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Cuba hopes if it builds new hotels, tourists will come, after a long covid shutdown.

Carrie Kahn

The Grand Aston la Habana, overlooking the Malecón and the sea, is the latest luxury hotel to open as part of the Cuban government's aggressive tourism building project. Carrie Kahn/NPR hide caption

The Grand Aston la Habana, overlooking the Malecón and the sea, is the latest luxury hotel to open as part of the Cuban government's aggressive tourism building project.

HAVANA, Cuba — Cuba is hoping more tourists return to the island, after a lengthy shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism is vital to the communist country's economy, which has taken a beating from not only the pandemic, but also tough sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.

The war in Ukraine has also had an impact, as Western governments gradually closed the airspace to Russia. That makes travel for Russians — one of Cuba's top tourist groups — difficult and very expensive.

Last week, the Biden administration rolled back some restrictions on Cuba travel. But it's unclear if U.S. visitors will return.

Michel Cleray is with a small group of fellow French tourists visiting the island. He says they're enjoying the sights, especially the long line of classic cars along the grand Paseo del Prado boulevard in Old Havana.

For the local taxi drivers, though, it's been a dismal day. Eduardo Cedeño, a 36-year-old driver, says he hasn't had a single rider in his shiny red 1956 Buick convertible. "It is the low season for sure, but even the cooler winter months weren't so great," he says.

The iconic Malecón stretches along Havana's shoreline, with waves often crashing over it. The promenade, usually bustling with visitors and residents, awaits the return of more tourists. Carrie Kahn/NPR hide caption

The iconic Malecón stretches along Havana's shoreline, with waves often crashing over it. The promenade, usually bustling with visitors and residents, awaits the return of more tourists.

There is a trickle of tourists heading back to Havana , but nothing like the more than 4 million a year before the pandemic. Analysts say Cuba missed out on a recuperating Caribbean market by waiting until late November to reopen its border and drop strict coronavirus requirements.

Pilar Álvarez Azze, from the Tourism Ministry, tells NPR that officials are optimistic travelers will return to the island. She says the ministry is hoping to lure at least 2.5 million visitors this year. Fewer than half a million have come so far this year though. In addition to Russians, Canadians, U.S. citizens and Europeans are the leading visitors.

For many ordinary citizens in this state-controlled economy, the tourism is the main way to make money — whether by lodging foreign guests in their homes or staffing hotels and other businesses catering to international visitors.

Experiencing one of its worst economic crises in decades, Cuba needs the cash. It can't buy essential imports, including most food and fuel oil, without foreign currency. Inflation has skyrocketed and Cubans spend hours every day waiting in lines for food and gas.

Yet the government continued its aggressive hotel building spree even through the pandemic. A stroll along the Malecón seaside promenade takes you past one recently opened luxury hotel, the Grand Aston la Habana. It is stunning, with two tall white towers and hundreds of rooms looking out onto the ocean. There's just one problem. It's practically empty.

Classic 1950s-era cars sit idling on Havana's Paseo del Prado. On a recent day, driver Eduardo Cedeño said he hadn't had a single rider in his shiny red 1956 Buick convertible. Carrie Kahn/NPR hide caption

Álvarez defends the controversial construction as necessary for Cuba's long-term well-being. "We keep on building the future, and the future is for our people," she says.

Not all of the Grand Aston's neighbors would agree. "That's where the princes live," says 52-year-old Elias Despine Rodríguez, pointing at the hotel. "Here's where the beggars reside," he says, pointing to his crumbling apartment across the street. "We thought that when they built the hotel, they'd fix our building too, but they didn't." Growing inequality has spurred resentment and sparked rare protests that erupted last July .

Consider This from NPR

How cuba's government is attempting to silence unprecedented protests.

Despine stands next to his 1947 classic Harley Davidson motorcycle with a for sale sign on it. He can't even afford the gas for it. He says he can't find work and has given up hope that even if tourists do come back, the economy would improve for him.

So, like large numbers of Cubans today, he's trying to get enough cash to leave.

• Cuban economy
• Cuba tourism
• world travel

clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

Biden’s revised Cuba policy creates more options for U.S. travelers

The united states just approved flights to airports beyond havana and will restore the group tours banned under trump.

Americans who want to travel legally to Cuba will have more options after the Biden administration announced it was undoing some of the restrictions President Donald Trump imposed before the pandemic.

While a timeline for all of the changes is not yet clear, travelers should eventually be able to choose from flights to more destinations and take the kind of group-based educational trips that have been off-limits for nearly three years.

Under an order issued Wednesday by the U.S. Transportation Department, airlines will again be allowed to fly to Cuban destinations beyond Havana, an avenue that was cut off in late 2019. Public charter flights will also be permitted to go to airports outside Havana after being suspended in early 2020.

The Transportation Department issued the order rescinding the Trump-era restrictions after a request this week from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He wrote that scheduled and charter air services could resume “effective immediately” once the department took action.

That formal request followed a May 16 announcement that the Biden administration was taking measures, including allowing the additional flights, to “increase support for the Cuban people in line with our national security interests.”

As Biden eases Trump’s sanctions, Cubans hope for an economic lift

Peggy Goldman, president and co-owner of two travel companies that bring visitors to Cuba — Friendly Planet and Insight Cuba — called the permission to add flights “wonderful news.”

“It makes it possible to enjoy much more of the island, and having these additional flights is a hallelujah moment for us,” she said. She added that her companies have been “badgering” airlines on a daily basis about increasing service.

U.S. carriers that offer scheduled flights to Havana, including American Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest, told The Washington Post this week — before the DOT’s order — that they did not have any additional services to announce. American Airlines flew to five destinations in addition to Havana until December 2019, and JetBlue once flew to three cities beyond the capital city.

“While we do not have any news to share at this time regarding changes to our operations in Cuba, we regularly evaluate new opportunities throughout our network,” JetBlue said in a statement.

Cuba reopened to visitors in November after closing its borders earlier in the pandemic.

Can Americans travel to Cuba? Yes, but it’s complicated.

U.S. officials have said that a popular authorized way for groups of travelers to visit Cuba — called “people-to-people” trips — will be back at some point. The Trump administration eliminated the option in mid-2019. The State Department said it would reinstate the option, along with other categories of group educational travel and some additional travel connected to professional meetings and research.

“We’ll certainly ensure travel is purposeful and in accordance with U.S. law. And we’ll note something that President Biden had said often, which is his belief that Americans are the best ambassadors for democratic values,” a senior administration official said on background during a press call last month. “And facilitating group people-to-people travel will allow for greater engagement between the American people and the promotion of their democratic values.”

The State Department did not release a timeline for reopening that category of travel, but it said in a statement that the administration is “working expeditiously to implement these changes, via regulatory amendments and other steps on an expedited basis.”

Collin Laverty, founder of Cuba Educational Travel, said people-to-people trips were a prominent way to visit Cuba before the Trump administration prohibited them. He described those trips as “having a full-time schedule that involves meaningful interaction with the Cuban people” — though independent tourism is not allowed.

Americans have been allowed to visit the island under categories that remain legal, including family visits, religious activities, competitions, educational activities and professional research, and meetings. After the Trump administration eliminated the “people to people” option, first for individuals and then for groups, most travelers opted to visit under the “support for the Cuban people” category.

Under that option, travelers need to have a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with locals, support civil society in Cuba, result in meaningful interaction with residents or promote independence from Cuban authorities, The Washington Post reported in 2019.

2019: Trump administration ends group travel to Cuba by Americans

The two categories were similar, but supporting the Cuban people required more direct aid to locals on the ground. Some tour operators told The Post when the changes were first announced a few years ago that they were skipping attractions such as Ernest Hemingway’s house and famous cemeteries. To keep their programming in compliance, they said, they would meet with craftspeople who make humidors instead of going to cigar factories, and they would visit artists in a studio cooperative instead of going to a museum.

David Lee, founder of Cultural Cuba, has always provided trips that meet the requirements of supporting the Cuban people and calls it “the best way to go by far.” But still, he and others said, the news about Trump restrictions being dropped had led to an increase in inquiries.

“Some of the changes that the Trump administration made definitely made people think they could not come to Cuba,” he said. “If this announcement has people believing, ‘Oh, it’s open again’ — even though it was always open ... and at least leads people to put Cuba back on their list as a destination, awesome.”

Laverty said he expects the return of U.S. travelers to Cuba to be slow, noting that he doesn’t see any regulatory changes that would lead to an “avalanche” in demand.

While the Biden administration’s goal is to expand authorized travel to Cuba, the State Department said the recently announced moves are not a return to the Obama-era policies that allowed cruise ships to visit the island and individual travelers to embark on people-to-people trips.

In Cuba, a desperate search for milk

Other Trump crackdowns prohibiting travelers from staying in military- or government-owned hotels remain in effect. They pose continued challenges to travelers and tour groups who have to find accommodations without those government or military ties.

“With new flights and group People to People programs being announced, more travelers will be able to visit Cuba safely but they will need more safe places to stay,” Michael Zuccato, CEO of Cuba Travel Services, said in an email.

Laverty said the last decade has brought “incredible development” in private-sector lodging, including privately owned apartments, rooms and boutique hotels. His company will sometimes split groups between multiple properties if needed.

“It definitely adds an extra logistical layer,” he said. “Trying to look at the positive side, it’s a really cool experience” where guests get to interact with their host and learn more about what it’s like to live in Cuba.

With economic hardships and severe shortages in Cuba that led to widespread protests last year, Laverty said he was concerned about what the travel experience would be like when his company started bringing Americans back earlier this year.

“What we’ve found over the last few months is U.S. travelers have really been exposed to shortcomings and challenges and also support Cubans through their travel and get an honest picture of the good and the bad in Cuba and still have a really great experience,” he said.

More travel news

How we travel now: More people are taking booze-free trips — and airlines and hotels are taking note. Some couples are ditching the traditional honeymoon for a “buddymoon” with their pals. Interested? Here are the best tools for making a group trip work.

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

U.S. lifts some Trump-era restrictions on Cuba, including limits on travel and remittances

The Biden administration announced Monday it will reverse some Trump-era restrictions on Cuba, including limits on travel and remittances, and boost visa processing in Havana.

The changes, the most significant in U.S.-Cuba policy since President Joe Biden took office, follow a lengthy policy review.

A senior U.S. official said the Biden administration will continue to elevate the matter of human rights, the treatment of political prisoners and labor rights in Cuba, as well as "empowering the Cuban people to determine their own future."

The U.S. will allow charter and commercial flights to airports outside Havana. During the Trump administration, flights to Cuba were restricted to only Havana’s airport. A senior administration official also said that the U.S. will reinstate educational travel in groups under a general license but that it is not reinstating individual “people-to-people” educational travel.

