The Dominican communicator Santiago Matías, popularly known as Alofoke and regarded as one of the most influential figures in digital entertainment in the Caribbean, stated in a video posted on TikTok that a free Cuba could become a serious competitor to the tourism of the Dominican Republic.
During his speech, Alofoke suggested that the end of the dictatorship and the economic opening of the island would have a direct impact on the tourism market in the region, especially in destinations like Punta Cana, which currently receive millions of visitors each year.
"When Trump breaks Cuba and it is liberated, we will not have the beaches of Cuba. Cuba is going to be a great business opportunity. And those 12 or 13 million, I don't know how we are going to bring them here, how the Dominican Republic is going to prepare for that. We depend a lot on tourism here," he stated.
The communicator went further to emphasize that international curiosity about a Cuba open to the world could attract a significant number of travelers who currently choose the Dominican Republic as their vacation destination.
“When the dictatorship in Cuba falls, there will be issues here. When they start investing in hotels, people won't want to know anything about Punta Cana; they will go to Cuba. The curiosity about a country that has been closed off for so long due to communism. Cuba is much larger than the Dominican Republic.”, he added.
His statements generated a wide reaction among Cuban users on social media. Many shared messages of support and hope regarding the possibility of political change on the island.
“God hears your words and may that dictatorship fall, for our people can’t take it any longer,” wrote a user identified as Stormy. Another follower, under the name ElGrillo, commented: “Wise one, the Caribbean island.”
It's not the first time that the Alofoke platform has served as a space to debate the realities of Cuba. In November 2025, the members of Gente de Zona spoke out during an interview on their show La Casa de Alofoke about the lack of freedoms on the island and described the Cuban system as a dictatorship. Gino Montalvo, who was a contestant on Planeta Alofoke, took the opportunity during his time on the show to advocate for the freedom of the island as well.
Alofoke's words come against a backdrop of increasing Cuban presence in the Dominican Republic. Since 2018, more than 14,600 Cubans have obtained residency in that country, which has established itself as one of the most important destinations for Cuban emigration in the Caribbean.
For many, the communicator's reflection goes beyond tourism and raises a fundamental question: how would the economic and social landscape of the region change if Cuba were to fully open up to the world after decades of isolation and state control?
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