Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, the national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and a former spy convicted in the United States, shared images on Friday of a Cuban beach with pristine white sands and turquoise waters. His message read: "Americans: Look at what you're missing out on because of the blockade!"
The video, posted on his Facebook profile, features a Cuban flag waving before the ocean, tagged with #CDRCuba and #CubaNoSeRinde.
In the post's description, Hernández Nordelo elaborated: "Cuba, how beautiful is Cuba! Banned for #USA citizens due to the blockade!"
The post quickly amassed hundreds of comments, mostly criticizing the official.
Commenters highlighted the glaring contradiction: Cuban beaches aren't empty due to the U.S. embargo, but because locals can't afford access with average state salaries around 7,000 pesos a month, equating to less than $20.
"It's not like the island's residents can enjoy them; focus on solving that first. Whose fault is it?" wrote one user.
Another commentator was more blunt: "Tell that to those in the eastern provinces, enduring 72-hour blackouts since Hurricane Melissa, who never received humanitarian aid, which was sold in Havana instead."
From the U.S., a forum participant retorted: "We have beaches just as good or better, plus food, good services, drinks, your car parked close by, and above all, FREEDOM, something you lack there. Down with communism."
Hernández's reel comes at a time of historic collapse for Cuban tourism. In May, only 30,883 international visitors arrived on the island, the lowest monthly figure in years, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
Between January and May this year, Cuba welcomed 359,491 tourists, a 58.4% drop compared to the same period in 2025. Hotel occupancy fell to 12.9% in the first quarter, less than half of the 23.7% recorded the previous year.
Major chains like Meliá, Iberostar, Blue Diamond, and Archipelago have halted their operations in Cuba due to the threat of secondary sanctions from Executive Order 14380, signed by President Donald Trump on January 29. More than 30 hotels have temporarily closed.
The official tourism industry itself acknowledges the issue. A Cubatur official admitted publicly that "tourists are afraid to come to Cuba."
This isn't the first time Hernández has resorted to such posts. In October 2025, he shared a similar video, labeling Cuba a "tourist paradise forbidden for free U.S. citizens," which also drew negative reactions.
On the same Friday that the CDR national coordinator was promoting empty beaches, the Tryp Habana Libre Hotel announced a $30 day pass per person amid power outages lasting up to 22 hours daily in the capital.
Additionally, a Cuban recently vented in a viral video about the subpar buffet at the Ocean Vista Azul hotel in Varadero, with long lines and shortages of basic foods, for a price nearing $1,000.
Cuba ended 2025 with only 1.8 million international visitors, the worst numbers since 2002—excluding pandemic years—compared to 4.6 million in 2018.
Understanding Cuba's Tourism Challenges
Why are Cuban beaches empty?
Cuban beaches are largely empty not because of the U.S. embargo, but due to the fact that most Cubans cannot afford to visit them, given the low state salaries that average around 7,000 pesos a month, which is less than $20.
How has the U.S. embargo affected Cuba's tourism industry?
The U.S. embargo has contributed to Cuba's tourism challenges by deterring American tourists and prompting secondary sanctions that led major hotel chains to withdraw from the island. However, internal economic issues and poor infrastructure also play significant roles.
What are the current conditions for tourists in Cuba?
Tourists in Cuba currently face challenges such as frequent power outages, limited availability of basic amenities, and high costs for subpar services, as illustrated by a recent viral complaint about a Varadero hotel's buffet.