Cuba without tourism amid energy crisis: Here everything is 'stopped'
Cuba is experiencing a sharp decline in tourism amid its energy crisis, with a 30% drop in visitors and practically empty streets during Holy Week.
TL;DR
- Cuba's tourism has seen a 30% drop in visitors in the first two months of the year compared to 2025.
- The island is experiencing a severe energy crisis due to obsolete power plants and a lack of foreign currency for fuel imports, worsened by U.S. oil sanctions.
- Frequent blackouts, fuel scarcity for vehicles, and dark, traffic-less streets are observed.
- International tourist arrivals were down by 112,642 in the first two months of the year.
- Visitor numbers from key markets like Canada and Russia have declined significantly.
- Some hotels have been closed, and tourist facilities in Varadero and northern keys have been affected.
- An extension of fuel supply warnings for airplanes has impacted all international airports in Cuba.
- Current tourism figures are far below the record highs of 2018 and 2019, which were linked to improved U.S.-Cuba relations.