Canadian Tourists Are Shunning Cuba
HAVANA TIMES – Canada-Cuba tourism has taken a major hit in early 2025. The number of Canadian tourists in Cuba dropped by 30 per cent in Q1 compared to the same time last year, according to industry data. Once Canada’s top Caribbean destination, Cuba is now struggling with growing dissatisfaction among Canadian travelers due to poor infrastructure, electricity outages, and overall travel discomfort.
Cuba’s economic crisis has created persistent shortages of food, fuel, and basic medical supplies. These issues, once mostly experienced by locals, are now affecting tourists directly. Visitors have reported issues like unreliable power, poor hotel maintenance, and even unclean conditions in resort towns.
Cuba’s infrastructure crisis drives away Canadians
Travel agencies across Canada are seeing declining interest in Cuba vacations. According to Amra Durakovic of Flight Centre Canada, Canadian tourists are actively avoiding Cuba in favor of more reliable destinations like Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.
People are concerned about cleanliness, electricity and access to essentials. The lack of consistent services in Cuba makes planning a holiday there very stressful,” Durakovic said.
The Canadian government’s travel advisory for Cuba was recently updated, warning travelers about limited availability of basic goods and highlighting frequent, extended power outages. Canadian travelers are being advised to pack necessary medications and to be prepared for service interruptions throughout their stay.
Even though some of Cuba’s luxury resorts are equipped with backup generators, the overall experience has been compromised. Visitors have reported broken water systems, uncollected trash, and increased petty theft—all contributing to the perception that Cuba is no longer the carefree, affordable paradise it once was for Canadian vacationers.
Canada-Cuba tourism decline shifts Caribbean travel trends
Cuba’s tourism industry heavily relies on Canada, its single largest source of visitors. The sharp drop in Canadian tourists in Cuba is causing a ripple effect through the island’s economy. Many resort workers and small businesses dependent on tourism are now facing serious income loss.
While some loyal Canadian travelers still visit Cuba for its history and people, many are now questioning whether travel to Cuba is ethical, given the contrast between tourist luxury and local hardship.
The broader implication is a shift in Caribbean tourism trends. Countries offering better services, safety, and infrastructure are now attracting Canadian travelers who once defaulted to Cuba. If Cuba doesn’t act swiftly to resolve infrastructure and safety challenges, it risks losing a vital tourism market permanently.
[Editor’s Note: The Cuban government is now heavily promoting its tourism in Russia and China although the potential number of tourists would be far less than the Canadian market.]
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First published by The Economic Times.
Visit Cuba 2 months a year and although there are challenges, I still find it enjoyable and glad to support the Cuban people. Safe where I Visit in the south, more panhandling as expected. As long as it is safe and people can get around eat,etc I will return.
We’ve been to Cuba twice this year. Early Feb and early April. One week in Cayo Coco and 1 week in Varadero. Had a great time, love Cuba for the people, beaches and weather. Food was fine both times.
We just arrived home from Cuba VaraderoBeach Mile international hotel. It was beautiful very clean. It’s a large resort luxury white powder sand the water going in and out is sand. No rocks beach is beautiful multiple pools the and multiple restaurants. All food was excellent. No shortage. Staff was very friendly and accommodating rooms and facility were outstanding. I do not understand the negative comments on Cuba. We’ve been many times we will continue to go. We also tip in Canadian dollars and they accept it we love it. Stop putting down the Cubans.
Was in Cuba last of April and loved it. Lots of food , clean, and the Cuban people are so kind. We traveled the double decker bus , and lots of entertainment at the resort. Place was clean ,and would go back in a heart beat
My husband and I have been to Holguin Cuba 4 times now. Our last visit was in January of 2025. The hotel was pristine including our room the property and the beach. We did not experience any power outages. The food was plentiful and appetizing.
We love and had seafood every day. The staff and the people there were very friendly. The pool and pool area was very clean. Cuba has the most beautiful beaches in the world, Powder white and soft sands.
Great place to snorkel.
We bring clothes and shoes that we leave for the people there. We are going again soon.
I just returned from Playa Pesquero in Holguin for the second time. I was also there in Feb.this year. The resort was pristine as were the grounds. There were no power outages and no food shortages. I think the ones who complain about the food are expecting what they eat at home – French fries and greasy hamburgers. They don’t serve fast food, however there was an abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables, roast pork, roast beef, lamb, fish, rice, eggs cooked to your liking, omelettes, pancakes, waffles and even a big jug of maple syrup. The staff went out of their way to make our stay what it was and it was fantastic.
I have been to Dominican where I got food poisoning and spent 2 days in my room in a lumpy bed with wet floors. Every time it rained, the water came in under the sliding door and soaked everything.
