HAVANA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Cuba has welcomed more than one million international visitors so far this year, an official said.

Janet Ayala, communications director of the Cuban Ministry of Tourism, confirmed the figure on her Facebook account, saying the number was obtained from various travel agencies.

She described the figure as "positive in the midst of pressure and adverse situations," including damage caused by Hurricane Irma.

In 2017, Cuba received its first million foreign visitors on March 5, three days earlier than this year.

Tourism is the island's second largest source of revenue and is seen as an economic engine to drive other sectors.

Last year, Cuba received 4.7 million visitors, and the goal for 2018 is five million. Tourists from Canada account for the largest portion, followed by Britain, France and Spain.

The Cuban government is launching an investment program to open 90,000 rooms in state-owned hotels by 2020.