HAVANA, Cuba – The Cuban government claims more tourists than ever are now visiting the island, including Americans.
But Local 10 News reporter Hatzel Vela is getting a different story from people on the streets of Havana.
The government says the 4 million people who have visited the island this year is a 23 percent increase over the number last year.
Government officials are touting the number as important despite the challenges the country faced primarily after Hurricane Irma, which left behind a path of devastation along Cuba's central northern coast -- a highly desirable area for tourists.
The Cuban government reopened Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo on Nov 1.
As for American tourists, the Cuban government says they have seen a 150 percent increase in visitors. But that number doesn't jibe with the comments of tourism workers in the streets, who say American visitors are scarce these days.
"You don't see many of them," one man said, who Vela found in Old Havana, making sculptures out of palm trees.
In the first six months of this year, Cuba says tourism has brought in $1.5 billion -- a 9 percent increase compared to last year.
We're also learning cruise ship companies may be taking more risks when it comes to Cuba.
The U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council reports the three largest U.S. cruise ship lines have added more sailings to Cuba.
"The cruise lines are absolutely focusing on what they do best, which is group travel, and that's where they're making their play," U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council president John Kavulich said.
Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean -- all Miami-based cruise lines -- could deliver close to half a million passengers annually to Cuba, which is about 286 sailings.