Sunwing and the Cuba Tourist Board are offering positive updates for travel advisors on the electrical power situation in Cuba.
“We have reports, directly from the destination, that the hotels are fully operational across the country, all facilities and services are back to normal, our clients are enjoying their regular tourist activities and it’s business as usual,” says Lessner Gomez, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto.
Sunwing adds that “power (was) restored throughout the island of Cuba as of the evening of October 22.” The company states that its information is sourced from reports from Cuban officials and updates from in-destination and hotel partners.
The days-long outage has been described as the most severe energy crisis that the country has experienced since the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. But the Cuba Tourist Board says tourists were largely spared ill effects.
Lessner Gomez, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto. (Photo Credit: Photo: Cuba Tourism Board)
“Despite the negative spin of the events portrayed on several media outlets, the reality is that the majority of the tourist facilities have their own generators and the Ministry of Tourism, local tour operators’ representatives, hotel management and the hotels staff in general made everything possible to minimize the impact,” Gomez says.
Sunwing says all Cuban airports it serves remained open and operated with either power or via generators during the nation-wide power outage, which began on October 18.
Sunwing says resorts at several of its destinations were largely unaffected, including Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Largo and Cayo Coco. Others like Cienfuegos had power restored promptly, and power grid access has since been restored to Holguin, Havana and Varadero. The company confirms that a number of all-inclusive properties in the affected destinations it offers were able to operate on backup generators in recent days.
“Sunwing Vacations would like to thank the travel advisor community and our customers in destination for their patience and understanding as Cuban officials worked tirelessly in recent days to ensure power was restored, and we look forward to continue working together with travel advisors to offer more all-inclusive Cuban getaways to our mutual clients this fall and winter season,” the company said in a statement.
Citing a special relationship between Canadian travellers and Cuba, Gomez encouraged Canadians to keep coming.
Cuba’s white sand beaches and the warmth of its people are main attractions for Canadians. (Photo Credit: Sunwing)
“Canadians, for decades have visited Cuba, not only for its pristine beaches and warm weather, but also for the warmth and hospitality of the Cuban people, for its safety and the rich local culture — but is the strong friendships with Cubans what keeps them coming back,” says Gomez.
“So, for this coming winter season I would like to invite Canadians to trust us as we are working very hard to deliver quality service and an elevated holiday experience”.