Caps of $1,000 per quarter on family remittances will be lifted. Western Union closed its offices in Cuba in 2020 after President Donald Trump sanctioned its partner company, Fincimex, run by the military. Fincimex will remain under U.S. sanctions. The senior government official said the U.S. has underscored to Cuba the need to find a civilian entity that could process remittances to expand electronic payments.

Visa processing at the embassy in Havana will be increased, and the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program will be reinstated. During the Trump administration, visa processing was greatly reduced after embassy personnel were affected by mysterious health incidents that became known as “Havana syndrome.”

For the past few years, the U.S. has not processed the 20,000 annual migrant visas it agreed to almost three decades ago.

Cuba has been facing a severe economic crisis, with shortages in food and medicine, as well as soaring inflation due to sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.

The number of Cuban migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border has soared in recent months. Nearly 100,000 have been apprehended by Customs and Border Protection since October.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez wrote on Twitter that the U.S. government’s announcement was “a limited step in the right direction” but criticized the U.S. for not modifying the embargo or removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Biden vowed when he was campaigning in 2020 that he would reverse “the failed Trump policies that inflicted harm on Cubans and their families.” His administration had been conducting a lengthy review of Cuba policy.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., a Cuban American who is chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that the administration’s announcement “risks sending the wrong message to the wrong people, at the wrong time and for all the wrong reasons.”

“I am dismayed to learn the Biden administration will begin authorizing group travel to Cuba through visits akin to tourism,” Menendez wrote. “To be clear, those who still believe that increasing travel will breed democracy in Cuba are simply in a state of denial.”

The U.S. will host the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles the week of June 6. Administration officials have been contending with blowback from leaders of some leftist countries after some U.S. officials hinted that Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua would not be invited.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said that “if everyone is not invited, I will not go.”

Follow  NBC Latino  on  Facebook ,  Twitter  and  Instagram .

Carmen Sesin is a reporter for NBC News based in Miami, Florida.

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Can Cuba’s tourism adapt to survive after Covid devastated the industry?

Island’s recovery faces tough obstacles, and there are signs it is not keeping up with its competitors

C uba’s leaders arrived on the spectacular beach at Varadero this week in an effort to restart a tourism industry whose pandemic-induced devastation was all too apparent in the swaths of empty loungers on the miles of perfect sand.

So crucial is tourism to Cuba’s economy – and therefore its stability – that President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the prime minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, and at least seven further ministers attended the launch of FITCuba, its annual tourism fair.

Marrero Cruz highlighted the island’s safety and its success in combating Covid, before praising an aggressive, if controversial, hotel building programme. He quoted Fidel Castro as saying: “Each hotel that is opened is a factory that produces an income for the country.”

Yet Cuba’s recovery faces tough obstacles, and there are signs it is not keeping up with its competitors. “Europe is booming,” said one hotelier who asked not to be named. “And the word is that the Dominican Republic and Mexico are both doing well.”

The country’s image was further damaged when a suspected gas leak tore apart one of Havana’s most iconic hotels on Friday . The entire front of the Hotel Saratoga, the first true luxury hotel built since the revolution, collapsed into the street killing at least eight people. Fortunately the hotel had yet to reopen following the pandemic.

Last year, with its main market Canada closed, Cuba pinned its hopes on Russians, who made up 40% of all visitors in 2021. Then came the war in Ukraine. Flights stopped almost overnight and 8,000 Russian holidaymakers (and several hundred Ukrainians) desperately tried to get home.

Juan Carlos García Granda, the minister of tourism, also blamed “the other pandemic, the one that has lasted over six decades … the cruel US blockade”. While this is a common government complaint, there is evidence to support his contention that it had “recently been stepped up”.

Expatriate WhatsApp groups have lit up over the last two weeks with complaints that travellers flying from Havana to American cities are suddenly having their ESTAs permanently rescinded, the visa waiver that allows citizens of almost 40 prosperous countries to enter the US easily.

The US embassy would not confirm a new policy and referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security, which failed to return calls, but airline staff with American Airlines and JetBlue say it is now a regular occurrence.

Cuba’s communist-led government remains wedded to its all-inclusive beach hotels as means of channeling a visitor’s entire spending through state coffers, despite preceding the fair with a conference on sustainable tourism. They own the properties and foreign management companies run the businesses.

On Wednesday, Blue Diamond, the Canadian owners of the Royalton and Memories brands, announced a vast project to take over the management of the whole of a southern island, Cayo Largo, a total of four hotels and eight “villages” totalling 1,348 rooms. They will also manage the beach restaurants and even the shops.

Cayo Largo used to be a tourist destination, but the airport fell into disrepair. Now it has been renovated to allow airliners direct access from Canada, Italy and Germany. “That’s the only way of guaranteeing occupation,” said Miguel García Núñez, Blue Diamond’s promotion manager.

New hotels have also gone up in the cities. According to senior managers at Iberostar, the Spanish hotel chain, there is an increasing interest in holidays that take in both the beach and Cuba’s iconic cities such as Havana, Trinidad and Santiago.

“The old clients came to Cuba from Canada for sun and beach, but the millennials want to explore Cuba,” said Alexei Torres Velázquez, Iberostar’s head of marketing.

Yet only 2% of all the official hotel rooms on the island are not on the beach or in the cities, and many of Cuba’s greatest assets – including the extraordinary interior of the 777-mile-long island – remain unexploited.

Trips outside the all-inclusive bubbles also have a new danger. Cuba is struggling with soaring inflation that has seen a currency black market establish itself, with private restaurants charging at the equivalent of 100 pesos to the dollar, compared with an official government rate of 24 to one.

“We arrived with just £100 in cash,” said British visitor Max Radford, who visited in January to celebrate his engagement to girlfriend Ali. “When we went to an ATM we realised our trip was impossible at the government exchange rate. A small bottle of beer [in a private restaurant] cost the equivalent of £10 and a 20-minute taxi ride £150.”

Tourists who bring cash now have to exchange with hustlers on the street to get good rates. In his speech opening the fair, tourism minister García Granda talked about reducing the reliance on cash, and creating a card with which tourists can pay for services.

For the government, the stakes could not be higher. One of the final countries in the world wedded to central planning, it buys the food, oil and other essentials that need to be imported. To pay it needs foreign currency and at its height tourism made up 40% of the Cuban economy. Foreign businesses now regularly complain that their bills are not being paid.

Still, there was optimism at the well-attended fair. Johnny Considine, owner of Cuba Private Travel, believes changes are under way. “I have noticed people getting import licences a lot faster, so that they can get access to good food and drinks. And yesterday they announced that a Venezuelan airline will do flights from Havana to Santiago [Cuba’s second city and a 12-hour drive]. So things are happening.

“It’s just quite slow.”

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Cuba travel advice

Latest updates: The Need help? section was updated.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 10:25 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, cuba - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Cuba due to shortages of basic necessities including food, medicine and fuel.

Resort areas - Take normal security precautions

• Cayo Largo del Sur
• Cayo Santa Maria

Guardalavaca

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Petty crime

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs.

Theft generally occurs in crowded places such as:

• tourist areas
• public buses
• night clubs

It can also occur in isolated areas.

Theft from hotel rooms, particularly in private accommodations ( casas particulares ), and from cars is common.

• Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Don’t pack valuables in your checked luggage
• Avoid showing signs of affluence
• Keep electronic devices out of sight
• Carry valid identification at all times
• Keep a digital and a hard copy of your ID and travel documents
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash
• Never leave belongings unattended in a vehicle, even in the trunk

Violent crime

Incidents of violent crime are not frequent, but assaults may occur. They mainly occur during a burglary or robbery.

• Stay in accommodations with good security
• Keep your windows and doors locked at all times
• If threatened by robbers, don't resist

Credit card and ATM fraud may occur.

Be cautious when using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others
• use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Some businesses may try to charge exorbitant prices, namely taxis and classic car rentals. Disputes about overcharging may lead to violence.

• Always confirm prices before consuming or taking up a service
• Avoid running a tab
• Avoid leaving your credit card with bar or restaurant staff
• Check your bill to make sure it’s exact

Some hustlers specialize in defrauding tourists. Most of them speak some English or French and go out of their way to appear friendly. They may offer to serve as tour guides or to facilitate the purchase of cigars. Some have used violence in their efforts to steal tourists.

Fraudulent tour agents and taxi drivers also operate throughout the country, including at Havana’s international airport. Thefts of luggage from taxi trunks have occurred.

In bars, sex workers, including minors, may be very persistent and intrusive with tourists who refuse their advances. Foreigners, including Canadians, have been the victim of theft after engaging in sexual relations, and some of them have faced child sex accusations.  

• Use reputable tour operators and registered taxis only
• Avoid independent street vendors
• Be wary of strangers who seem too friendly

Overseas fraud

Cuba faces chronic and severe shortages of ‎basic necessities, including:

• bottled water
• public water supply
• hard-currency

Fuel shortages are currently critical and affect a wide range of services. Travelling across the island is extremely challenging. Public transportation services, including taxis, are often disrupted, leaving tourists with few options to travel. Some travellers have been temporarily stranded with a rental car. Intermittent shortages of tap water provided by municipalities happen, including in Havana and in resorts.

Hotels and resorts, that often use generators during power outages, may not be able to maintain their services. Fuel shortages may also affect government services.

Local authorities enforce the rationing of food and medications, which could also affect travellers.

Shortages may lead to disruptions to other essential services. There are often long line-ups at gas stations that have led to altercations.

• Plan accordingly
• Bring some basic necessities with you such as toiletries and medication
• Keep a supply of water, food and fuel on hand
• Make sure you always have access to a complete emergency kit

Power outages

Power outages occur regularly outside of Havana and touristic areas.

Obtaining services during an outage is challenging.

Women’s safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of sexual harassment

Incidents of sexual assault against Canadian women have occurred, including at beach resorts.

If you’re the victim of a sexual assault, you should report it immediately to the nearest Canadian consulate or embassy and seek medical assistance. You should also report the incident to Cuban authorities and ensure that local police provide you with a Comprobante de Denuncia. This document confirms that a report has been filed.

A criminal investigation will likely not be possible if no formal complaint is made to Cuban authorities before you depart the country.

Police officers may speak only Spanish.

Advice for women travellers

Spiked food and drinks

Snacks, beverages, gum and cigarettes may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

• Be wary of accepting these items from new acquaintances
• Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers

Telecommunications

The telecommunications network in Cuba is poor. Connections are unreliable and may be intermittent.

Some Canadian cell phones may not work, even in large cities. Internet access is limited across the island.

