Short answer: Cuba’s tourism sector is being hit in 2026 by an energy crisis and fuel shortages, with reports of resort closures or relocations of guests and ongoing power outages that could disrupt travel plans.[1][3][6]
Details and context:
- Fuel shortages linked to energy policies and sanctions have led to partial resort closures and reduced operations at some hotels, especially along the Varadero and northern coast areas.[3][5][1]
- Powersupply constraints are affecting airports, flight schedules, and on-site hotel operations, prompting government measures like energy rationing and consolidation of tourism facilities to core locations with backup power.[4][3]
- Media coverage from multiple outlets notes a broader tourism slowdown in 2026, with comparisons to pre-crisis levels and concerns about long-term visitor arrivals if the energy situation persists.[5][7][4]
Illustrative note:
- For travelers, expect potential changes to itineraries, possible hotel relocations, and advisories on airport and airline operations as Cuba manages grid reliability and fuel availability.[6][7]
Citations:
- Cuba Begins Shutting Resorts as Fuel Crunch Hits Tourism [Yahoo Finance].[1]
- Amid fuel shortage, Cuba starts closing hotels and relocating tourists [EFE via El País/EFE feed].[6]
- Energy crisis hits Cuban tourism [Veritas News/ENE].[4]
Sources
Cuba’s tourism industry collapses as fuel shortages and energy blackouts ground flights and leave hotels empty. Discover the 2026 crisis impacting 1.8M visitors.
www.travelandtourworld.comDespite the fact that fewer and fewer visitors are traveling to the island and hotel occupancy has fallen, the government allocated almost 40% of its investments in 2024 to activities related to the industry
english.elpais.comCuba faces fuel shortages that could lead to resort closures in 2026.Learn how US sanctions energy issues are affecting tourism what travelers should expect.
www.travelandtourworld.comThe smell of garbage is overwhelming and intense under the Caribbean sun. The accumulated waste is such that an entire street in Havana, far from its tourist district, was blocked to traffic.
www.cnn.comThe government finds it increasingly difficult to maintain the bubble in which it has tried to isolate tourism from the rest of the country.
havanatimes.orgThe government finds it increasingly difficult to maintain the bubble in which it has tried to isolate tourism from the rest of the country.
eltoque.comThe Cuban government started closing hotels and transferring tourists as part of measures adopted in response to the US oil siege.
efe.comHAVANA (EFE).— The Havana appears to have little presence of visitors in the middle of Holy Week, reflection of collapse of tourism in Cuba in [...]
veritas.enc.edu