The US capture of Nicolás Maduro in January has triggered an oil blockade on Cuba, leading to cancellations of Canadian trips amid fuel and electricity shortages. Cuban-Canadian journalist Victor Vigas Alvarez argues these disruptions might ultimately benefit Cuba by pressuring the regime for change. He points to human rights abuses and the military's control over tourism revenue.
Canada has consistently been the top source country for tourism to Cuba, drawn by its pristine beaches and affordable all-inclusive resorts. Recent events, however, have complicated these trips. In January, the United States captured Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's president who has supported Cuba for more than two decades. This led to an effective oil blockade, causing shortages of jet fuel and oil for electricity generation at resorts and airlines. Many Canadians have seen their tropical winter escapes cut short or cancelled altogether.
Donald Trump's continued comments on Cuba, including musing about a 'friendly takeover' after launching a war with Iran, have heightened a sense of risk. Victor Vigas Alvarez, a Cuban-Canadian journalist born outside the island whose parents defected in 2001, portrays Cuba as a symbol of decay under the Communist Party regime. He highlights frequent blackouts, rampant dengue and chikungunya viruses, and shortages of basic necessities.
The historical backdrop includes the 1959 revolution that overthrew US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista, followed by decades of human and civil rights abuses. After nationwide protests in 2021, more than 1,500 Cubans, including journalists and minors, were detained as political prisoners; hundreds remain in jail. Since then, between 1 and 2 million Cubans have fled, potentially comprising up to 18 percent of the population.
Tourism, which accounted for 10 percent of Cuba's GDP at its pre-pandemic peak and supported over half a million jobs, largely benefits GAESA, a military-controlled corporation. As Cuban-Canadian activist Kirenia Carbonell stated after Cuba's power grid collapsed in 2024, 'Freedom does not fit in a suitcase.' Alvarez suggests that if Trump's oil blockade proves the tipping point for the regime, many Cubans would support it, valuing change over its source.
Reader comments echo this perspective, describing daily misery in Cuba and some tourists' unawareness of realities, including exploitation at resorts. Alvarez concludes with hope for a thriving Cuba where citizens no longer need to leave, which may require Canadians to rethink travel there.
