as properties come back online.

The calendar section lays out new excursions and an events schedule for 2026/2027, giving agents concrete programming to package for clients. International management entries are noted as well, including Domina Hotels taking on new roles in property management.

Practical next steps: update brochures and booking engines to reflect the 15-night Long-Stay rules, promote pickleball courts and the Cayo Guillermo kitesurf club to niche markets, highlight Playa Kids and Playa Luxury to family and premium segments, and monitor renovation timelines to avoid overbooking. For travelers, expect more sport and family options, refreshed hotels in major destinations, and new events to plan around. The bulletin signals a clearer product diversification for Cuba in 2026, and operators who act quickly will capture the first wave of longer-stay and niche-sport demand.