Local authorities control telecommunications. They may block access to mobile phone and Internet in case of civil unrest or before demonstrations.

• Don’t rely on your mobile phone for emergencies, especially outside major cities
• Subscribe to and install a VPN service before leaving Canada
• Avoid travelling alone
• Inform a family member or friend of your itinerary

Online transactions

Online banking or shopping may be challenging in Cuba, if at all possible. Most Cuban websites are unsecure. Many are inaccessible.

Some travellers, who bought their travel package online on a travel website in Canada, found out on arrival in Cuba that their hotel received no reservation or payment.

• Avoid online shopping
• Check with the hotel if they accept online reservations and payments if you plan to book online

Demonstrations

Demonstrations sometimes occur, even if taking part in them may be illegal. Local authorities will break up political demonstrations or gatherings not sanctioned by the government. They may also block access to the Internet, including social media, without notice.

Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic, public transportation.

• Don’t participate in demonstrations
• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Water activities

Rescue services may not be consistent with international standards. Tidal changes can cause powerful currents, and riptides are common. Not all beaches have lifeguards or warning flags to warn of hazardous conditions.

• Never swim alone or after hours
• Don’t swim outside marked areas
• Monitor weather warnings
• Avoid visiting beaches or coastal areas during periods of severe weather warnings
• Don’t dive into unknown water, as hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death
• Consult residents and tour operators for information on possible hazards and safe swimming areas

Tour operators and diving centres may not adhere to international standards.

If you undertake adventure sports, such as diving:

• choose a reputable company that has insurance
• ensure that your travel insurance covers the recreational activities you choose
• don’t use the equipment if you have any doubts about its safety

Recreational boating

If you are planning to go boating:

• know the navigation rules
• make sure life jackets are available for all passengers
• follow safe practices for all water activities such as jet-skiing, water-skiing or fishing
• don’t overload your boat capacity
• carry a VHF marine radio that will generate your position in case of emergency
• be prepared for emergencies

Water safety abroad

Road safety

Road safety standards are poor throughout the country. Accidents causing fatalities are common.

Road conditions

Road conditions are poor throughout the island, with the exception of the Central Highway, which runs west to east across the country. Driving may be dangerous due to:

• poorly maintained roads
• lack of signage
• Inadequate lighting
• roaming livestock
• horse-drawn carts
• pedestrians
• slow-moving traffic

Most Cuban cars are old and in poor condition. They often lack standard safety equipment. Some cars and most bicycles don’t have functioning lights.

Driving habits

Some drivers don’t respect traffic laws. Many of them, driving an electric vehicle for which licence and registration are not required, are inexperienced and unqualified. Drinking and driving is also common.  

If you choose to drive in Cuba:

• do so defensively at all times
• avoid travelling at night
• travel in groups when possible
• never pick up hitchhikers, who have been known to assault drivers

Public transportation

City buses are scarce, overcrowded and poorly maintained. Bus service is not reliable.

Incidents of pickpocketing are frequent.

Tour companies offer good bus service between airports and the all-inclusive resorts. Buses used for organized day trips from hotels are usually in good condition.

Official taxis are generally reliable.

Old-model private vehicles offered as taxis are not equipped with standard safety features. They have no insurance coverage for passengers in case of an accident.

• Use only registered taxis
• Avoid flagging a taxi down on the street
• Never share a taxi with strangers
• Agree on a fare before departure, as taxis are not equipped with meters

The rail network is comprehensive, connecting most of the island, but it’s unreliable and slow. Train service is limited to Cuban nationals only.

Health incidents

The Government of Canada continues to investigate the potential causes of unexplained health incidents reported by some Canadian diplomatic staff and dependents posted to Havana.

There is no evidence that Canadian travellers to Cuba are at risk.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Cuban authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for the expected duration of your stay in Cuba.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: required Family visa: required Business visa: required

Tourist card

Canadian tourists travelling to Cuba need a visa, known as tourist card. The tourist card allows you to stay in Cuba for up to 90 days. The tourist card is generally included in holiday packages provided by tour operators or airlines providing direct flights from Canada. If you go to Cuba on your own or transit via another country, you are responsible for obtaining the tourist card from a Cuban government office in Canada. You may also buy it at some airports in Canada and in the United States.

Length of stay

As a Canadian tourist, you may stay in Cuba for up to 6 months.

However, you must obtain an extension of stay if you intend to stay longer than the initial 90-day period allowed by the standard tourist card.

D’Viajeros traveller information portal  – Government of Cuba

Arrival form

You must provide information on your arrival in Cuba via an online form within 72 hours before entering the country.

Once done, you will receive a QR code by email.

You must show an electronic or printed version of the QR code to authorities upon arrival.

Health insurance

You must show proof of valid health insurance to enter Cuba.

All health insurance policies are recognized in Cuba, except those issued by U.S. insurance companies. However, the Cuban immigration authorities will decide which proof of health insurance is acceptable.

Proof of health insurance may be:

• an insurance policy
• an insurance certificate
• a Canadian provincial health insurance card

If you don’t have proof of health insurance or if the proof you present doesn’t satisfy the Cuban immigration authorities, you may have to obtain health insurance from a Cuban insurance company upon arrival. This insurance may have limited coverage. Local authorities may refuse your entry to the country.

Canadian provincial health care coverage provides very limited coverage outside Canada. It won’t pay for medical bills up-front. It does not include air evacuation, and neither does Cuban health insurance.

Cuban authorities won’t let you leave the country with outstanding medical bills, which are payable by credit card only. You will need to remain in Cuba until all debts are paid.

• Make sure you purchase the best health insurance you can afford
• Ensure the insurance includes medical evacuation and hospital stays

More on Travel insurance

Other entry requirements

Customs officials will ask you to show them:

• a return or onward ticket
• proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay
• proof that you have a place to stay if arriving with “air only” tickets

Dual citizenship

If you’re both a Canadian and Cuban citizen, you must:

• present your valid Cuban passport to the immigration authorities to enter Cuba
• have a valid Canadian passport to return to Canada

If you were born in Cuba, you should contact a Cuban government office in Canada before you leave to ensure compliance with Cuban regulations, regardless of your current citizenship. Failure to do so may result in your being refused entry into Cuba or being detained upon entry.

Canadian permanent residents

You will not be able to leave Cuba if you are a Canadian permanent resident and are without a valid permanent resident card. If your card is lost or stolen, you must contact the Canadian Embassy in Havana to obtain a travel document that will allow you to leave the country. This procedure can take up to 10 working days. Once the document is ready, you'll need to make an appointment with the immigration section of the Canadian Embassy in Havana to collect it before returning to Canada.

Permanent resident travel document: How to apply

Health screening

You may be subjected to a medical screening or interrogation by public health authorities when you enter or exit Cuba, or when reporting for domestic flights.

You may be subject to a mandatory quarantine for medical observation for up to 7 days if local authorities believe that:

• you have come in contact with a suspected carrier of one of these viruses
• you’re arriving from a country with a known epidemic

Children and travel

• Travelling with children

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country   where yellow fever occurs.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Contact a designated  Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre  well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

In this destination, rabies is carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. Rabies treatment is often available in this destination. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

Salmonellosis is a common illness among travellers to this country. It can be spread through contaminated food or beverages, such as raw or undercooked poultry and eggs, as well as fruits or vegetables.

Practice safe food and water precautions . This includes only eating food that is properly cooked and still hot when served.

Pregnant women, children under 5 years of age, those over 60 years of age, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill.

Most people recover on their own without medical treatment and from proper rehydration (drinking lots of fluids).

• Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Travellers with severe symptoms should consult a health care professional as soon as possible.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

• In this country,   dengue  is a risk to travellers. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

During your trip:

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Good health care is limited in availability.

The health system is government-owned. The Cuban government operates hospitals and clinics throughout the island.

Medical professionals are generally adequately trained. However, facilities are in poor condition. They lack basic drugs, medical supplies and equipment. Hygiene practices may be inadequate.

Medical services are also available at most hotels and international clinics located in resort areas, where doctors and nurses provide initial emergency medical care reserved for foreigners. Health care provided in those clinics is usually better than services offered in public facilities.

Mental health care facilities are extremely limited. There are no hotlines available for this type of care in the country.

Emergency and ambulance services are limited. Response times may be slow, especially outside tourist areas.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

 Many prescription medications may not be available in Cuba.

If you take prescription medication, you’re responsible for determining their legality in the country.

• Bring enough of your medication with you
• Always keep your medication in the original container
• Pack your medication in your carry-on luggage
• Carry a paper and an electronic copy of your prescriptions

Cuba faces severe medicine shortages, including antibiotics and common pain killers. In addition of your prescription medication, you should also bring your own basic medicine in sufficient quantities to last beyond the length of your intended stay.

Public health authorities implement insect control measures including periodic fumigation and aerial spraying.

• Consult your doctor before traveling to see if the situation could affect you, especially if you suffer from respiratory ailments
• Stay away from a nearby fumigation process

Death abroad

Standards of mortuary services in Cuba differ from those in Canada. Cultural and religious beliefs are not taken into consideration. Autopsies are mandatory.

There is one funeral home and one morgue in the country which cater to foreigners. Both are located in Havana. Only these facilities have the authorization to issue appropriate documentation to accompany human remains. Timelines for the repatriation of human remains are long and costly.

The capacity for refrigeration is limited, as well as the availability of coffins and urns. Embalming materials and techniques are unlike those in Canada. Embalming may not be an option in some circumstances.

Ensure your insurance includes coverage for the repatriation of human remains.

Death Abroad Factsheet

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Transfer to a Canadian prison

Canada and Cuba accede the Treaty between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Cuba on the Serving of Penal Sentences. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in Cuba to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Cuban authorities. This process can take a long time, and there is no guarantee that the transfer will be approved by either or both sides.

Cuban criminal justice

The criminal justice system in Cuba differs significantly from that in Canada. Charges are not laid until the investigation is complete. If you’re arrested in Cuba, you will likely be detained during the entire period of investigation. You should expect long delays to resolve your case. You will not be allowed to leave the country during this period.

Cuba’s constitution allows the death penalty, but since 2003, the country has effectively had a moratorium on carrying out death sentences.

Investments

Private property rights in Cuba are strictly controlled. Only Cubans and permanent residents can buy a property in Cuba or register a privately owned vehicle. Be wary of strangers or acquaintances offering to purchase these items on your behalf. If you plan on making investments in Cuba, seek legal advice in Canada and Cuba. Do so before making commitments. Related disputes could take time and be costly to resolve.

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy prison sentences.

