Stunning 36 percent rise in US visits to Cuba since January

In this Sunday, May 24, 2015 photo, tourists enjoy cigars, mojitos and live music at the Bodeguita del Medio Bar, frequented by the late American novelist Ernest Hemingway in Old Havana, Cuba. The thaw in relations between the U.S. and Cuba has led to a dramatic 36 percent increase in visits by Americans to Cuba since January compared to the same period last year, along with a 14 percent rise in arrivals from around the world. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan) In this Sunday, May 24, 2015 photo, tourists enjoy cigars, mojitos and live music at the Bodeguita del Medio Bar, frequented by the late American novelist Ernest Hemingway in Old Havana, Cuba. The thaw in relations between the U.S. and Cuba has led to a dramatic 36 percent increase in visits by Americans to Cuba since January compared to the same period last year, along with a 14 percent rise in arrivals from around the world. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

By Associated Press May 26, 2015 4 min read

HAVANA (AP) – The thaw in relations between the U.S. and Cuba has led to a stunning 36 percent increase in visits by Americans to the island, including thousands who are flying into Cuba from third countries like Mexico in order to sidestep U.S. restrictions on tourism.

The dramatic rise was seen in the number of Americans with no family ties to Cuba who visited between Jan. 1 and May 9 of this year compared to the same period in 2014, according to statistics provided to The Associated Press by a University of Havana professor.

In addition to the boom in American visitors, Cuba has seen a 14 percent jump in arrivals from around the world between January and early May compared to the same period last year.

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INCREASED TOURISM BY THE NUMBERS