Cubas Tourism Workers Face Economic Strains Due to US Oil Blockade

Havana, Cuba - The city’s once-thriving tourism industry has come to a grinding halt due to the US-imposed oil blockade, leaving taxi drivers and tour guides struggling to find work.

Rainier Hernandez, a 38-year-old taxi driver, stands in Parque Central, scanning for potential tourists. His custom convertible, a popular attraction among visitors, now gathers dust as he waits for customers. Hernandez’s daily earnings have decreased significantly since the blockade was imposed in January, with some days yielding only one or two hours of paid work.

Tourism has been a significant contributor to Cuba’s economy for decades, accounting for nearly 12% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) at its peak in the late 2010s. However, the industry has experienced a decline in recent years, with a notable drop in tourist numbers from January to November last year.

According to official statistics, the island received only 1.6 million tourists during this period, compared to 4.8 million in 2018. This decline has left many Cubans who rely on tourism for their livelihoods uncertain about their future on the island.

Carlos Fariñas, a 29-year-old tour guide, expressed concerns about the impact of the blockade on his profession. “If there is no tourism, there is no economy,” he said. Fariñas and other workers in the industry are struggling to make ends meet, with some receiving significantly reduced tips or facing the possibility of job loss.

Jonathan Garcia, a hotel concierge, recalled the moment when this year’s outlook turned from bad to worse. The Trump administration’s authorization of a military operation against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3 marked a turning point in the decline of tourism. Since then, many visitors have canceled their bookings due to fears about potential US action against Cuba.

Garcia’s hotel has had to lay off half of its staff since the oil blockade was announced on January 29. Guests have stopped coming, and the remaining workers are constantly on edge, fearing job loss. The country has also suffered two island-wide blackouts, with several airlines suspending routes to Cuba due to fuel shortages.

Today, Havana’s key tourist hotspots appear abandoned, with empty chairs at bars and restaurants, and shopfront windows gazing out into empty luxury malls built for tourists.

Source: Al Jazeera