Current situation
 

Lots of rumours and continuous threats against Cuba are constantly making headlines and the result is hurting an already battered tourism industry. Visitors to Cuba are vital to the nations economy and also for the thousands of workers and their families. Massive electricity shortfalls combined with fuel, water and food shortages are crippling the country. I rarely hear from anyone in Cuba anymore because everyone is trying to conserve power. I realize this is a very political issue. Let's keep it tourism related so this thread can survive.

The thread was edited and three posts deleted for political content. As the OP himself said: "Let's keep it tourism related so this thread can survive."

It’s hard to respond to this subject without being political but let me try.

Cuba needs to invest in renewable energy full throttle. It should have been done years before.

It was often said that tourism was Cuba’s gold and I am sure that nobody foresaw the problems that were to come; the pandemic and the loss of vital allies.

A friend in Cuba who used to say that she was well independent and did not need anyone’s help is now very worried about the current situation. She is working as much as possible and is not able to visit her family a mere 80 km away.

The international community has to really step up its efforts and there needs to be some changes from within Cuba. Cuba is very unique but it will just become no different from the others if it falls into the wrong greedy greasy hands.

It's unfortunate that those 3 earlier posts were deleted - but I understand. You're right, CubanWaters, it's extremely difficult to not post anything political about Cuba. By the same token, it could also be argued that discussing that current political / economic situation in Cuba is indeed directly related to tourism by default. But anyway, whatever happens within the coming weeks / months, I'll just be happy if it betters the lives of the Cuban population living there. That's all that's important to me, and to them too. And of course, that will also help to bring tourism back to Cuba as a cornerstone of their economy again as well after the dust settles. Terry

I don’t see a positive outcome whatever way the situation goes. Is life any better in Venezuela now? A few will profit but most won’t. Yeah, where is the international community in all this? Cuba the new Haiti? I hope I am wrong.

Wess, whatever happens, it will be better for the Cuban people - which will also mean it will be better for everyone else visiting the island as tourists and independent travelers as well. Btw, life is definitely now better in Venezuela - not much better, but better just the same. Everything takes time. The same will hold true of Cuba too. The pearl of the Caribbean won't become the new Haiti. That would be impossible. Terry

Keep dreaming TerryandYudith. Things can not get much worse but with what looks like will happen, we know who will profit the most. Not the average Cuban citizen.

Let’s see what the CDN government warning will be for tourism to Cuba next winter.

Geeeesh!! Keep smiling, Wess! It's all GOOD! But of course, because of my strong ties there to family, I'm looking at the situation through the eyes of a Cuban. ANYTHING would be better than what they have there now... which ain't much. And no worries, every Cuban will have the opportunity to get RICH as well. Full blown capitalism has a habit of providing that opportunity for those who work hard - as opposed to them working hard now for nothing. Terry

I’m being realistic. You’re not. Cuba is slowly turning into Haiti. You know Haiti with the capitalist free-market economy? You need to get out of Camaguey and see what Cuba and the rest of the world is all about.

No, it's not a case of you being more realistic and I'm not. However you're stuck in your way of thinking and you can only be insulting to try to justify it now. That makes two times that you've insulted me within this thread, Wess. I've tried to be civil with you, but to no avail. To be fair though, I guess we'll have to wait and see who was right perhaps 3 years down the road from now. I think you're just more concerned about losing the Cuba that you've grown to know and love as a tourist. I'm more concerned with the population of Cuba being presented with opportunity to thrive. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that introducing a free-market capitalist economy in Cuba will spark the necessary investment needed from all of those Cuban-Americans in Miami and elsewhere to turn Cuba into something that will resemble the absolute polar opposite of Haiti. We all know how inventive and hard working Cubans are - can you imagine the throngs of well educated Cuban entrepreneurs gaining access to the largest market on earth only 90 miles away? Instead of Cubans fleeing Cuba to the USA to escape, they'll be coming to the USA to visit in droves to cut deals to enrich themselves. Terry

A post was deleted. Continued personal attacks and/or political comments will result in this topic being closed.

I think we can all agree that we want what is best for the Cuban people. I hope to return to a Cuba that is in a better situation than it currently finds itself in. I can taste that pig now at Terry's in Camaguey.

Terry, have you heard anything about a resurgence in mosquito borne diseases? That's another thing keeping me away right now. It's a bad combination of warmer weather, less electricity and fuel, bigger trash heaps, and the mosquito situation. I'm sure most people are sleeping under 4 hours a night these days.

Hola Simon. No, Yudith hasn't told me a thing about the mosquitoes and/or the mosquito borne viruses that they carry there. If it was a problem though, she certainly would have told me about it. So no news is good news?? If you were going sometime soon by picking a hop-scotch route to Cuba, make sure to reserve casas particulares that have solar panel arrays - at least you'd have wall fans running 24/7 to keep the little buggers off your face and bod while you sleep. Btw, Simon, not only will you potentially be TASTING that pig at our casa in Cam during our end of year fiesta later this year - you'll be expected to also help TURN that pig too. :lol: No worries - I'll make sure you have an ice cold cerveza o ron con hielo beside your chair at all times - the good stuff as well. :cool: Terry

Another blow to the tourism sector and the broader economy. Under pressure from the USA, Blue Diamond Resorts and Iberostar have left Cuba.

Man, there's so much negative news coming out of Cuba right now because of the USA. The Cuban people are suffering terribly and no other country seems to care. I guess the others are just thankful that they're not facing the orange wrath. Not yet anyway.