Cuba's Tourism Industry Faces Severe Disruption Amid Fuel Crisis
The Caribbean nation of Cuba is experiencing significant disruptions to its vital tourism industry as fuel shortages begin to force the closure of major beach resorts. This development comes as a direct consequence of U.S. sanctions that have restricted fuel shipments to the island, creating operational challenges for hospitality businesses that rely on consistent energy supplies.
Resort Closures and Guest Relocations
At least two prominent beach resorts on Cayo Coco, located along Cuba's northern coast, are preparing to close as early as this weekend due to severe gasoline shortages. Employees reported on Friday that the Mojito Cayo Coco resort will shut down primarily because there isn't enough fuel for staff members to commute to work effectively. Approximately 200 guests from this property will be transferred to the nearby Sol Cayo Coco, situated about 30 miles away.
The front desk at Sol Cayo Coco confirmed it would be receiving guests from both Mojito and Tryp Cayo Coco, which together contain approximately 850 rooms. A worker at Mojito Cayo Coco, who requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation, specifically blamed the Trump administration's sanctions for the situation, noting that many colleagues were facing job losses as a result.
"In more than two decades working at this hotel, I've witnessed temporary shutdowns due to multiple hurricanes," the employee stated. "But I've never seen closures caused by non-weather-related disasters like this fuel crisis."
Government Response and Contingency Measures
Cuban authorities confirmed on Friday evening that they are implementing what they describe as an "efficiency and facility consolidation plan" within the tourism sector. This strategy forms part of broader contingency measures designed to address U.S. threats to Cuba's fuel supply. By maintaining operations at select hotels, the government aims to capture as much external revenue as possible during the peak tourism season.
The Cuban government has responded to the broader energy crisis with several additional measures:
- Reducing public transportation routes throughout the country
- Shortening the official work week to Monday through Thursday
- Moving some university classes to online platforms
- Accelerating plans to transition toward greater solar power usage
According to government officials speaking during a national television broadcast, these measures aim to preserve essential services including food production, water supply systems, and healthcare infrastructure. Cuba's electrical union indicated that the nation's power output would cover less than half of the island's peak demand of 3,100 megawatts on Friday night.
Impact on Canadian Travelers and Providers
The fuel crisis and resulting resort closures are particularly significant for Canadian travelers, who represent a substantial portion of Cuba's tourism market during the winter months. Major Canadian travel providers have acknowledged the situation and are adjusting their operations accordingly.
WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Sunwing Vacations, both of which send hundreds of thousands of Canadian tourists to Cuba annually, confirmed they are closely monitoring developments and will continue to follow guidance from the Canadian government. Transat AT Inc., another prominent Canadian airline and vacation provider, issued a statement explaining the situation.
"Cuban authorities have unilaterally decided to regroup certain travellers in hotels with higher occupancy levels to help ensure service continuity and overall service quality," the company stated. "They have confirmed that these properties remain operational and continue to meet their usual standards."
The Canadian government updated its travel advisory for Cuba earlier this week, now recommending that visitors "exercise a high degree of caution" due to the ongoing energy crisis and shortages of basic goods throughout the country.
Background of the Fuel Crisis
The current fuel shortages stem from actions taken by the United States in early January, when Washington effectively cut off fuel shipments to Cuba from Venezuela, the island's primary ally. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has since threatened to impose tariffs on nations that continue to send oil to Cuba, intensifying pressure on the communist government.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has denounced what he characterizes as Trump's attempt to "asphyxiate" the island's economy under what he calls a "false pretext." The situation has created visible impacts across Cuban society, with long lines forming at gas stations and disruptions affecting multiple sectors beyond tourism.
As the high tourism season continues, the Cuban government faces the challenging task of balancing economic necessities with practical limitations imposed by fuel shortages. The consolidation of resort operations represents one strategy to maintain some tourism revenue while managing scarce resources during this period of economic pressure.
