A promotional post from the Hotel Playa Pesquero Resort, Suite and Spa in Holguín has sparked a wave of criticism on social media amidst the deep electrical crisis affecting Cuba.
While vast areas of the country are suffering from prolonged blackouts affecting homes, hospitals, and basic services, the hotel —operated by the military conglomerate GAESA through Gaviota— promoted a special beach dinner for guests of the tour operator Pegas Turistik, with full lighting and luxury service by the sea.
“At the Hotel Playa Pesquero, Pegas Turistik guests enjoy a special dinner by the beach where every detail celebrates the magic of Cuba. The whisper of the waves accompanies each toast, turning the night into an unforgettable memory,” notes the message posted on social media by the tourist facility.
The images from the event, featuring decorated tables, stable lighting and a festive atmosphere, stand in stark contrast to the reality faced by millions of Cubans who endure daily power outages amid a structural energy crisis characterized by the deterioration of thermoelectric plants and a lack of fuel.
“Half the planet is suffering because Cuban hospitals are without electricity. Meanwhile, GAESA (Cuban military) has entire beaches lit up. This is how those at the Central Committee impose their 'opinion matrix.' Add to this the accomplices who support this absurdity. Cuba no longer wants Revolution…” denounced activist Joankelin Sánchez on social media platform X.
The publication reignited the debate about the regime's priorities amid the crisis. While tourism—largely controlled by the military apparatus—maintains a stable power supply in hotel areas, entire neighborhoods remain in the dark for hours, affecting food preservation, access to water, and medical care.
Experts have warned that the national electro-energy system is in a critical situation, with frequent outages of generating units and a generation deficit that exceeds backup capacity.
For many citizens, the image of illuminated hotels and seaside dinners amidst massive blackouts symbolizes the deep inequality that the country experiences: privileges for the tourism sector controlled by the Armed Forces and hardship for the population.
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