In recent days, Canadian tourists returning from Cuba have shared that beyond their disrupted vacations, what struck them most was the distress among tourism sector employees. These workers are fearful of losing their jobs amidst the island's severe fuel crisis.
The Canadian newspaper Calgary Herald featured a report capturing the accounts of travelers startled by flight cancellations and the shutdown of tourist facilities. Ashley Cardinal, a tourist from Calgary, recounted that local employees were "frightened about what's ahead" and deeply worried that these cancellations are "severely affecting them," as their livelihoods depend on the tourism industry.
Before departing, Cardinal decided to give away her remaining Cuban currency to some of the workers, aware of their uncertain immediate future.
The scale of the exodus was also covered in a report by the Toronto Star, noting that Air Canada had about 3,000 customers in Cuba, and Air Transat had more than 6,500. The airlines were sending empty planes to bring passengers back home after being notified that aviation fuel would no longer be available at Cuban airports.
In the same report, a tourist in Varadero described the airport process as chaotic due to power outages causing computers to reboot every few minutes. Another traveler expressed a sense of "sadness in the air" and mentioned avoiding discussions about the situation with hotel staff because they would be "much more impacted" than the tourists.
A similar story was shared by CityNews, where a group of five women from Edmonton revealed their unsuccessful attempts to obtain information after hearing about the cancellations. One of them mentioned that hotel employees had gone two weeks without electricity at home and were uncertain about "what will happen to them" or "if they will have jobs" in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government has heightened its travel advisory, urging citizens to avoid non-essential trips to Cuba and to leave the island while flights are still operational, as reported by The Canadian Press.
On social media, numerous users have expressed concern for the Cuban people, noting that while tourists can be relocated or receive refunds, local workers face the direct impact: job losses, power outages, and a crisis that threatens to worsen.
Impact of Cuba's Fuel Crisis on Tourism
Why are tourism workers in Cuba distressed?
Tourism workers in Cuba are distressed due to the fuel crisis, which has led to flight cancellations and the closure of tourist facilities, threatening their employment and livelihoods.
How has the Canadian government responded to the situation in Cuba?
The Canadian government has raised its travel advisory, recommending citizens avoid non-essential travel to Cuba and encouraging them to depart the island while flights remain available.