Once an island that welcomed some 2.3 million visitors last year,Cubais now facing the collapse of its keytourismindustry afterDonald Trumpcut offVenezuelanoil supplies and pressured Mexico to stop shipments. After former US President Barack Obama restored diplomatic relations with the Caribbean island in 2015, Cuba saw a peak in holidaymakers in 2018, with nearly 4.8 million visitors.
However, today, despite February being the height of the tourist season, the iconic Hotel Raquel, off Havana’s historic old plaza, is one of more than two dozen state-owned hotels that haveclosed their doorsas the Cuban government attempts to respond to thedeepening fuel crisis. Cuba has received no oil or fuel for a month, and, as a result, life for the island's nearly 10 million inhabitants is slowly grinding to a halt, with schools suspended and rubbish piling up in the streets.
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According to Mandy Pruna, the period after 2015 was "the best era for tourism in Cuba": "All sectors of society benefited from that [...] You saw people painting their houses, opening new businesses. For me it was fantastic," according toCNN World.
However, the Trump administration has cut the flow of oil to Cuba, which relies on foreign imports for around 60% of its fuel needs, in an attempt toforce the communist-run islandinto making political and economic reforms. On top of this, Cuba does not appear to have any remaining allies willing to supply the hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of fuel needed to power the economy.
At many schools, classes have been suspended, and workers have been furloughed to save energy, while flights fromRussiaand Canada have been cancelled as there is no longer enough jet fuel for longer international flights. Both are also repatriating citizens. The UK and Canada have warned their citizens toavoid non-essential travel to Cuba.
Many government-run hospitals have also cut services, while a lack of fuelled collection lorries has caused rubbish to pile up across whole neighbourhoods. At night, the lights are switched off, plunging Havana into total darkness.
"I need gas to be able to work, I need tourists to be able to work," Mr Pruna added – one of an estimated 300,000Cubanswho now make a living from the industry.
Even before the recent crisis, when the first Trump administration added Cuba to a list of state sponsors of terror and the onset ofCOVID-19, the number of European tourists arriving in Cuba tumbled. Revenue from the tourism sector in Cuba fell by 70% between 2019 and 2025.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
