Colonial streets of Cuba – Source: Cuba Tourism

Cuba is experiencing a tourism boom with more than 2.7 million visitors in 2011, an increase of 7.3 per cent on the same period in 2010, stretching the Caribbean Island’s ability to accommodate demand.

Hotels in the capital’s historic centre Old Havana are full as tourists from around the world are flocking to experience the warm beachside hotspots and city’s narrow colonial streets.

“We are at capacity. The beach resorts, Havana city are totally full. In the interior of the country, there is nowhere to find a room, nowhere," said the manager of a foreign hotel company whom did not wish to be named to avoid problems with the Cuban government.

Traveller’s from Canada are most dominant, with more than 1 million visitors, followed by countries such as Britain, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia and Russia.  A change in US policy has also resulted in a number of Cuban Americans flooding back into the country to visit.

The surge in tourists however means the country is faced with more tourists than rooms last month, with overbooking at the better hotels forcing a scramble to find bumped tourists a place to stay.  Cuba’s best hotels are not considered equal to the best hotels in other countries and standards drop quickly.

The country has invested heavily in building beach hotels; however the cities and popular tourist destinations like Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad require more hotel rooms.