• Pack your own luggage and monitor it closely at all times
• Don’t transport other people’s packages, bags or suitcases

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Child sex tourism

It's a serious criminal offence to have sex with minors in Cuba.

Local authorities are actively working to prevent child sex tourism. Tourists, including Canadians, have been convicted of offences related to the corruption of minors aged 16 and under.

Prison sentences for this type of crime range from 7 to 25 years. Release on bail before trial is unlikely.

Child Sex Tourism: It’s a Crime

 To get married in Cuba, you must provide several documents including:

• your birth certificate
• a copy of your passport
• your decree absolute certificate if divorced
• a death certificate for your spouse and a marriage certificate if widowed
• an affidavit of your single status if you have never been married before

All documents must be translated into Spanish, certified, authenticated and legalised by the Embassy of Cuba in Canada.

 Consult the Embassy of Cuba in Canada if you wish to marry in Cuba, including to a Cuban national.

• Foreign diplomatic missions and consulates in Canada
• Marriage overseas factsheet

Drones are prohibited.

They will be confiscated by the authorities upon entry.

Photography

Professional photographers require a visa to work in Cuba. They may also need a permit to import their equipment.

It’s forbidden to photograph, including with drones:

• military and police installations or personnel
• harbour, rail and airport facilities

Military zones and any other restricted or heavily guarded areas are not always identified.

Identification

Authorities may request to see your ID at any time.

• Keep a photocopy of your passport in case it’s lost or seized
• Keep a digital copy of your ID and travel documents

Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Cuba.

If local authorities consider you a citizen of Cuba, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services. This will prevent us from providing you with those services.

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Cuba.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Cuba by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Cuba to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Imports and exports

Personal effects and medicine.

Tourists are allowed to enter Cuba with personal effects but items entering the country for donations may be subject to import rules. They could be seized and taxed in accordance with local legislation. This includes:

• new or used material goods
• personal care products
• medications

Cuban customs officials have the authority to decide what they deem to be for the tourist's personal use. They may apply steep tariffs for personal baggage exceeding the allowable weight.

You may export:

• up to 20 cigars without documentation
•  up to 50 cigars if they are in their original container, closed and sealed with the official hologram

If exceeding these amounts, you must provide a guarantee of origin certificate.

Failure to comply with this regulation will lead to the seizure of the cigars without compensation.

Art objects

Art objects, including artifacts and paintings purchased in Cuba, must be accompanied by an export permit. It’s usually provided by state-owned galleries.

In the absence of such a permit, items must be registered with the Registro Nacional de Bienes Culturales.

Ministry of Culture – Government of Cuba

Electronic devices

Electronic devices with GPS technology may be confiscated upon entry and returned upon departure.

Satellite telephones are forbidden.

Electronic cigarettes and personal vaporizers

You cannot bring electronic cigarettes or personal vaporizers to Cuba.

Customs officials will seize these items upon arrival.

Black market

Street vendors may offer you black-market goods, such as cigars, or ask to change dollars for Cuban currency.

Engaging in black-market transactions is illegal and can lead to difficulties with the Cuban authorities.

Cuban Customs Administration  – Government of Cuba

Boat traffic

The U.S. government closely monitors boat traffic in the Straits of Florida. It will seize any vessel not bearing a licence from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) if it believes it’s headed for Cuba.

You’re subject to these measures if you dock your Canadian-registered boat in Florida. You’ll be exempted if you are simply en route to Cuba via the U.S.

If travelling by boat to Cuba from the US:

• Make sure to know the regulation related to docking and port controls
• Expect thorough search and interrogations

You should carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

Traffic accidents

Traffic accidents have led to arrest and detentions of Canadians in the past.

Accidents resulting in death or injury are treated as crimes. The onus is on the driver to prove innocence. If you’re found to bear responsibility in a traffic accident resulting in serious injury or death, you may face up to 10 years in prison.

If you’re involved in an accident:

• don’t leave the scene
• don’t move your vehicle
• call the police

While car insurance is mandatory for foreign drivers and foreign-registered vehicles, it's not for Cuban citizens. As a result, most local drivers don't carry a car insurance. You shouldn’t expect compensation for vehicle damage or personal injury from a Cuban driver following a car accident.

Vehicle rentals

Car insurance coverage in Cuba differs from that in Canada.

Rental agencies are government-controlled. If you’re found to be at fault in an accident, the rental agency will nullify your coverage and seek compensation to cover the cost of repairs.

Cuban authorities can prohibit you from leaving the country unless the rental agency receives payment or until all claims associated with an accident are settled.

Contract agreements don’t cover occasional drivers. As a result, the signatory is responsible for all people driving the vehicle.

• Be cautious if you rent a vehicle in Cuba
• Avoid renting a scooter; thieves target them and you may be responsible for the cost of its replacement
• Make sure to obtain a receipt when returning a rental vehicle

The currency of Cuba is the Cuban peso (CUP).

Credit cards issued by U.S. financial institutions or affiliated with U.S. banks are not accepted in Cuba.

Canadian credit cards are increasingly accepted at restaurants and hotels. However, the system is unreliable and bank cards may not work or may stop working without notice.

ATMs are rare and also unreliable. Each withdrawal is limited to 5 000 CUP, when possible.

You may obtain credit card cash advances at banks, hotels or a state-run exchange bureau, but in CUP only.

When travelling to Cuba, you should plan to bring enough currency to cover the duration of your stay. You should also plan for small bank notes to facilitate daily transactions such as, street food, taxis and tips.  

You can easily exchange Canadian and American dollars, as well as euros for CUP at:

• the money exchange bureaus in Cuba’s international airports
• major hotels
• official exchange bureaus

It’s illegal to change money on the street or anywhere else other than authorized entities.

You cannot go through Cuban customs with more than 5 000 CUP.

Hurricane season

Hurricanes usually occur from mid-May to the end of November. During this period, even small tropical storms can quickly develop into major hurricanes.

These severe storms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services.

If you decide to travel to a coastal area during the hurricane season:

• know that you expose yourself to serious safety risks
• be prepared to change your travel plans on short notice, including cutting short or cancelling your trip
• stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
• follow the advice and instructions of local authorities
• Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons
• Large-scale emergencies abroad
• Active storm tracking and hurricane watches and warnings  - United States’ National Hurricane Center

Rainy season

The rainy season extends from April to October.

Seasonal flooding can hamper overland travel and reduce the delivery of essential services. Roads may become impassable due to mudslides and landslides. Bridges, buildings, and infrastructure may be damaged.

Earthquakes

Cuba is located in an active seismic zone.

Earthquakes may occur. Even minor earthquakes can cause significant damage.

In the event of an earthquake:

• monitor local media to stay informed of the evolving situation
• follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders
• Earthquakes – What to Do?
• Latest earthquakes  - U.S. Geological Survey

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• police: 106
• medical assistance: 104
• firefighters: 105

Consular assistance

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to Cuba, in Havana, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Cuba Tourism Faces Shortages of Visitors and Supplies

Dave Sherwood, Marc Frank and Nelson Acosta, Reuters

February 18th, 2023 at 7:58 AM EST

Tourism officials in Cuba have to fight the perception that a visit isn't worth the hassle because of ongoing blackouts and shortages.

Dennis Schaal

British birdwatcher Harriet Babeo arrived at Cuba’s Bay of Pigs earlier this week and promptly racked up 80 species for her list including the world’s smallest hummingbird and the elusive red, white and blue Cuban trogon, rarities found only the island.

Far more challenging, she told Reuters, was hunting down a few liters of gasoline for her group’s rental car.

“We’ve gone … three days now, and (the service stations) have had nothing,” Babeo said over breakfast, binoculars and bird book near at hand, at a private home-stay on Cuba’s serene Bay of Pigs.

Tourists like Babeo who spoke with Reuters often raved about their experience in Cuba, praising the country’s hospitality, culture and weather. But increasingly, says Paolo Spadoni, an economist with Augusta University, visitors must confront the realities of Cuba’s economic crisis – the worst in decades – an ominous headwind as the country struggles to breathe new life into its all-important tourism sector.

“If you see how slow the recovery of the Cuban tourism sector is compared to other countries, it tells you there are deeper problems,” Spadoni said.

Cuba in 2022 received 1.6 million visitors, just 38% of the 4.3 million who traveled to the island in 2019, prior to the pandemic. Neighboring Dominican Republic, meanwhile, saw 7.2 million visitors in 2022, up 11.1% over 2019.

Policies implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump have scared off many tourists, Spadoni said. Trump ended cruise ship dockings and flights from the United States and put travelers of other nationalities who visited the island at risk of complicating entry to the United States.

But Cuba’s centrally planned economy, he said, has also failed to ensure adequate infrastructure and supply chains to serve those who still venture forth, souring some visitors and making it “very unlikely” Cuba will hit its goal of 3.5 million visitors in 2023.

“It’s a combination of things that create more and more problems just traveling to Cuba and in the end, many just decide to go somewhere else,” Spadoni said.

The Cuban government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cuba reported 246,000 visitors in January, a slower start to the year than likely necessary to hit its targets, but far better than the first month of 2022, when only 86,400 tourists arrived.

Part of the Experience

Large, state-owned hotels in Havana and on sandy keys offshore account for much of Cuba’s tourism revenue, official statistics show.

But at Playa Larga, a palm-fringed white sand beach deep inside the Bay of Pigs, small private homeowners still fight for their share of tourists, offering home-cooked meals, cozy rooms and Cuban hospitality.

Amauri Lugo, who runs a small home-stay near the beach, said even breakfast basics – milk, bread, eggs, cheese, ham – were hard to come by this year. And while electrical service has improved since December, he said, blackouts were so common last year that tourists often ate dinner by candlelight.

“It made it difficult to attend (to) visitors, but a lot of them understood and cooperated, even enjoyed those moments,” he said.

Collin Laverty, founder of Cuba Educational Travel (CET), said such flexibility is a hallmark of travel to Cuba.

“I always tell travelers there’s definitely a challenging situation on the ground, shortages, inflation, and you’ll experience those things, and you should, because that’s part of going to a country and learning about the reality,” he said.

And for those not interested in roughing it, there are other options, he told Reuters.

“There’s certainly nice hotels with strong internet, bathrooms with toilet paper, and nice restaurants,” Laverty said. “You can see the challenges but you don’t necessarily have to live them first hand as travelers.”

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood in Playa Larga; Additional reporting by Marc Frank and Nelson Acosta in Havana; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

Copyright (2023) Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions

This article was written by Dave Sherwood from Reuters and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive Content Marketplace . Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected] .

