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As Cuba faces daily blackouts, fuel shortages, and an economic crisis that severely impacts the population, officials from the regime traveled to Canada to convey a reassuring message to tour operators and travel agencies: tourism is operating "normally" and there is no reason for alarm, despite recent warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The delegation, led by Lessner Gómez, director of marketing for the Ministry of Tourism and former head of the Cuban tourism office in Toronto, held meetings this week in Toronto and Montreal with representatives from the Canadian tourism sector.
The goal was to alleviate concerns generated after Trump's announcement to cut the supply of Venezuelan oil to the island, a decision that has sparked fears of a new energy crisis in Cuba, according to a report by Travel Press.
"Cuba is operating normally. Everything remains the same," insisted Gómez during a meeting in Mississauga, where he affirmed that the island receives oil from other countries, including Mexico, and has sufficient reserves to cover the summer.
It was also stated that the hotels have the necessary supplies to remain operational and that the tourism sector will not be affected, according to the same source.
The message was repeated almost word for word at a press conference reported by Pax News, where Gómez acknowledged that there is international concern about Cuba's energy dependence but tried to downplay the actual impact of the crisis.
According to the explanation, the resorts have their own fuel, electric generators, and an independent network that keeps them unaffected by the blackouts experienced daily by millions of Cubans outside tourist areas.
The figures presented aim to reinforce this optimistic narrative. According to Gómez, Canadian visits to Cuba increased by 17% so far in January compared to the same period last year, and the regime aims to reach one million Canadian tourists by 2026, up from 720,000 recorded in 2025.
Canada remains the top source market for tourists to the island, accounting for more than 40% of arrivals, according to data cited by Pax News.
However, the contrast between the official discourse and everyday reality in Cuba is hard to ignore. While officials assure abroad that "everything remains the same," prolonged blackouts, shortages of food and medicine, and outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and oropuche persist within the country.
Gómez acknowledged these concerns, although he stated that the cases have decreased and that the Ministry of Tourism is implementing fumigation plans in the hotel areas.
This is compounded by the political climate. Trump recently declared that Cuba seems "ready to fall" and urged Havana to reach an agreement with Washington "before it's too late."
The response from the Cuban regime was belligerent, asserting that it would defend itself "to the last drop of blood," a rhetoric that does little to project stability to potential international visitors.
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