Travellers departing Metro Vancouver for Cuba may be in for a rude awakening, even if they visit the island in a few months.
While the Cuban Tourism Board says power is back online at hotels across the country, a 30-year veteran in Cuban affairs says tourists should reconsider travel plans, at least for the next few weeks.
American University Professor Emeritus Eric Hershberg has made annual trips to Cuba over the past 30 years, witnessing what he characterizes as an ever-decaying and increasingly illegitimate order, particularly since the pandemic.
Travellers who visited the Caribbean destination just a decade ago will not have the same experience now, he says. The latest widespread power outages have only intensified the dire economic situation.
"As for tourism, if visitors are not concerned about lacking electricity, water, and reliable food supply, Cuba remains an appealing destination," he tells V.I.A.
"If any of those items are deemed essential, this is not a time to visit the island."
Massive power outages in Cuba leave island in the dark
Cuba's schools and workplaces were forced to close after an island-wide blackout left them without power for days. The blackout's impact goes beyond lighting, as services like water supply also depend on electricity to run pumps.
The Canadian government upgraded its Cuba travel advisory in the wake of the crisis, advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution due to "shortages of basic necessities including food, medicine and fuel."
However, the government advisory also instructs Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to the provinces of Guantanamo and Holguin due to Hurricane Oscar's impacts.
Canada gives the green light (normal security precautions) for travel to resort areas, including Cayo Largo del Sur, Jibacoa, Marea del Portillo, Playa Ancon, Playa Santa Lucia, and the Varadero Peninsula. It also says travellers are relatively safe to travel to the country's capital, Havana, and the Archipelago of Jardines del Rey (Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Paredon Grande, and Cayo Santa Maria).
At the same time, the advisory states that Cuba has been experiencing a "nationwide power outage, including in Havana," adding that "there is no confirmation on when electricity services will be restored."
For these reasons, Hershberg says people should give pause before booking tickets. If they already have some booked, they should reconsider their plans.
"Why would anyone in their right mind want to travel to Cuba at this juncture," he remarks, noting that most of the population is grappling with a crisis and people shouldn't necessarily feel secure staying in resorts.
While some resorts have generators, travelling outside of these places will likely prove challenging. Further, the resorts could lose power again. Airlines may also unexpectedly cancel flights, making it impossible to leave the country.
Cuba's economy saw a dramatic decline over the pandemic
Hershberg says Cuba's troubles haven't evolved overnight. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, Cuba's economy collapsed, with its gross domestic product dropping by a whopping 33 per cent. However, the country had achieved strong economic progress following the revolution (1953-1959), meaning it didn't collapse on the heels of already dire conditions.
Today's economic collapse looks entirely different. Since the U.S. State Department redesignated Cuba as a "state sponsor of terrorism" in 2021, the country has struggled with shortages of basic necessities due to what Hershberg calls "draconian" sanctions.
Europeans who visit Cuba may not enter the United States visa-free due to the terrorism designation. They are no longer eligible for the ESTA waiver program and must apply for a U.S. visitor’s visa (B1/B2). European tourists make up a significant percentage of the country's visitors.
The pandemic also worsened the economic crisis, as Cuba's economy largely depends on Tourism. Since 2020, the Cuban tourism economy has only recovered by 50 per cent, he says.
Even if tourists aren't met with another sweeping power outage or hurricanes, the scene won't exactly look "attractive."
Cuba's single-party authoritarian regime has resulted in a mass exodus of close to two million people from a country with a population of 11 million. Most of the migrants are people between the ages of 15 and 45 - the demographic most capable of an uprising - or, in the interests of tourism, helping to keep the country running smoothly.
"If you hurt yourself and need to go to the local public clinic or get an airport shuttle, many of the people who may have attended to you are gone," he notes.
Will Cuba's situation improve for future visits?
If the U.S. removes the state terrorism label and the country could get support to deliver fuel, tourists may find a more attractive vacation experience. This would allow the government to have more reliable transportation services and prevent shortages of other necessities.
However, these improvements are not possible soon unless an extraordinary event occurs, says Hershberg.
"Get serious. Who is going to get on a plane from Vancouver and play in a place that is a dystopia," he remarks. "People don't have light or water and they don't have transportation."
Travellers who decide to visit Cuba now or in the future should take several precautions.
"Take as many precautions as you can. Take extra battery packs, plan for the possibility of going several days without power, and plan for the possibility of a transportation shutdown," he remarks.
Canadians should always register trips they take online before they leave so that the government can contact them in an emergency.
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