Jonathon Renko, a Canadian tourist currently in Cuba, is desperate to return home after experiencing firsthand the constant blackouts that leave the island without electricity.
Renko recounted his experience to Global News and warned about the magnitude of the crisis and how his expectations of enjoying a vacation were frustrated by the energy situation.
In a report published on YouTube, which exposes how Cubans have been forced to cook on improvised campfires in the streets, while food deteriorates quickly without refrigeration, the Canadian citizen advised other tourists to postpone their trips until the electrical emergency is resolved.
And indeed, tourism has not escaped the impact of the massive blackout that occurred on the island last Friday at noon, and which the government is trying to recover from little by little, although still with many evident problems.
“Logically, we were coming on vacation, to enjoy, to explore, and unfortunately, things went badly for us,” declared the Mexican Roberto Jiménez to the AFP agency, who traveled to the island with his partner and friends.
The Mexican, who traveled to the island for the first time, stated that “it is wrong because it negatively affects tourism, and the tourist says: I won’t return to Cuba.”
He also argued that in his country he will only talk about one thing: “We spent all the vacations without electricity.”
An experience also shared by other visitors who have seen how their expectations of rest turned into disappointment due to the energy collapse on the Caribbean island.
For example, on the day of the disconnection of the national electrical system, the Spanish Amaya García, 54 years old, arrived in Cuba. She was traveling with her husband when the electricity went out several times at José Martí International Airport, which slowed down the immigration and customs lines.
Their travel plan was three days in Havana and four in the popular beach resort of Varadero.
“We hadn’t had many expectations. We already knew that the country wasn’t doing well, especially, but the blackout has been tough,” he pointed out.
Despite the regime’s attempts to attract international tourism, not only through investments but also by paying for advertising campaigns worldwide, the reality of the country presents a different picture that does not go unnoticed by those who choose to visit the nation.
According to data published by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), Cuba recorded 1,905,644 travelers from January to July 2024, a number that falls short of those counted in the same period last year, with a difference of 15,263 fewer visitors.
The figures show that the island is not recovering in attracting the attention of tourists, while neighboring destinations, such as Punta Cana or Cancun, far surpass it and are projected as more attractive options.
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