The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its official travel advisory for Cuba last Friday, maintaining the official recommendation of “do not travel to Cuba unless it is essential.”
The review includes new sections on street protests, electrical grid failures, fuel and water shortages, disruptions in air connectivity, and restrictions on transactions with international cards on the island.
Cuba is going through an economic crisis that is "getting worse."
The FCDO describes the situation on the island without ambiguity.
"Cuba is experiencing an increasingly dire economic situation, with shortages of fuel, electricity, water, and other basic necessities. This is impacting tourism services and disrupting travel within the country," the statement specifies.
The document indicates that this decline has triggered frequent protests.
“So far, most of these have remained peaceful, but we must be aware that protests can escalate,” warns the organization, which advises its citizens to stay away from large gatherings.
The FCDO also warns of an increase in opportunistic crime, linked to economic and social deterioration.
Repeated blackouts and the risk of new collapses
The energy crisis is a central issue in the update.
The FCDO warns that "the Cuban national electrical grid has collapsed several times in recent months" and that, "given the current circumstances, new collapses are likely to occur."
Cuban authorities have implemented fuel rationing, reduced public services, and made adjustments in health, education, transportation, and tourism to conserve "very limited" energy supplies.
The British government advises travelers to "conserve fuel, water, food, and mobile phone charge" and warns: "be prepared for significant disruptions."
Airports without fuel and airlines abandoning Cuba
Another critical point of the warning pertains to air connectivity.
The FCDO states that "Cuban authorities have announced that all their international airports are out of aviation fuel," and that only Terminal 3 of the José Martí International Airport is operational.
Among the airlines that have suspended operations are all Canadian airlines, as well as Air France, Iberia, World2Fly, and LATAM.
The organization warns that Cuban airports continue to lack fuel for aircraft and that “options to leave the country could be further limited if the situation worsens.”
A those who are already on the island, the FCDO issues a direct message: “The situation has the potential to deteriorate rapidly and without warning. Make sure you are prepared to change your plans quickly if necessary.”
International cards blocked: cash only
The warning also addresses the issue of payments. The FCDO reminds that the Central Bank of Cuba announced that Visa and Mastercard no longer operate on the island since June, leaving travelers without the ability to withdraw cash from ATMs using foreign cards.
“If you need to visit Cuba, you should carry enough cash to cover your expenses for the entire stay and in case of emergencies, such as medical treatment or delayed departure. US dollars and euros are widely accepted,” the statement indicates.
A tourism in free fall
The British warning adds to those issued by Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, and Ireland, among other countries, throughout 2026.
The impact on the sector is devastating: between January and August, only 450,353 international visitors arrived in Cuba, a decrease of 64.4% compared to the same period in 2025.
Hotel occupancy does not exceed 10%, and the state-owned chain Gaviota has closed 20 hotels in Cayo Santa María, leaving more than 7,000 workers unemployed, a figure that illustrates the extent of the crisis facing the Cuban regime.
Related videos:
Filed under: