Gisela Flores, a Peruvian tourist visiting Cuba, shared her firsthand experience of the grim reality that Cubans face.
Flores recounted the striking moments from her trip and noted how the situation in Cuba "is worsening each day."
"Seeing garbage strewn across the capital and old houses still inhabited by people"; "most Cubans endure long hours without electricity"; "no mobile operator has coverage in Cuba, so I arrived and was left without internet," the young woman described about her journey.
She further added, "People scavenging through street trash," "if you need a major surgery, you have to procure everything on your own," and "shortages of basic food supplies."
This Peruvian clearly observed the stark contrast between tourists and locals, who would require "months or years" to save enough for a few days at a resort.
"Many say in Cuba you don't live, you survive... What tourists experience is not even enjoyed by 1% of Cubans," she commented.
Flores' account joins a seemingly endless list of tourist narratives overwhelmed by the island's reality.
Yesterday, Argentine creator Rocío Juanes went viral on TikTok after sharing how she was scammed upon arriving in Havana. Her story, told with humor and candidness, sparked thousands of comments from travelers and Cubans debating the island's charm, cunning, and shortages.
"I was scammed as soon as I arrived in Havana," Rocío begins in her first video. "As soon as I stepped out of the hotel, everyone approached me to ask for things or talk, but they were all men. So, when a woman approached me, I thought it was different."
Understanding the Cuban Reality Through Tourist Experiences
What challenges do tourists face when visiting Cuba?
Tourists often encounter limited internet connectivity, frequent power outages, and the dire living conditions faced by locals. Additionally, they may face scams and high-pressure interactions from locals seeking resources.
How do the living conditions of Cubans differ from those of tourists?
Cubans experience severe shortages of basic necessities, have to procure medical supplies themselves for surgeries, and endure difficult living conditions, whereas tourists are shielded from these harsh realities, enjoying resort facilities that are inaccessible to most locals.