With much fanfare, the Abel Santamaría International Airport in Santa Clara welcomed the first flight of the 2025 season from Lisbon, Portugal, on Tuesday, operated by the Spanish company Iberojet. This marks the beginning of an air operation that will continue through September. The inaugural flight carried 371 passengers, with 80% heading to Cayo Santa María, a major sun-and-sand tourist destination on the island, located in northern Villa Clara, according to a Facebook post by Telecubanacán.
The remaining 20% of visitors chose mixed tourism packages, including excursions to natural sites and tours of heritage cities, a concept known as city tourism. Regla Dayamí Armenteros, the Ministry of Tourism delegate in Villa Clara, announced that starting in June, a new direct route from Madrid will be added, also running until September, as part of efforts to boost international connectivity to the central region of the country.
It's worth noting that at the end of 2023, Iberojet announced the cancellation of its flights to Havana effective January 2024. Earlier, in August, the airline had disclosed the suspension of its Madrid-Santiago de Cuba route from October due to "operational reasons." However, in April 2024, Iberojet resumed operations to Varadero and introduced the route to Santa Clara, offering a weekly flight.
Social Media Reactions
Contrasting with the official celebration of tourist arrivals, social media echoed public outrage and skepticism, questioning the underlying motives of such events in a nation grappling with a structural crisis. Avana De La Torre, a Facebook user, shared her critical perspective: “Meanwhile, in Santa Clara, clowns await tourists arriving on the first flight from Lisbon. Are they ready to navigate broken roads, witness poverty, endure blackouts, and face prostitution? Our reality is harsh. The communist regime is desperate for tourism and eagerly anticipates it at the plane's steps, while 'Oskuristán' starves. This is a circus, with clowns doing everything to entertain tourists while ignoring their empty stomachs.”
She also condemned that the tourism revenue does not contribute to improvements for the Cuban people but is controlled by “the obese mafia of the PCC,” while ordinary citizens' lives are marked by hunger, shortages, resource-lacking hospitals, corruption, and repression.
Such reactions highlight the stark contrast between the tourist spectacle promoted by the regime and the harsh reality faced by an increasingly impoverished and disillusioned population.
Public Sentiment on Cuba's Tourism Industry
What is the significance of the new Lisbon-Santa Clara flight?
The Lisbon-Santa Clara flight marks the beginning of Iberojet's operations for the 2025 season, aiming to boost tourism in central Cuba. It is significant as it reflects efforts to improve international connectivity despite previous route cancellations.
How does the Cuban public view the tourism sector?
Many Cubans are critical of the tourism sector, feeling that the benefits do not trickle down to the general population. There is a perception that tourism revenue is controlled by the government, while citizens face economic hardships.
What challenges does the Cuban tourism industry face?
The Cuban tourism industry faces challenges such as infrastructural issues, economic instability, and public discontent over the allocation of tourism revenues. Additionally, international relations and operational difficulties have led to route cancellations.