Jonathon Renko, a Canadian tourist currently stuck in Cuba, is eager to return home after enduring the relentless power outages that have plunged the island into darkness. Renko shared his ordeal with Global News, highlighting the severity of the crisis and how his vacation dreams were dashed by the energy meltdown.
In a YouTube report showcasing how Cubans are resorting to makeshift street fires to cook as food spoils without refrigeration, Renko advised fellow travelers to delay their trips until the power situation stabilizes. The tourism sector hasn't been spared from the impact of the widespread blackout that hit the island last Friday at noon, with the government struggling to restore power amid persistent challenges.
"Naturally, we came for a vacation, to relax and explore, and it was just terrible," said Roberto Jiménez, a Mexican tourist, to AFP. Jiménez, who visited Cuba for the first time with his partner and friends, remarked, "It’s bad because it affects tourism, and tourists will say: I’m not coming back to Cuba."
He added that upon returning to his country, the only story he'll tell is, "We spent our entire vacation without electricity." This sentiment is echoed by other visitors whose hopes for relaxation turned into disappointment due to the Caribbean island's energy collapse.
For instance, the day the national electrical system failed, 54-year-old Spaniard Amaya García arrived in Cuba with her husband. Power outages at José Martí International Airport caused delays in immigration and customs lines. Their itinerary included three days in Havana and four in the popular resort town of Varadero.
"We didn’t have high expectations. We knew the country was struggling, but the blackout was tough," García reflected. Despite efforts by the regime to lure international tourists through investments and global advertising campaigns, the reality paints a starkly different picture that visitors cannot ignore.
According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), Cuba welcomed 1,905,644 travelers from January to July 2024, a figure that falls short compared to the same period last year, with 15,263 fewer visitors. These statistics reveal that the island is struggling to attract tourists, while neighboring destinations like Punta Cana and Cancún continue to thrive as more appealing alternatives.