Tourism in Cuba is facing its darkest hours as the island's economy teeters on the brink of collapse. The number of visitors has plummeted by more than half since 2018, a decline that's been exacerbated by growing tensions with the US and a severe shortage of Venezuelan oil shipments.
The streets of Havana are now dotted with empty restaurants, seaside tables blowing in the wind, and drivers who once relied on a steady stream of tourists for their livelihood now scramble to make ends meet. The classic cars that were once so coveted by visitors now stand idle, waiting for customers who rarely materialize.
Cubans like Reymundo Aldama, who drives a vintage car, are feeling the pinch. He blames US President Donald Trump's sanctions, which have closed Cuba's doors and led to a "brutal drop" in tourism. Aldama recalls how he would sometimes work until 9 p.m., but now he's lucky if he takes one or two tourists for a spin in a day.
The situation is dire, with many Cubans struggling to make ends meet. Rosbel Figueredo Ricardo, who sells street food, has seen his sales drop from 150 bags of chips per day to just 50. He works long hours and sometimes doesn't sell a single bag, leaving him worried about how he'll provide for his family.
As the economic crisis deepens, some Cubans are turning to alternative sources of income, such as selling expensive cigars claiming they came from a festival sponsored by former President Raúl Castro. However, this has done little to stem the tide of despair that's sweeping the island.
Meanwhile, tourists like Brazilian teacher Gloraci Passos de Carvalho are finding Cuba's welcoming atmosphere and resilience inspiring. She notes that the island's ability to survive with less is a valuable lesson for people worldwide.
As Venezuela's oil shipments dwindle, some wonder if China or Russia will step in to provide support. However, many experts warn that these alternatives come with their own set of challenges and uncertainties.
One thing is clear: Cuba's tourism industry is on the brink of collapse, and it remains to be seen how the island will recover from this crisis.
The streets of Havana are now dotted with empty restaurants, seaside tables blowing in the wind, and drivers who once relied on a steady stream of tourists for their livelihood now scramble to make ends meet. The classic cars that were once so coveted by visitors now stand idle, waiting for customers who rarely materialize.
Cubans like Reymundo Aldama, who drives a vintage car, are feeling the pinch. He blames US President Donald Trump's sanctions, which have closed Cuba's doors and led to a "brutal drop" in tourism. Aldama recalls how he would sometimes work until 9 p.m., but now he's lucky if he takes one or two tourists for a spin in a day.
The situation is dire, with many Cubans struggling to make ends meet. Rosbel Figueredo Ricardo, who sells street food, has seen his sales drop from 150 bags of chips per day to just 50. He works long hours and sometimes doesn't sell a single bag, leaving him worried about how he'll provide for his family.
As the economic crisis deepens, some Cubans are turning to alternative sources of income, such as selling expensive cigars claiming they came from a festival sponsored by former President Raúl Castro. However, this has done little to stem the tide of despair that's sweeping the island.
Meanwhile, tourists like Brazilian teacher Gloraci Passos de Carvalho are finding Cuba's welcoming atmosphere and resilience inspiring. She notes that the island's ability to survive with less is a valuable lesson for people worldwide.
As Venezuela's oil shipments dwindle, some wonder if China or Russia will step in to provide support. However, many experts warn that these alternatives come with their own set of challenges and uncertainties.
One thing is clear: Cuba's tourism industry is on the brink of collapse, and it remains to be seen how the island will recover from this crisis.
! I mean, I knew things were tough with Trump's sanctions and all, but half of the tourists gone? That's just crazy talk! 
And those classic cars, abandoned everywhere? It's heartbreaking. I feel for Reymundo Aldama and his vintage car life, poor dude 
. And Rosbel Figueredo Ricardo, selling street food for pennies? Not cool 
. The thing is, Cuba needs to diversify its economy ASAP or it'll be stuck in this crisis forever 
. Maybe China or Russia can help out, but let's not sugarcoat it, there are risks involved 
. We need to see some innovative solutions from the Cubans themselves, you know? 
but seriously china or russia stepping in to provide support could be a big deal 
would be interesting to see how cuba recovers from this crisis 
. i mean, they used to rely so heavily on tourism for their economy, but now it's like a ghost town in Havana. it's not all doom and gloom though - i love how gloraci's perspective on this is positive, you know? she's right, cuba's resilience is something we can all learn from 
. but at the same time, it's hard not to think about all the people who are struggling to make ends meet... reymundo and rosbel's stories just break my heart 
. i hope china or russia will step in to help, but until then, it's tough to see what the future holds for cuba 
. I've heard of tourists selling expensive cigars as a way to make some cash... that just doesn't sit right with me 
what i find most inspiring though are the cubans who r finding ways 2 make a living despite the odds they r selling street food, driving vintage cars... its not gonna be easy but they r showing us that even in dark times, there's always hope 
and gloraci passos de carvalho's point about cuba being a lesson 4 the world 2 adapt is really profound 
we just gotta keep our fingers crossed that china or russia will step in 2 help them out
. I remember those were great times for travel, but Trump did mess things up for Cuba 
.
But you know what's even more crazy? The fact that some people are trying to sell fake cigars claiming they came from a festival sponsored by Raúl Castro, that's just insane! 
I mean what's gonna happen next? Are they gonna start selling fake everything? It's like the whole country is in crisis mode and I don't know if anyone knows how to get them out of this one. 
the thought of Havana streets once bustling with tourists now empty is devastating. Interesting how Cubans are adapting by selling fake cigars 