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Tags: cuba , dominican republic , hotels , short-term rentals , trump

Photo credit: A stop on a TravelLocal arranged tour of Cuba. The country's tourism rebound has been sluggish compared with its neighbors. TravelLocal

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Tourism in Cuba is Booming With 1.2 Million Foreign Visitors

With its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes and warm hospitality, Cuba continues to attract travelers from around the world. Tourism in Cuba has seen a remarkable surge in international visitors during the first four months of 2023. The country welcomed over 1.2 million visitors, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year.

Approximately 495,000 of Cuba’s visitors have been from Canada. The nation is leading the pack for Cuba’s thriving tourism industry. Following closely behind are visitors from the United States and Russia. The United States had 54,000 visitor, and Russia had 44,000 visitors. This further highlights the growing appeal of Cuba as a travel destination.

The Cuban government aspires to revitalize the country’s tourism industry to pre-pandemic levels. Prior to the pandemic, over 4 million annual visitors were recorded. They aim to welcome approximately 3.5 million foreign tourists this year. This signals a steady recovery and a positive outlook for Cuba’s economy.

In 2022, Cuba experienced a decline in visitor numbers with around 1.7 million foreign tourists visiting the island. This fell short of the government’s initial estimate of 2.5 million. Cuba’s Tourism Minister, Juan Carlos Garcia, highlighted a couple of challenges affecting the tourism flow. In an interview with EFE, he said that the rise in fuel prices has impacted transportation costs.

The government remains optimistic and committed to further boosting the tourism sector. The current upward trend suggests a rebound, providing renewed hope for the tourism-dependent sectors within the country.

The significance of tourism in Cuba extends beyond the number of visitors. It plays a vital role in supporting various segments of the economy. Taxi drivers, hotel employees and individuals renting out their homes are among those who benefit directly from the tourism industry. As visitor numbers gradually increase, the country’s tourism industry remains a crucial pillar for economic growth and development.

United States citizens have been a growing source of tourism for Cuba since the Obama administration lifted some travel restrictions in 2016. However, the Trump administration’s reversal of those policies and the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the industry. Despite these challenges, Americans can still legally travel to Cuba under certain categories, such as educational or humanitarian purposes. The Cuban government also is exploring new ways to attract tourists, such as promoting medical tourism and offering long-term visas for remote workers.

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Protests in Eastern Cuba Mar 26, 2024

On March 17, demonstrators filled the streets of four eastern Cuba cities in rare protests, calling for food and electricity provisions amid widespread shortages throughout the country.

These protests are non-violent and have not impacted travellers, we continue to monitor the situation and give our support to the people in expressing their needs. Read more about the current situation in Cuba .  

Cuba Fuel Shortage Update Mar 12, 2024

Cuba is currently experiencing a severe fuel shortage, resulting in longer-than-usual blackouts and difficulties obtaining petrol. Our tour leaders and drivers have successfully minimised the impact of these fuel shortages by scheduling group activities during blackout hours, using restaurants that can maintain refrigeration, and strategically planning refuelling stops. While experiencing some impact of the current situation is unavoidable, we are working diligently to provide a safe and enjoyable experience in Cuba. Traveller feedback has continued to reflect the success of these efforts. Here are measures you can take to be prepared in case of prolonged blackouts:

• Bring a portable charger
• Bring a battery-operated fan
• Bring a torch/flashlight
• Bring DEET mosquito repellant
• Bring earplugs in case of generator noise
• Avoid walking alone at night

If you're on a tour with us, please let us know if you require electricity for medical needs. Read more about the shortages in Cuba .

QR Code Required for Entry to Cuba Jan 23 2023

As of January 23, 2023 travellers to Cuba must complete immigration, customs, and health forms on the D'Viajeros website prior to arriving in Cuba. The form becomes available 48 hours in advance, and the QR generated will be shown during the check in process. You can follow our step-by-step guide to help you fill out the form. 

ESTA and Cuba Travel June 15, 2022

Travellers who wish to visit the US after travelling to Cuba must have a US visa or other means of legal entry, the ESTA visa waiver will no longer be valid after entering Cuba. Read about the effect of Cuba travel on the ESTA.  

Fuel Price Increase from February 2024 Jan 18, 2024

The Cuban government has announced an over 500% increase in petrol prices from 25 to 132 pesos per litre, which equates to an increase from $.21 to $1.10 per litre in USD. This increase is in response to the fuel and economic crisis and it is part of several other measures to reduce subsidies and revive the economy. At this time we do not foresee increased tour prices due to the rise in fuel costs.

Tour Price Increase August 1 July 22, 2023

Starting from August 1, 2023, we are eliminating the Local Payment on all tours, making it more convenient for you. Although there will be a slight increase in join-in tour prices, this adjustment aims to help you better plan and budget for your Cuban adventure. Additionally, we are adjusting our prices for private tours due to rising costs in the industry and global inflation. These changes are necessary to maintain the high quality of service and unforgettable experiences we provide. Secure the current private tour pricing by booking and paying your deposit before Aug 1.

Current Fuel Crisis in Cuba Apr 30, 2023

In view of the fuel crisis Cuban authorities announced a group of measures across the country this week, such as:  Prioritizing vital sectors, restricting the sale of both gasoline and diesel to private vehicles and to non-prioritized state services, mandating for State-owned cars to pick up people at bus stops or face prosecution. (Even the Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla is not exempt to the surprise of one of his passengers). The queues for most Cubans to refuel at the few gas stations in Havana can last several days, in some provinces the sale of gasoline and diesel has been rationed. Some universities have returned to online classes, as students and professors are finding it increasingly difficult to attend classes. Tour buses are considered as part of the prioritized sector and our tours are not severely affected by the shortages at this stage. (You may experience delays but no cancellations).

Major event - May 1st parade in Revolution Square suspended Apr 25, 2023

The Cuban Government has just announced the suspension of the massive May 1st parade in the capital’s Revolution Square. The mass meeting at the Plaza de la Revolución will be replaced by small marches in the municipalities to be attended on foot, due to the critical situation of fuel shortages. From the triumph of the revolution this is the first time since 1994 that this symbolic celebration has been cancelled outside of 2020 & 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

USD Cash Accepted Again for Deposit at Cuban Banks Apr 10, 2023

Cuban financial and banking institutions are once again accepting cash deposits of US dollars in bank accounts. This move eliminates remaining barriers for locals to use USD and is likely to further increase its acceptance in Cuba. USD and EUR continue to be the most popular foreign currencies in Cuba, for more information read our Money and Currency in Cuba guide. 

Banks Now Exchange USD Feb 17 2023

Banks are now accepting USD for exchange, whereas previously this was limited to the Cadeca exchange houses. Read more about money and currency in Cuba here .

Tourist Card Now Valid for 90 Days Nov 7 2022

As of Nov 1, 2022 the tourist card, also known as the tourist visa, is valid for a stay of 90 days and can be renewed for an additional 90 day stay. There are no changes to the price. 

Post Hurricane Update Oct 12 2022

Damage from Hurricane Ian has been sufficiently repaired to allow travel to proceed as normal throughout the island. Although Viñales, in the hardest hit Pinar del Rio province, sustained damage to its trees and crops, the guesthouses and restaurants are up and running. Travellers who have visited post-hurricane have enjoyed their stay.

Hurricane Ian update Sep 29 2022

The National Electricity System (SEN) has been able to restore services to 12 provinces around the country.

Electricity has been restored to some zones of Havana: Centro Habana, Habana Vieja, Habana del Este y Cotorro.

Power has also been restored to the provinces of Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba y Guantánamo.

For the moment due to the severe damage suffered in Western Cuba, this province remains without electricity.

Hurricane Ian hits Cuba Sep 28 2022

On Tuesday Hurricane Ian made landfall in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province. Officials set up 55 shelters and evacuated 50,000 people, steps were taken to protect tobacco crops. Ian made landfall as a Category 3 storm on the island’s western end, devastating Pinar del Río province.

Hurricane Ian also knocked out electricity to the entire island when it hit the island’s western tip as a major storm.

The Energy and Mines Ministry announced it had restored energy to three regions by activating two large power plants and brigades from around the country  are working in other regions.

New Official Exchange Rate Aug 4, 2022

Cuban Banks and Exchange houses have begun purchasing major foreign currencies (including USD) at 120CUP:1USD, five times the previous official rate. ATM and credit card transactions are still at the 25CUP:1USD rate. Eventually the Cuban government will begin to sell foreign currency, but no date has been announced. Read more

Changes to US Travel Rules June 10, 2022

The Biden Administration announced the elimination of restrictions on commercial and charter flights to Cuba and has facilitated more categories of legal travel for US travellers, including reinstating group people to people travel. Read more here .

Mask Requirement Eliminated May 31, 2022

As of May 31, 2022 Cuba is no longer requiring masks to be worn in public places except for medical facilities. Persons experiencing symptoms of Covid or other illnesses are still required to wear masks. Masks are encouraged for large gatherings where social distancing cannot be maintained. You will still need to bring masks in case rules change during your visit. 

PCR Requirement Eliminated Apr 4, 2022

Cuba has removed the COVID test and vaccine certificate requirements for entry, effective immediately. They will continue with random testing in the airport (no cost). In order to keep our guides, casa staff, and other tour participants safe, Cuban Adventures maintains the requirement for certification of vaccination and a negative rapid test prior to joining the tour. See full details of Cuba’s Covid-19 entry requirements here .

PCR Requirement Reinstated Jan 4, 2022

Cuba has reinstated the mandatory PCR prior to arrival. Starting January 5th, all travellers 13 and older must show negative PCR result taken no more than 72 hours in advance of arrival in addition to proof of vaccination (or certified medical exemption). A PCR test at arrival will be given to anyone displaying symptoms and also for random checks. See full details of Cuba’s Covid-19 entry requirements here .

Omicron Border Entry Update Dec 4, 2021

In response to the Omicron variant, from December 4, Cuba has increased the sanitary precautions for travellers arriving from South Africa and its surrounding countries.

See the full details on our Covid-19 protocols for Cuba page

Cuba Opens its Borders Nov 15, 2021

As of today Cuba is open to tourism. International flights have resumed and domestic travel is taking place once again.

To enter Cuba, travellers aged 12 and older must show proof of vaccination. If they do not show proof of vaccination, they are required to show a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before arrival, except for U.S. travellers. US travellers will not be allowed to enter Cuba without full vaccination.

See the full updated Covid entry requirements here .

