Travel Weekly Features New Challenges for Cuba Visitors
HAVANA TIMES – The international tourism site, Travel Weekly ran a feature article by Christina Jelski on November 17 on the new challenges in visiting Cuba with its deteriorated infrastructure and energy outages compounded by the recent natural disasters.
The following is the complete Travel Weekly article.
Cuba travel has fresh challenges after disasters
By Christina Jelski (Travel Weekly)
Political hurdles have long hampered Cuba tourism, but recent challenges related to aging infrastructure and natural disasters have created a fresh wave of headwinds for the Caribbean destination.
Jesus Noguera, a Havana-based tour operator and founder of Cuba Careo Tours, called the last month one of “the worst times for the tourism industry in Cuba” in recent memory, following two hurricanes, an earthquake and power grid issues, including a nationwide blackout on Oct. 18.
On the heels of that initial blackout, Hurricane Oscar hit eastern Cuba on Oct. 20, followed on Nov. 7 by Hurricane Rafael making landfall in western Cuba as a Category 3. Adding to these difficulties, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country’s eastern region on Nov. 10.
Compounding the impact of the weather events are the country’s structural issues. Noguera pointed to Cuba’s deteriorating power infrastructure, citing Soviet-era plants in need of modernization and challenges related to securing reliable fuel sources.
These obstacles come as Cuba’s visitor numbers continue to lag well behind 2019 levels. According to data from the National Statistics Office of Cuba, the country reported approximately 1.7 million international visitors for the year through September 2024, just 49.5% of prepandemic levels from the same period in 2019.
“We’re seeing the same kinds of figures that we used to have 20 years ago,” Noguera said. “We didn’t reach 2 million tourists last year, and I doubt that this year we’re going to have 2 million tourists.”
That’s a far cry from what Noguera described as the “golden years” of the Obama administration, when improved U.S.-Cuba relations helped the country reach a peak of nearly 5 million tourists annually. Much of those gains were erased by Trump-era restrictions, however, and those policies largely remained in effect under the Biden administration.
“And now, with the never-ending crisis in our power grid, and inflation also rampant in Cuba, I don’t see when the situation is going to stabilize,” Noguera said.
Cuba tours are continuing
Although Cuba’s recent struggles have drawn widespread media attention, tour operators say that most tourism is continuing normally, particularly in Havana.
Noguera was set to host a group of 20 visitors from San Francisco arriving for a weeklong visit on Nov. 17. He acknowledged they were “very nervous,” but he encouraged them not to cancel their trip.
“For those who are hesitant, I would recommend coming with a private tour guide or company,” he said. “The private sector is working very well — go to any private restaurant in Cuba, and you have the food you need. The private sector is booming.”
Leigh Barnes, president of the Americas for Intrepid Travel, said that the company has not had to pause its Cuba tours, and while bookings may slow in the immediate term due to recent events, cancellations have remained in the single digits.
“We’ve been able to run our trips throughout the power outages and climate incidents,” Barnes said. “We’ve had to change some itineraries, but everyone’s been safe.”
The key in keeping business on the books, he added, has been clear communication with guests about what to expect.
“We’re a bit more direct, saying, ‘Make sure you bring these things,’ where it’s normally up to the customer to make that decision,” said Barnes, citing items like extra battery banks or headlamps.
Accommodation providers have also adapted to the challenges. According to Barnes, many private bed-and-breakfasts and other boutique properties are equipped with generators, though fuel access remains an ongoing concern.
“We’ve made changes on the ground, but the feedback from our customers is still really strong — it’s still a great experience,” Barnes said.
Cuba’s luxury travel segment also appears particularly resilient.
I’ve been to Cuba several times and there have always been challenges. However, I was there is September (before the outages and storms) and it was, by far, the worst I’ve seen it. Very little food choices on and off the resorts. One bottle of water in our room the entire week….asked for more but they simply didn’t have it. All day to get a roll of toilet paper in the room. I’ve always enjoyed my cuban vacations but won’t be returning until things get better….but unfortunately I can’t see that happening anytime soon. On a side note….Sunwing Vacations just pulled out of 26 cuban resorts….that says a lot!!
With regard to the previous posts, one doesn’t go to Cuba for the food and the recent outages haven’t been the norm (however maybe now they will be). I have gone to Cuba over a dozen times and the music, dance, art and culture is what keeps me coming back! Of course you have to know where to go and be flexible with locations (sometimes you’ll be in an old warehouse, but that adds to the authenticity of it and Cubans are also very prompt). If you did a little research before going, you would learn that the restaurant food is not what the locals eat, they cater to European tastes. Cubans can’t afford to eat out. And “broken country” that is such an ignorant comment, maybe from someone who prefers all inclusive resorts, where you are catered to, with an over abundance of food choices and you never leave the hotel grounds. Cuba is struggling, no doubt, but that doesn’t diminish the number of opportunities to learn about their rich musical heritage, experience first rate shows with renowned performers, visit avant garde galleries featuring young painters, performance artists, muralists and live folkloric events (Fabrica de Arte). Lastly, the Cuban people are so welcoming, friendly and love talking to Americans (everyone has a cousin in the US). Don’t just read the tourist brochures because of course they are going to exaggerate the amenities. Haven’t you heard about Cuba in the last 50 years!! Go with an open mind, leave your foodie issues at home, experience the culture, get to know the people, go to the beach or a tobacco farm for the day, and you will be pleasantly surprised, and like me, will keep going back.
Here’s my take: I traveled to South Africa a few years ago and included in my trip was a 4-day safari to the “bush”. We had no illusions about the lack of luxury accommodations during those 4 days. We were therefore pleasantly surprised when we were served hearty breakfasts and dinners each day. Lunches were well-made sandwiches and cold drinks as we out in the countryside. In other words, the tour providers exceeded our expectations. The problem in Havana is that Cubans continue to oversell the quality of the services they say are available. There are no ‘real’ five-star hotels in Cuba. The food at nearly all restaurants is inconsistent and seldom high-quality. I am from California and for all of our problems, we do food very well. Is it fair to compare California to Cuba? No, of course not, so why do Cubans say that they have international cuisine? If Cubans told the truth about what to expect, they would disappoint far fewer tourists and likely increase the number of return visitors.
Maybe the Cuba tourist needs a travel checklist: battery bank, medicine, food, emergency lights, hand generator, etc. Yes every time traveling for vacations all the above are standard items. NOT. Seriously, why would anyone want to travel to an island when you have to bring all the above to view a broken country . Go somewhere else is my suggestion.