The Cuban government has begun closing hotels and moving international visitors to other properties as the island nation grapples with a worsening fuel shortage that is disrupting tourism operations and transport networks.
The crisis has led to reduced airline services, travel advisories from foreign governments and broader challenges for the tourism and hotel sector in a country long dependent on visitor earnings.
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Fuel crisis hits tourism infrastructure
Cuba’s authorities have described the closures and relocations as part of an effort to reduce energy consumption and maintain essential services during a period of acute fuel scarcity.
Vice Prime Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga said a plan was designed to consolidate tourist facilities and optimise operations during the peak season in early 2026.
Sources in the tourism industry confirmed to news agencies that closures began with hotels in the western resort area of Varadero and on the island’s northern cays, with guests transferred to other hotels seen as more sustainable under current conditions.
The fuel shortage has caused broader disruptions, including flight cancellations and route changes by international carriers. Air Canada has cancelled all flights to Cuba until at least May 2026 due to a lack of aviation fuel, affecting thousands of travellers and prompting repatriation efforts for those already on the island.
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By GlobalDataSeveral other airlines have modified operations to include technical refuelling stops outside Cuba.
Travel advisories and evacuations shape demand
Several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, have updated travel advisories urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Cuba amid the mounting crisis.
This follows warnings of prolonged power outages, limited fuel availability for generators at hotels and ongoing concerns about transport reliability.
In response to the fuel shortage, Russia has also begun evacuating tourists. The country’s aviation agency reported that Rossiya and Nordwind airlines were operating outbound return flights for around 4,000 Russian visitors before temporarily suspending regular services.
At the same time, Mexican and other airlines serving Cuba have had to adjust itineraries to include refuelling stops in nearby nations.
Economic implications for hotels and tourism
Tourism is a key source of foreign currency for Cuba’s economy, and the fuel crisis has compounded a longer-term downturn that saw visitor numbers fall significantly in 2025.
Major hotel operators, including international chains active in Cuba, have reported lower occupancy and revenue levels, with some properties closing temporarily in response to weaker demand and logistical challenges.
The situation illustrates the vulnerability of Cuba’s tourism and hotel sector to external pressures on energy supply, stemmed in part from geopolitical tensions and tightened sanctions that have curtailed traditional oil imports from Venezuela and other partners.
Analysts say prolonged fuel constraints could lead to further reductions in hotel operations, staffing disruptions, and continued declines in visitor numbers if transportation and energy reliability do not improve.
The ongoing fuel shortage is forcing hotels, airlines and governments to adapt rapidly, with international travellers and industry stakeholders closely monitoring developments that could influence booking patterns and operational planning for the Caribbean market in 2026.