Cuba has begun to relax Covid restrictions Oct 20, 2021

As the vaccinated population rises, and the number of Covid cases and deaths begin to fall, Cuba is loosening many of its restrictions:

• Starting November 7, the quarantine requirement will be eliminated
• Vaccinated travelers able to show their certificate will not be required to take a PCR prior to arrival. All international vaccines will be recognized.
• Non-vaccinated travelers must show negative results of a PCR taken no more than 72 hours in advance.
• Children under 12 years old will not be required to show vaccination certificate or have a negative PCR test.
• PCR tests will be performed only on travelers displaying symptoms and there will also be random PCR testing at the airport. Travelers showing symptoms will be taken to a health institution and tested.
• Masks will be required in the airport and throughout the country, as will social distancing, temperature checks and other hygienic measures.
• Owners of casa particulares will be required to report symptoms to health authorities.
• To board a plane in Cuba, travelers must show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR taken less than 72 hours in advance.
• Restaurants, nightclubs, museums, cultural venues, beaches, pools, and other recreation locations have all opened at limited capacity and curfews have been removed.
• Ground transportation will resume but domestic flights do not yet have a plan to resume service.

Cuba Prohibits the use of USD Oct 20, 2021

The government has prohibited the use of US dollars in Cuba, all other currencies are permitted for exchange to the Cuban Peso (CUP or MN) such as Canadian dollars, Euros, British Pounds, Mexican Pesos, etc.

Tourists can obtain MLC cards in Cadecas (exchange houses) at airports, ports, and touristic areas. MLC (Money Libremente Convertible) means foreign currency. EUR and GBP are the most popular currencies to convert. These prepaid cards can be used to pay for goods and services throughout Cuba and remaining funds can be returned to the travelers when they leave the country. The cards expire two years from when they were issued.

Expect food and drink prices to be somewhat increased (30-50%) from what they were prior to the pandemic and unification of the dual currency system.

Cuba to gradually open its borders Sep 13, 2021

The government of Cuba has announced that the reopening of borders internationally and domestically will begin on November 15, 2021 based on the presumption that they will have fully vaccinated 90% of the population by then.

• PCR testing on arrival will be random instead of required, and based on the presence of symptoms
• Vaccinated travellers able to show their certificate will not be required to take a PCR prior to arrival. Non-vaccinated travellers must show negative results of a PCR taken no more than 72 hours in advance. PCR tests will be performed only on travellers displaying symptoms and there may also be random PCR testing at the airport.
• Temperature checks will still be required
• Quarantine requirements will be lifted
• Luggage restrictions will be lifted in all ports of arrival, check with your airline about luggage requirements
• Restrictions limiting interprovincial travel will resume as well

Cuba Currency Situation Update Sep 13, 2021

As of June 21, 2021 Cuban financial and banking institutions stopped accepting U.S. dollars until further notice. This means that travellers should plan to bring other currencies, such as GBP, EUR, CAD to exchange for CUP. In 2020 Cuba took measures to reunite its dual currencies, eliminating the CUC and keeping the CUP whose value was set at 24CUP:1USD. The actual value of the CUP is much lower (currently around 60CUP:1USD) due to current inflation but the currency situation could change drastically once tourism resumes and there is an influx of foreign capital. You can read more about money in Cuba here  .

Cuba’s Convertible Peso (CUC) to be eliminated January 1, 2021

Cuba’s dual currency system is being eliminated, which may lead to price fluctuations. The CUC will be eliminated and the Cuban peso (CUP) will be fixed to the US dollar at 24:1. Read more about money in Cuba here .

U.S. Commercial Flights to Provinces Eliminated October 25, 2019

Further changes were made by the Trump administration to eliminate commercial flights, but only to the provinces, e.g. Santiago de Cuba, Camaguey. Commercial flights to Havana are still available on all major airlines. Read more about flights between the US and Cuba here.

Cuba travel rules for US citizens updated again June 5, 2019

Further changes were made by the Trump administration to travel laws regarding visits to Cuba. Cruise ship visits were banned and the category of legal travel called "People-to-People" was eliminated. Legal travel to Cuba for US citizens is still quite simple however.  Read a full explanation .

New Trump administration travel rules announced Nov 9, 2017

The much awaited changes to the OFAC regulations for legal travel to Cuba by  US citizens  was finally implemented today, with the new rules being  immediately  applicable. Here are some useful links that provide details and an analysis of the implications:

• The  new rules explained
• 6 ways to travel to Cuba  that are currently legal
• US Cuba travel expert interviewed  about the new travel rules

As holidaying Canadians return to Cuba, Cubans themselves are fleeing in record numbers

Canadians accounted for more than half of all tourists entering cuba at the start of 2023.

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Canadian tourists returned to Cuba in large numbers this winter after their numbers fell to almost nothing during the pandemic. Preliminary figures suggest that Canadians accounted for about 52 per cent of all foreign arrivals in Cuba in January.

Cubans themselves, meanwhile, are fleeing the island nation in record numbers in response to unprecedented levels of poverty and political repression.

More than 220,000 Cubans — amounting to 2 per cent of the island's entire population — were taken into custody after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border last year. Others settled in other countries in the Americas or traveled as far as Russia and Serbia (both countries that allow Cubans to enter visa-free).

Within the Cuban diaspora, there is a sense that the country is emptying out — that almost anyone who has the means to leave is either actively planning an escape or is at least thinking about it.

An industry has grown up around the exodus, with airlines cashing in on Cubans' desperation by charging exorbitant fares to destinations where Cubans are allowed to land.

And there are indications that the Cuban Communist Party and its ally in Nicaragua, the Ortega-Murillo regime, are allowing and even encouraging the exodus in order to kill two birds with one stone by generating income while removing dissidents.

'Everyone is leaving'

"This would be the largest single figure of people leaving the island ever registered, either before or after the revolution," said Jorge Duany, an expert on Cuban migration at Florida International University.

"It's more than (the Mariel boatlift) in 1980, the prior record, or the more recent upsurge in Cuban migration during the rafter crisis in 1994."

Duany said the exodus is being driven by a combination of factors, including political repression, a failing economy and "health issues, especially during the pandemic in the last few years."

"And all of these factors combined to create a perfect storm," he said. "So people are just desperate to leave, whether it's for immediate reasons like not having enough food on their table, or for having participated in one of the peaceful demonstrations, not just on July 11 (2021), but also smaller ones in the last year and a half, as well as the very extreme response by the Cuban government of repressing these protests and putting people in jail."

With its own economy a shambles, Cuba depends heavily on remittances sent by Cubans living in the U.S. The Trump administration imposed limits on how much could be sent and how, leading Western Union to close its operations in Cuba.

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Last May, the Biden administration relaxed those rules  and this month, Western Union resumed normal remittance operations. But Duany said the combination of the pandemic — which brought tourism almost to a standstill — and the difficulties around remittances pushed many Cubans to the point of desperation.

Duany said the exodus cuts across all segments of Cuban society.

"I think everyone is leaving," he said. "We don't have a good profile of the last wave of ... 2022, the 225,000 people yet, but previous data that we do have from Homeland Security suggests that it's a cross-section mostly of Cubans from all walks of life. They tend to be younger, of course."

'Families are selling everything they have'

Kirenia Carbonell is a Canadian federal public servant originally from the small town of La Canela in Cuba's eastern Holguin province.

"Where I come from," she told CBC News, "entire families are selling everything they have and they're leaving via Nicaragua. Some of them are even going to Suriname . I never heard of Suriname before. Some of them from my own family are living in Suriname. They find themselves a job and they're able to afford to sponsor the rest of the family from Cuba to Suriname."

Carbonell said inflation has widened the gap between Cuban wages and the cost of the most basic necessities to a point where many can no longer cope.

"We have that ration card that every month you are supposed to get from your local grocery this and that, five pounds of rice," she said. "This month in my municipality, they brought one pound of rice per person for the entire month. But then the same government has special stores where you can go and buy one pound for 150 pesos. They get paid 2,500 pesos on average and just the food for the month is over 30,000 pesos."

A new escape route opens

The stereotype of a Cuban migrant is the "balsero" or rafter who floats across the straits that divide Cuba from Florida.

That kind of migration is still happening. The U.S. Coast Guard detained about 2,500 balseros during January alone.

But these days, only the poorest and most desperate Cubans take the dangerous sea route.

New air and land routes have opened up that are preferred by migrants — and are also more lucrative for the Cuban government and its Nicaraguan ally.

Cuba has one of the world's weakest passports in terms of visa-free travel because of the well-known penchant of Cubans to defect once they leave the island. But in November 2021, Nicaragua lifted the visa requirement for Cuban citizens, ostensibly to promote tourism.

"They are lovers of our volcanoes. They don't have volcanoes," Ana Carolina Garcia of Nicaragua's tourism bureau said at the time.

In fact, the vast majority of Cubans who travel to Nicaragua subsequently head north and try to cross the U.S.-Mexico land border.

No sooner was the visa requirement lifted than a group of little-known charter airlines began to offer exorbitantly-priced flights from Havana or Camaguey, Cuba to Managua, Nicaragua. Carriers such as Air Century, Aruba Airlines and the Venezuelan state-owned Conviasa have charged up to $6,000 for seats on the two-hour flight.

Normally, Cubans can only pay those fares by borrowing money from relatives who have already left the island.

Regimes cashing in on migrants

The air migration represents a bonanza for both the Nicaraguan and Cuban regimes, which profit mightily from taxes, airport fees, landing fees and other charges.

If the migrants are successful in reaching the U.S., Cuba can expect them to send money to family members back home — at which point the regime profits a second time by taxing the remittances. (For Nicaragua too, remittances have become essential )

Cuban Communist authorities take a third cut when family members in Cuba have to spend those dollars in the Cuban government's monopolistic dollarized stores, which sell goods with an average mark-up of over 200 per cent.

(CBC News contacted the Cuban embassy for this article but did not receive a response.)

Moreover, dissidents say the Cuban and Nicaraguan regimes both see migration as achieving a double political purpose: expelling their own dissidents and frustrated citizens while undermining the United States with waves of illegal immigration.

"This is their modus operandi, every time the tensions in Cuba rise," said Carbonell, who linked the wave of protests that swept Cuba in the summer of 2021 directly to the decision to open the Nicaraguan escape valve in the fall of that year.

"It relieves the pressure by opening its borders, as in the Mariel situation (in 1980)," she said. "And in this case, they found an accomplice in Nicaragua who then was able to receive Cubans without the visa.

"Everyone knows where those Cubans are going to end up, whether it's in the United States or on a road into Quebec. They know they're not going to stay in Nicaragua."

Exporting people

"There seems to be some sort of agreement between the Nicaraguan government and the Cuban government in order to facilitate this migration," said Duany. "Although again, it's not in any document I've seen.

"But clearly the Cuban government benefits from exporting a large number of people, especially dissidents, but also those who can't find work in Cuba. And that seems to be a problem as well in the last few years, of an increasing unofficial unemployment. If you look at the numbers, Cuba has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world, but many of those people aren't working productively and they're making very low salaries."