I absolutely loved my trips to Cuba as did my travel companions. I will go back again to the same resort.
No longer visiting Cuba, instead we had success with inviting a long time friend from Cuba to Canada. It’s our turn to show our hospitality. ❤️❤️.
I was at Paradisus Rio de Oro in Holguin last week. The resort was very clean, food was excellent, and the service superior. We felt very safe and enjoyed unbelievable beauty all around us. Definitely will go back!
Was in Varadero 2 months ago, people great, food good no shortages, beach awesome . Felt safe in Varadero town. Great time for 8 of us.
We have been to Cuba 6 times in the last 2 years. We have not had any issues at all . We realize Cuba has electrical problems but so do we in Canadian provinces after storms.
Vacationers should realize that hotel ratings is by Cuban standards not Canadian or US ratings .
We know there are some shortages of food at times but that has not affected us in any way .There was always a great selection of food in the hotel restaurants and buffets. We have yet to see any vacationers that are starving from lack of food.
Vacations to Cuba are still well priced . Mexico and Dominican Republic are high priced in comparison and are both on Canadian do not travel due to security issues.We have not had any security issues at all in Cuba.
Our rooms have always been clean and well looked after. We have had no issues at all.
We suggest new vacationers to Cuba read up about the country so they know what they can expect and enjoy a great holiday.
In closing we think that bad reviews written about Cuba are by people in other countries trying to get vacationers to go to their country as their number of visitors is down also.
I have been vacationing, mostly in Guardalavaca, Cuba, from the late nineties to 2020 for three month periods. The people are wonderful, generally, and the island beautiful. Things have deteriorated as you mention in your article. I have been hearing from friends who have been there recently and they won’t be returning. I was thinking of going later this year and early next year and if conditions don’t improve, I won’t go.
I’ve stayed in Holguin and Banes and have many friends there, they, too are having a very difficult time with the terrible conditions. Travel by taxi is almost impossible and expensive due to the lack of fuel.
I hope that there are no Russian tourists present where I go; they are the most obnoxious, drunken, filthy people I’ve ever met….I don’t know about the Chinese as tourists, I have Chinese friends, they’re the best
the decline started before covid as the cubans started taking canadian tourists for granted and has continued, serving the rude and no tip russians and cubans that butt into the line ups at the bar and the buffet then expect tips from the polite canadians, asking for expensive items to be brought from canada for them, the increase in violence in the tourist areas against Canadians including the murder of a canadian in varadero this year, the lack of health care for tourists when they get sick including again canadians dying in cuban hospitals from lack of medicine, the increase in the prices for vacations etc
We have been going to Cuba for years, however this March, we experienced theft and a sexual assault against my wife by two young thugs right across the street, steps from our hotel. They looked like they were from a rap video and they also tried to rob us. Cuba is finished for us now.
You’re reading The Havana times for the last several months and watching how the country has declined I am very grateful that I got to visit Cuba a bit over a year ago. It’s a beautiful Island and the people are friendly and outgoing. Since I’ve come back all I keep reading about are the shortages of food the lack of electricity and even while I was there there was no medication or basic items in any of the stores. I can only imagine it has gone downhill since then. Even though I’ve shared my story of how much I enjoyed Havana with all my friends and family I don’t feel like I could in good conscious suggest they vacation there now.
Wow! Losing even a measurable percentage of Canadian tourists would deal a major blow to Cuba’s bottom line. Obviously, hotel revenues would fall but also the income to restaurants. I hope someone can also contribute a story about the significant drop in Cuba’s sugar harvest for this year. Some say it could be as much as half of what was reported last year. No tourists, and no sugar is bad enough. But to complete the trifecta, as we now begin the hurricane season this month. If Cuba suffers the setback of a major hurricane this season, it may finally be lights out for the Castros. Before anyone criticizes me for hoping for a natural disaster to hit the island, keep in mind that Cuba has one of the best civil protection systems in the Caribbean. The loss of life from a hurricane is not the problem in Cuba. But if a storm of any measure were to further damage the power grid, a long-term blackout all over the country is a real possibility. Anyway, Raul didn’t look like he was on his last lap at the May Day parade so maybe it’s not all bad news. Still, fewer Canadian tourists and a much smaller sugar harvest may just be what it takes to bring about the changes necessary to turn things around in Cuba.
The cuban resorts have 8-man crews cutting the grass and doing landscaping. People dont notice that. They notice the grout needs to be redone in their rooms or the sliding doors get stuck or the curtains smell. Free up those men to work in the rooms. I can update a 2 star room to a 5 star room in a week and $200 in supplies and it would last for years.
The police in Cuba no longer provide security during blackouts except in major hotels . Other countries are safer and cheaper now