Tourist dreams turn sour after the lights go out in Cuba

“Let’s see what awaits us there (in Varadero),” said Garcia, who was greeted in near darkness upon her arrival at Havana International Airport.

“As we went through security at the airport, the power went out several times, making the lines much longer,” she says.

The closure of the island’s entertainment venues added to the disappointment.

“We didn’t have high expectations. We already knew the country wasn’t doing particularly well, but the blackout was tough,” Garcia said.

Unlike other Caribbean destinations, Cuba’s tourism sector has not recovered from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic or the tightening of US sanctions under former President Donald Trump.

Facing its worst economic crisis in three decades, Cuba received 2.4 million tourists in 2023 – far fewer than the hoped-for 3.5 million and record 4.7 million tourists in 2018 following a historic rapprochement with the United States.

The chances of achieving the target of 3.2 million visitors this year appear to be shrinking.