With great fanfare, the Abel Santamaría International Airport in the city of Santa Clara welcomed this Tuesday the first flight of the Spanish company Iberojet for the 2025 season from Lisbon, Portugal, marking the start of an air operation that will last until next September.
The inaugural flight carried 371 passengers, of whom 80 percent have as their final destination Cayo Santa María, one of the main tourist hotspots for sun and beach on the island, located in the north of Villa Clara, according to a post on Facebook by Telecubanacán.
The remaining 20 percent of visitors choose combined tourist programs that include excursions to natural spaces, as well as tours of heritage cities, part of what is known as city tourism.
The delegate of the Ministry of Tourism in Villa Clara, Regla Dayamí Armenteros, announced that starting in June, a new direct route from Madrid will be added, which will also operate until September, as part of the effort to strengthen international connectivity to the center of the country.
It is worth noting that in late 2023, Iberojet announced the cancellation of its flights to Havana starting in January 2024. Earlier, in August, it had announced the suspension of its Madrid-Santiago de Cuba route "for operational reasons".
However, in April 2024, it announced the resumption of its operations to Varadero, and the opening of the route to Santa Clara, with one flight per week.
Reactions on social media
In contrast to the official coverage that celebrated the arrival of tourists, social media also reflected anger and skepticism from the public, who question the underlying motives of such events in a country marked by a structural crisis.
The user Avana De La Torre expressed her critical view on what happened in Facebook: “Meanwhile, in Santa Clara, the clowns are waiting for the tourists arriving on the first flight from Lisbon. Will they be ready to navigate broken roads, witness misery, power outages, and prostitution? Our reality is harsh. The communist regime is desperate for tourism and awaits it at the foot of the plane, while 'Oskuristán' is starving. This is a circus, and the clowns are those who do everything to entertain the tourists, ignoring the emptiness in their stomachs.”
It also denounced that tourism revenue does not benefit the Cuban people but is controlled by "the fat mafia of the PCC," while the daily life of the ordinary citizen is marked by hunger, scarcity, underfunded hospitals, corruption, and repression.
This type of reaction exposes the deep contrast between the tourist spectacle promoted by the regime and the harsh reality faced by a population that is increasingly impoverished and disillusioned.
Frequently asked questions about flights from Lisbon to Santa Clara and the tourism situation in Cuba
What is the goal of the new Iberojet flight from Lisbon to Santa Clara?
The aim of the new Lisbon-Santa Clara flight by Iberojet is to strengthen international connectivity to central Cuba, particularly to tourist destinations like Cayo Santa María. This flight is part of an air operation that will extend until September 2025.
How has the Cuban population reacted to the arrival of tourists through this air route?
Cuban citizens have expressed skepticism and criticism regarding the arrival of tourists via this air route. Many question the underlying reasons for these events in a country facing a structural crisis, where tourism does not result in improvements for the population but is viewed as a spectacle promoted by the Cuban regime.
What problems does the tourism sector in Cuba currently face?
The tourism sector in Cuba faces several issues, such as low international demand, operational difficulties, and deterioration of hotel infrastructure. Additionally, the economic and social crisis has led to a reduction in flights and low profitability of air operations to the island.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to improve the tourism sector?
The Cuban government is investing in the construction of new hotels and the renovation of tourist infrastructures. However, these investments have drawn criticism due to the prioritization of resources amid a widespread economic crisis, leaving sectors such as public transportation in decline.
How is the economic crisis affecting flights to Cuba?
The economic crisis in Cuba has led several airlines to cancel or reduce their flights to the island, due to low demand and insufficient profitability of these operations. This has affected Cuba's international connectivity and has limited travel options.
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