Remittances, he said, "have become probably the second or third major source of currency after tourism and the export of professional services (such as Cuban doctors ).

"It's one of the ways in which the Cuban government can find a lifeline through this flow of money that eventually gets back to Cuba."

The other way the Cuban regime hopes to dig itself out of its current economic crisis is by doubling down on tourism.

"There's a lot of effort to re-establish Russian tourism," said Duany, adding the war in Ukraine likely will make it difficult to restore the Russian tourist traffic Cuba enjoyed before the pandemic.

Cuba depends more than ever on Canadians

Before the pandemic, the biggest source of tourist money for the Cuban regime was Canadians.

About 1.3 million Canadians would enter and leave Cuba in a typical year — more than any other nationality, including Cubans themselves.

The Cuban government and the Cuban military that owns many of the resorts have focused spending in recent years on building new hotels . 

But although Canadians are now returning — Swoop, a low-cost airline, announced  three new weekly flights to Varadero in January — tourism numbers have not rebounded as quickly as the Communist Party had hoped . January 2023 saw only about 63 per cent of the bookings reported in January 2020, although for Canadian tourists the number was closer to 80 per cent.

Cuba has had to halve its GDP growth forecast for 2023 from 6 per cent to 3 per cent as it struggles to recover from the 11 per cent plunge it suffered in 2020.

Cuban pro-democracy activists continue to appeal to Canadians not to travel to Cuba.

"I believe there is a lack of awareness that these things are going on in Cuba," said Carbonell. "I have many friends who are even now going to go because in their minds, when they go, they help the Cuban population.

"And it's true, they bring a luggage full of medicine, full of essentials, nylons for the ladies working at the resort and so forth, because they know there is nothing. But maybe they don't realize that you can contribute all you want to your friends in Cuba, but you nevertheless are contributing to the regime."

Carbonell said the money the Cuban regime and armed forces obtain from tourism is mostly re-invested in building new hotels, while the Cuban workforce is paid only a fraction of what hotel workers are paid in neighbouring countries. The money also finances the Cuban Communist Party's apparatus of repression.

"No one who goes to the resort can imagine that beyond those walls, people are suffering so badly," she said.

Although the new routes out of Cuba may seem safer than venturing onto the sea in rickety rafts, hundreds of Cubans have lost their lives or disappeared in the recent wave of departures. Some died of accidents or homicides on the overland route, or drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande.

"People have lost their lives in the rivers, people have lost their lives on the sea," said Carbonell.

"So how desperate they could be? And the government took advantage of that, just took advantage of everyone who had someone abroad who could send them the money to do that, of everyone who sold every little thing they had to be able to collect the money and do the route."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senior Reporter

Evan Dyer has been a journalist with CBC for 25 years, after an early career as a freelancer in Argentina. He works in the Parliamentary Bureau and can be reached at [email protected].

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Cuba opens to tourism

The island has already started de-escalation in its different territories and sectors, which will be joined by tourism on a large scale as of november 15..

Varadero. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez

The pandemic has been a devastating blow to the tourism sector in Cuba. If before the arrival of COVID-19 the island managed to receive more than 4 million visitors per year — even with the measures to restrict travel imposed by the Donald Trump administration —, last year it barely exceeded one million and this year it will be far from the initial forecasts, which aimed to exceed 2 million at the end of December.

In fact, in 2021 the setback will be even more profound, since until August only a little more than 160,000 tourists had traveled to the country, about 2,960,000 less than the same period in 2019 and 824,000 less than in the first eight months of last year, according to data offered weeks ago by the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR).

The main cause of this steep fall has been the strong and prolonged wave of COVID-19 in recent months ― marked by the arrival in the country of more contagious and aggressive variants of the coronavirus, such as Beta and Delta ―, which made it necessary to restrict international flights and to limit tourist activity to specific destinations, such as Varadero and Cayo Coco. And, as might be expected, such a collapse has had a disastrous impact on the already dwindling coffers of the Cuban state.

However, with the advance of the vaccination against COVID-19 , as a result of which more than 60% of the Cuban population already has the complete immunization scheme, and an ostensible improvement in the epidemiological scenario, as reflected by official statistics, Cuba already began the de-escalation in its different territories and sectors, which will be joined by tourism on a large scale as of November 15. And it will do so — along with a change in the protocols for travelers and a “controlled” and “gradual” reopening of facilities and services — “with optimism” for the high season that is beginning, according to the sector authorities.

This was confirmed this Tuesday by Cuban Minister of Tourism Juan Carlos García during a press conference broadcast live on state television. In it, he offered details on the de-escalation in this key area for the country’s finances — which includes, for example, the elimination of the mandatory quarantine as of November 7 and the requirement of a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test, except for children under 12 years of age — and on the measures that will be applied in order to guarantee the safety of workers and guests, and prevent a re-outbreak of COVID-19 destroying the advances in the confrontation with the disease and the urgent oxygenation of the Cuban economy.

“An important challenge”

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In his appearance, García emphasized that Cuban tourism is focused on the upcoming operations that will open as of mid-November, and for which the country’s 10 international airports are already “ready,” and on offering a “safe and secure” quality service” that catalyzes the desired recovery, both in the state and non-state sectors. In addition, he forecasted the arrival of more than 100,000 visitors in the final two months of the year, a figure that is still low, but at the same time “an important challenge,” in the opinion of the minister, who rather than talk about the losses caused to his sector due to the pandemic, said he preferred to “look ahead” and “what must be anticipated in order to make the level of satisfaction higher.”

According to what was reported by the head of MINTUR, the announcement of the reopening of borders and larger-scale tourist operations has had “a very favorable reaction,” and tour operators have requested more capacities than initially planned, while there are also more requests for flight and a reactivity of air connectivity, both from regular and charter airlines. This, he said, has occurred in both traditional markets, such as Europe and Canada, as well as other emerging markets that have been gaining more and more prominence, among which he highlighted Russia, a country that practically capitalized on the limited hotel capacities in operation on the island during 2021.

Similarly, García assured that Cuba “does not discriminate against any country” and is even open to travel and tourism from the U.S. if the government of that nation allowed it, in an explicit nod to a market that grew exponentially for the island until the Trump administration closed the lock. Along the same lines, he commented that the island is in the best position to carry out more negotiations with tour operators, hotel chains, and airline and cruise companies, even though the latter cannot arrive, at least for now, from U.S. ports.

“We don’t think that on the 15th the country’s capacities will be full, but we can progressively have an early winter. It depends on how the markets react, but the scenario is increasingly favorable and we are optimistic,” reiterated the minister, who pointed out that to face the new season “we haven’t stood idly by” during the stoppage caused by the pandemic. For this, he said, they have worked to “diversify the Cuban tourism product,” with the design of new offers beyond the traditional areas of sun and beach, and nature, to also promote others such as health tourism ― with the COVID-19 vaccines as an attraction to take advantage of ― and the cultural one, in alliance with the ministries of both sectors.

He also pointed out that as of November 15, the circuits and the mobility of tourists throughout the country will be restored, 4,000 new rooms will be added to the existing hotel plant on the island, and that work has been done on the existing ones to increase their comfort and to adapt the facilities to the “new normal” conditions imposed by COVID-19, as well as to expand connectivity possibilities, not only in five-star hotels but also in lower-category hotels and other extra-hotel centers. This, among other things, will make it possible to take advantage of the potential of mobile applications and online services and payments.

And regarding payments, he also recalled the already launch of prepaid cards in freely convertible currency, which can be bought by tourists to purchase products and services, as an alternative to using the dollar in cash, officially vetoed by the Cuban authorities. In this regard, he clarified that other international currencies such as the Canadian dollar, the euro, the British pound, the Japanese yen and the Mexican peso remain authorized, always at the official exchange rate.

Measures, protocols and national tourism

The head of the MINTUR dedicated a good part of what he said to the press to detail the measures and protocols that will be implemented in Cuba in the coming weeks, with a view to the large-scale reopening of flights and international tourism. Among them, the already advanced elimination of the mandatory quarantine for international travelers arriving in the country, which will come into effect on November 7. Travelers will be required to provide a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative PCR result performed within 72 hours prior to travel. The exception, in both cases, will be children under 12 years of age, who may enter the island without these requirements.

In the case of vaccination certificates, the minister pointed out that those of all vaccines that have been certified by the corresponding regulatory agencies will be allowed, which opens the door to drugs not yet validated by the World Health Organization (WHO), like the Russian Sputnik V. And he added that airlines have been insisted to verify the evidence that travelers are immunized or, failing that, have a negative PCR.

García also said that at the border, visitors will be required to present the Declaration of Traveler’s Health and epidemiological surveillance will be maintained at airports and other points of entry, where random PCR tests will be carried out and the appearance of suspicious symptoms of COVID-19 will be monitored. The same will happen in hotel facilities, where, he said, “medical care is being strengthened” and measures already implemented during the pandemic have been maintained, such as the mandatory use of a mask in closed spaces and common areas, limited capacity in restaurants and other places, disinfection of hands and surfaces, and the requirement of physical distancing, among others.

In the event that a visitor is detected with symptoms, they will be referred to a healthcare center and a diagnostic test will be performed. And the hotel-hospitals for tourists who test positive will be maintained. Meanwhile, the owners of the rental houses ― who are also reopening their doors ― will be responsible for reporting “immediately” if any of their guests shows signs of being sick, while, according to García, the health areas in the communities in which these houses are located are responsible for the epidemiological surveillance of the tourists staying in them.

As for Cuban travelers residing on the island, they must go to the doctor’s office in their area within a period of no more than 48 hours after their arrival, and have “a follow-up” by their health area. In addition, those not vaccinated will undergo an antigen test on the seventh day of their arrival in Cuba and “if they present symptoms, they will be treated as a suspicious case,” according to the minister.

Finally, García announced that on November 15 tourist facilities for the domestic market will also reopen, although some tourist destinations and territories will be opened before that date. Thus, as of next October 25, the famous Varadero beach resort will open its doors to Cubans from outside Matanzas, at the same time that “all opened facilities,” including those that operate for the international market, such as those located on the keys to the north of Cuba, will start being marketed.

This reopening, according to the head of the MINTUR, will also be carried out in compliance with “all established protocols” and will increase “as interprovincial and inter-municipal mobility increases, taking into account the situation of each territory.” The plan, he said, is “to begin recovering our customs, to be able to visit relatives and go on vacations, as well as to recover the economic activity of the country,” after the dark period of the pandemic. However, it will be time that will finally say how effective or not the planned strategies and protocols are, and to what extent the de-escalation of the tourism sector justifies the optimism of the authorities and, with them, of many Cubans.

