On Monday, Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, removed Leticia Gómez, the Cuban who had been serving as the Minister of Tourism, and appointed Daniella Cabello, daughter of Diosdado Cabello, in her place.
"I have decided to appoint the young Daniella Cabello as the new Minister of Popular Power for Tourism. She will now take on the responsibility of advancing the development and promotion of the National Tourism System. My gratitude goes to Leticia Gómez for her valuable work at the helm of this important ministry. Venezuela, open to the world," announced Rodríguez on Facebook.
Leticia Gómez: A Protégé of Manuel Marrero in Venezuela
Leticia Gómez is far from being an impromptu figure. She arrived in Venezuela in 2001, "under the wing" of Manuel Marrero Cruz, the Cuban Prime Minister, who was then a senior figure at the Gaviota S.A. hotel group, owned by the military conglomerate GAESA, the economic core of the Cuban regime.
Under Marrero Cruz's guidance, Gómez rose from managing nationalized hotels to leading the state-run Venetur, and eventually the Ministry of Tourism under Nicolás Maduro's government.
Her career exemplifies the exportation of the Cuban model of economic and political control: disciplined technocrats serving the military state, using tourism as a means to earn foreign currency and sustain the power structure.
The approach is unmistakable. In Cuba, Marrero Cruz has turned tourism into his political lifeline, even during the nation's worst crises. While the country endures blackouts, inflation, and unprecedented migration, the prime minister insists that "Cuba needs foreign currency and will continue to bet on tourism."
Her removal could be seen as a signal of the chavismo distancing itself from the Cuban regime.
Daniella Cabello: Chavismo's Influencer
Daniella Cabello, Diosdado's daughter, was among the 21 chavismo figures sanctioned by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) following the electoral fraud of 2024.
With a thwarted singing career and incomplete university studies in Political Science, Diosdado's daughter was named president of the Marca País Foundation in March 2023, tasked with promoting tourism to Venezuela.
In September of the same year, she took charge of the Venezuelan Export Promotion Agency.
She is also part of the Misión Venezuela Joven, which is crucial in indoctrinating youth into chavismo.
The 33-year-old is married to producer and singer Omar Acedo. Her lavish lifestyle and social media presence symbolize the nepotistic excesses of chavismo.
Key Questions About the Changes in Venezuela's Tourism Ministry
Why was Leticia Gómez removed as Venezuela's Minister of Tourism?
Leticia Gómez was removed, possibly as a gesture of distancing the chavismo from the Cuban regime. Her career was closely tied to the Cuban model of economic and political control.
Who is Daniella Cabello and what is her new role?
Daniella Cabello, daughter of Diosdado Cabello, is now the Minister of Popular Power for Tourism in Venezuela. She has previously held roles in promoting tourism and exports in the country.