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A promotional post from the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) turned into a storm of criticism, sarcasm, and public discontent, just one day before the very organization urgently had to debunk the rumor of the “1,100 dollars” that led to massive crowds at hotels across several provinces in the country.
MINTUR, through , shared images of the Iberostar Selection La Habana, the "tallest building in Cuba," inviting users to "discover the vibrant and cultural city of Havana" from the hotel's terrace and Sky Bar.
But the response from the Cubans was a direct reflection of the crisis, filled with ironic, incredulous, and indignant comments regarding a tourist propaganda that, for most, feels as foreign as it is provocative.
"I am excited, tomorrow I am going with my family to look for the $1,100 from the dearest Ignacio Giménez," wrote a user, referring to the false rumor that led hundreds of people to the Habana Libre and other hotels in the country this Saturday, convinced that they would receive financial assistance that never existed.
Other Cubans have ridiculed the inaccessibility of these spaces for those living on salaries in the national currency. "How many years do I have to save for a weekend if I earn 4 dollars a month?" asked a man. "Tell me the prices, so I can see if with my salary I'll be able to afford it in 20 years," commented another user.
The phrase “vibrant city,” used by MINTUR, also sparked biting comments. “Vibrant? Havana is dim and destroyed,” wrote one internet user. “What you’re going to see from that height is a giant Christmas tree: sometimes it lights up, sometimes it goes dark,” responded another, alluding to the energy crisis.
The gatherings caused by the rumor of Ignacio Giménez garnered significant attention in the comments, as he left images of hundreds of people waiting in hotels in Havana and Santiago de Cuba to collect supposed donations following Hurricane Melissa. “I’m going to the Sky Bar tomorrow, let's see if they'll distribute the $1,100 there too,” wrote a user with evident sarcasm.
Social criticism intertwined with frustration: "What a lack of respect for the people," said a woman. "Build a five-star thermoelectric plant and let's see if we can get out of the blackout," remarked another. "Who is this for? The average Cuban can't even enter the lobby," lamented a worker.
The MINTUR publication aimed to promote international tourism, but it ended up exposing a painful gap: luxury hotels nearly empty in front of a population that lives with insufficient wages, prolonged blackouts, and a ruined economy.
The contrast between propaganda and reality also reopened the fresh wound of an episode that revealed the desperation of the Cuban people, anchored in the rumor that led hundreds to believe they could receive free dollars.
While the government insists on presenting a "vibrant" Havana, the citizens' response clearly reflects an exhausted city and a country where a tourist post generates more indignation than excitement.
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