Cuba is hoping for a record year when it comes to attracting tourists to the island, but that could be a challenge. However, even though the number of visitors from the United States is dropping in the face of tighter travel restrictions, MANY are still making the trip. CGTN's Joel Richards reports.

This is how a number of tourists from the United States visit Cuba. Cruise tourism is up significantly this year. The tourism minister expects some 700-thousand visitors, including many Americans, despite travel restrictions enforced by the U.S. government.

Among the tourists, two friends from Chicago who have traveled together for 25 years. They visited Cuba last year and fell in love with the country.

HEIDI GORSICA US TOURIST "It is authentic, it is not a normal cruise port that has been completely commercialized, and so it is authentic, it is real."

American visitors here said they had no problem traveling to Cuba.

KARA POTTINGER US TOURIST "Last year, we were here just as President Trump said he was going to change relations with it (Cuba), and he put a lot of stuff out there, but he didn't follow through with it. So while there's nothing on the books, lets' still go and explore, and what we found people last year, the best way to heal relations and get to know people is talk person to person instead of government to government."

With more than four million visitors last year, tourism brings in much needed foreign currency to Cuba's economy. And though former President Barack Obama eased relations, leading to an increase in U.S. visitors, President Donald Trump's approach has all but reversed that.

JOEL RICHARDS HAVANA "Despite the shift in policy toward the island, when it comes to tourism, Cuba is still hoping 2018 is a record year and that it will continue. For that to happen, the country needs to expand and improve its infrastructure."

The face of the famous Malecon seven kilometer-long sea drive is getting a new look, with many hotels now under construction. Already nearly five thousand rooms have been added this year, according to Jose Luis Perell The former tourism professor says Cuba is playing catch up with other Caribbean islands that are more established destinations.

JOSE LUIS PERELL TOURISM SPECIALIST "Cuba has diversified the market, by looking for higher income tourists who are more interested in city tourism than just classic beach tourism."

From informal guest houses to five-star hotels, Cuba is stepping up but its famous beaches are never far away.

2019 will mark the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana, and preparations are underway. The challenge is modernizing this city and country, while retaining its charm.

Joel Richards, CGTN, Havana.