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Good day , l usually spend my winters in Cuba but not this winter of 21 22 ! Last year after my 3 month stay l was unable to leave because of the lockdown in Canada and Cuba so l had to stay nearly another 4 months at my expense and Civic was very much present ! This year at this time the numbers for Civic are way too high to even consider it being safe ! I will return for the 22 23 season if the numbers are satisfactory ! LOVE THE PEOPLE , LOVE THE COUNTRY ! Thank You Frank !

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The 51-square-mile (13,210-hectare) Vinales valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and among Cuba’s top and best known tourist destinations.

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Canadian family receives wrong body after father died on Cuban vacation

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LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — A family in Quebec is searching for answers after discovering that their father’s remains didn’t make it to Canada from Cuba, where he died while on vacation, and instead received the remains of another man.

Funerals for Faraj Allah Jarjour were scheduled for Sunday and Monday. Instead, his daughter Miriam Jarjour had been desperately calling and emailing as many officials as she can, trying to find his body.

“Up until now we have no answers,” Jarjour said. “Where is my father?”

Jarjour said she was swimming with her 68-year-old father in the ocean near Varadero, Cuba, during a family vacation on March 22 when he suddenly had a heart attack and died.

Because there were no medical facilities, his body was covered and left on a beach chair in the hot sun for more than eight hours until a car arrived to take it to Havana, Jarjour said.

After that, it’s not clear what happened.

Jarjour said she followed the directions given to her by the Canadian consulate, and paid $10,000 Canadian (US$7,300) to have the body returned home to the family.

However, the casket that arrived late last week contained the body of a Russian man who was at least 20 years younger than Jarjour’s father. Unlike her father, the body also had a full head of hair and tattoos.

Jarjour said the stranger’s body has been sent to his country, but she and her family don’t know where her father is.

When Jarjour contacted Canada’s consular authorities in Cuba, they blamed the company in the island that coordinates the return of the remains. Since then, she says she has been emailing other government officials, including her Member of Parliament, who has agreed to reach out to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.

“I’m honestly destroyed,” said Jarjour. “Up until now we have no answers. We’re waiting. I don’t know what to tell you.”

Jarjour described her father as an active man who didn’t smoke or drink. The Syrian-born family man was “always smiling,” she said.

The ordeal has left her mother exhausted, said Jarjour. She and her brother are struggling through their own grief while trying to get answers from authorities who all seem to deny responsibility.

So far, the family has spent $25,000 Canadian (US$18,248), including $15,000 Canadian (US$10,950) for funeral services that have been put on hold.

Global Affairs Canada said in an email that consular officials are working with Cuban authorities and the family to resolve the issue.

But Jarjour doesn’t feel she is getting the answers she needs and is hoping Joly will personally intervene to pressure Cuban authorities.

“What I want is someone to help me find my father,” she said.

Cuba Apologizes to Canada for Delivering Wrong Body to Grieving Family

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Capitol in Havana, Cuba, September 1, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini/Pool/File Photo

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba apologized to Canada on Wednesday after authorities accidentally delivered the remains of another man to a Canadian family grieving the loss of a loved one who died while vacationing on the Caribbean island in March.

Faraj Jarjour, a Canadian citizen of Syrian descent, died of a heart attack in the Varadero beach resort two hours east of Havana on March 22, according to a report by Canada's CBC news agency.

Weeks later, his family was shocked to find the body of a tattooed man many years younger in the casket delivered from Cuba to a funeral home near Montreal, the family told the CBC. The body delivered looked nothing like their father, the family said.

The identity of the body delivered was not clear.

Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said on social media Wednesday that he had spoken with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly about the "unfortunate incident."

"Cuban authorities (are) investigating to clarify the incident," Rodriguez said. "I conveyed heartfelt condolences and apologies to relatives and friends of the deceased."

Jarjour`s family continues to await the delivery of their father`s body from Cuba, now more than a month since his passing.

Cuba`s state-run media has not reported on details surrounding the accidental delivery.

The island remains a popular destination among Canadians despite a grinding economic crisis that has led to shortfalls in food, fuel and medicine

Canada foreign minister Joly confirmed she had spoken with Rodriguez and said Canadian officials were working with Cuba to resolve the mix-up over Jarjour`s body.

"We share the utmost concern for the unimaginable situation his family faces," Joly said on social media.

(This story has been refiled to correct a typo in the headline)

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Josie Kao)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Top Cuban official says country open to more U.S. deportations, blames embargo for migrant exodus

By Camilo Montoya-Galvez

April 18, 2024 / 4:22 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Cuba's government is willing to accept more deportation flights from the U.S. of Cuban migrants, who have traveled to the southern border in record numbers over the past three years, a top Cuban official told CBS News in an exclusive interview. 

After a two-year pause, the U.S. restarted deportation flights to the island last year. Since then, the U.S. has been sending one flight with Cuban deportees to Havana each month.

But in an interview with CBS News this week, Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said Cuban officials are willing to accommodate more than one flight per month.

"We're open to having more" deportation flights, said Fernández de Cossío, who visited Washington this week to meet with Biden administration officials for the latest round of migration talks between the two countries.

Since the 1959 Cuban Revolution, the U.S. and Cuba have had a deeply contentious relationship. The Cold War-era rivals still bitterly disagree on many issues, from Cuba's human rights record and its ties to China and Russia to the decades-long American embargo on Cuban imports and exports.

But Washington and Havana have worked together on immigration, including by signing the 1994 U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords, which officials from both nations are discussing this week. The two countries' work on immigration has intensified in recent years amid the record arrival of hundreds of thousands of Cubans to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Since the start of fiscal year 2021, the U.S. has processed more than 450,000 Cuban migrants at the southern border, according to Customs and Border Protection data. The flow of Cuban migrants to the U.S. border has slowed since last year, when the Biden administration created programs that have allowed some Cubans to fly into the U.S. legally or appear at an official border crossing.

In the interview this week, Fernández de Cossío blamed the exodus from Cuba in recent years on the U.S. embargo and other American policies, including the 1960s Cuban Adjustment Act, which created a special pathway to permanent U.S. residency for certain Cuban migrants. Only Congress can change that law.

Fernández de Cossío said the U.S. is "aiming at destroying the Cuban economy" through its sanctions. He did not concede that economic mismanagement and repressive policies by Havana have also driven Cubans to flee the island, as the U.S. government has argued.  

"You can speak about other factors, but if you have a consistent policy by the most powerful economy in the world to try to destroy the livelihood of a whole population, 11 million Cubans, it is logical to expect people, a segment of the population, to want to leave the country," he said.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security assessed that "Cuba's deteriorating economic conditions and political repression continue to increasingly drive Cubans out of their country."

Fernández de Cossío also cited the lack of some legal channels for Cuban citizens to come to the U.S. for illegal crossings along the southern border by Cubans.

He urged the State Department to resume the processing of tourist and short-term visas in Havana. The Biden administration restarted immigrant visa processing in Cuba, but short-term visa seekers in Cuba still have to travel to a third country to have their cases processed. 

Fernández de Cossío said U.S. officials informed him they would resume full visa processing in Cuba in the future.

Representatives for the State Department did not respond to requests to comment on Fernández de Cossío's remarks.

Fernández de Cossío expressed some concern about additional U.S. sanctions if former President Donald Trump is elected in November. During Trump's tenure, the U.S. had a more aggressive stance towards Cuba, reversing the Obama administration's attempt to normalize relations with Havana.

"Of course we're concerned if there are additional economic measures [against] Cuba, regardless of who wins the election. The Biden administration has very faithfully applied the policies put in place by the Trump administration and added some," he said. "So we would not [be] surprised they would do it. It would be unfair, and we believe it would be immoral, but we have to acknowledge that would happen and [it] gives us room for concern."

Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics.

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Mexico on Friday said it has prevailed in a labor dispute centered on a mine operated by one of the world's top copper producers in which the United States had sought a probe, with a labor panel under the trade agreement between the two countries and Canada saying it lacked jurisdiction.

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Gaza aid from Cyprus resumes after pause following aid worker killings

Aid shipments to Gaza from Cyprus resumed late on Friday, a Cypriot source and a UAE official said, with a ship carrying food to the besieged Palestinian enclave after a pause following Israel's killing of seven aid workers.

The European Union criticised Russia on Saturday for putting subsidiaries of one Italian and one German company under the "temporary external management" of a Gazprom entity, saying the move underscored Moscow's disregard for international norms.

Carnival cruise ship rescues nearly 30 people from adrift vessel

A Carnival Cruise Line ship rescued nearly 30 people who were stuck at sea on Sunday.

The crew on Carnival Paradise saved 28 Cuban nationals who were signaling for help on a vessel that was adrift around 2:30 p.m. The cruise ship was headed from Tampa, Florida, to Roatan in Honduras at the time.

“The bridge team onboard spotted the vessel and turned the ship around to rescue them,” Carnival said in a news release . “All were taken aboard, given food and were seen by the medical team.” The cruise line also notified the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West and officials in Roatan.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

The ship was set to visit Roatan on Monday. Carnival Paradise is on a five-day Caribbean cruise that departed from Tampa on Saturday, according to CruiseMapper .

The news comes after Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex ship rescued seven people in a small vessel adrift between Cuba and Mexico earlier this month. Another Carnival ship, Carnival Jubilee, also rescued two people stuck in a kayak off the coast of Mexico’s Isla Mujeres in January.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Cuba showcases tourism benefits at China´s MITE

• April 27, 2024

The presentation of the Cuban Embassy’s Tourism Counselor, Elizabeth Vela, and Consul General, Marina Domenech, was broadcast live on the Asian country’s social networks.

According to diplomatic sources, this is the second time Cuba participates in the MITE and does so on this occasion with a 18-square-meter stand that promotes the Cuba Única campaign, launched in China in 2023.

According to Vela, the preparation of a typical Cuban mojito attracted attention of visitors to the fairgrounds, who approached the Cuban stand to learn more about Cuba’s culture and tourism.

Organizers assured that this year’s edition expects over 30,000 participants, around 512 tourism companies and some 39 nations as exhibitors to attend the fair.

Other Cuba´s major goals are to promote safe health destination and representative products, explore business openings in the southern Chinese market and also to learn more about the interests of the Chinese clients.

Among the most relevant exhibitors in this edition are the Guangdong Tourism Bureau (South China), national and international travel agencies, Southeast Asian countries, Asia and Oceania, airlines, as well as several nations that will be concentrated in a pavilion.

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• # China # Cuba # MITE # tourism benefits

Cuban Parliament is willing to reinforce ties with South Africa

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