Home » TRAVEL NEWS » Cuba Faces Major Fuel Shortage Disrupting Tourism: Hotels Relocate Guests and Travel Delays Spark Widespread Concerns: Know More
Published on
February 8, 2026
Cuba is currently facing a severe energy and fuel shortage, which is having a significant impact on both local residents and international visitors. The country, which heavily relies on its tourism sector for foreign currency, has been forced to make difficult decisions as it struggles with dwindling fuel supplies. As part of efforts to conserve energy, tourists are being consolidated into fewer hotels because there is not enough fuel to operate all the resorts and facilities. This has led to widespread disruptions, particularly in popular tourist areas like Cayo Coco, where many visitors have experienced major inconveniences due to the lack of fuel.
Relocation of Tourists and Rising Concerns Among Locals
One of the most visible impacts of this fuel shortage has been the relocation of tourists to fewer hotels. Due to the scarcity of fuel, Cuba has found it impossible to maintain operations at all of its resorts, leading to consolidation of guests in fewer locations. Tourists such as Vicky Volonik and Mark Harrington, Canadian visitors, have shared their experiences of being moved from one hotel to another. Although they have not faced any issues with food or electricity, they have reported seeing emotional scenes among locals who are concerned about the loss of their jobs and livelihoods. These workers rely heavily on the tourism industry for their income, and the closure or reduction of resort operations has left many without work, escalating economic hardship in affected communities.
The disruptions in the tourism sector are directly linked to the fuel shortages, which are especially affecting the employees in the industry. As tourists are relocated into fewer hotels, the loss of income opportunities for local workers is growing, causing significant tension within the community. The relocation process not only complicates logistics for the visitors but also highlights the vulnerability of Cuba’s tourism sector, which is heavily dependent on fuel for transportation and hotel services.
Official Travel Advisories and Government Response
In light of the ongoing fuel crisis, the Government of Canada has issued a travel advisory for Cuba, urging tourists to exercise a high degree of caution. The advisory cites the worsening shortages of fuel, electricity, food, water, and medicine, all of which are severely affecting daily life and the operations of tourism infrastructure. The advisory warns that the situation is highly unpredictable, and disruptions to travel plans, including flights and tourist services, could occur on short notice.
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Similarly, the U.S. Embassy has echoed these concerns, advising American citizens in Cuba to prepare for protests, power outages, and fuel shortages, as well as escalating safety risks. These official advisories indicate how serious the shortages have become and underline the fact that the crisis is affecting tourism services as well as basic necessities. Both Canadian and U.S. advisories stress the unpredictability of the situation, encouraging travelers to be prepared for significant disruptions to their travel plans.
Cuba’s Response: Fuel Rationing and Prioritizing Tourism
To manage the energy crisis, the Cuban government has implemented fuel rationing measures that prioritize critical services. These measures focus on ensuring that essential sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and security continue to function, while reducing fuel supplies for non-essential services such as tourism and daily transportation. While these cuts have been necessary, the government has taken steps to continue supporting the tourism sector by ensuring that tourism operations still receive enough fuel to maintain services and generate foreign currency revenue.
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Tourism operations that depend heavily on fuel, such as those that provide transportation services and hotel operations, are being given priority to ensure that Cuba’s vital tourism sector remains operational. However, the shortage has led to reduced local transport routes and slower construction projects, with the government working to minimize disruptions in tourism services. By consolidating hotel operations and maintaining transportation links to key tourist destinations, the government hopes to avoid a complete collapse of the tourism sector. Despite these efforts, tourists continue to experience significant disruptions to their travel plans.
Global Parallels: Fuel and Travel Crises in Other Countries
Cuba’s current fuel crisis bears similarities to Sri Lanka’s 2022 fuel shortages, which caused severe public transport disruptions and greatly affected tourism operations. During the Sri Lankan crisis, public transport services were reduced or suspended due to fuel shortages, and both locals and tourists faced long queues for fuel. As a result, tourism sharply declined, and travel advisories were issued, warning tourists of the unpredictable situation and the risk of service reductions. This situation in Sri Lanka mirrors the current state in Cuba, where fuel scarcity is impacting hotel operations, transport services, and tourist mobility.
Cuba’s Energy and Tourism Context: A Long-standing Issue
Cuba’s energy challenges are long-standing, with frequent power outages and fuel shortages occurring over the years. In 2024 and 2025, Cuba faced multiple blackouts and fuel shortages due to aging infrastructure, limited access to oil, and geopolitical tensions with traditional suppliers like Venezuela. These problems have been exacerbated by the U.S. trade embargo, which has made it difficult for Cuba to secure a stable supply of energy. The current fuel crisis is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within Cuba’s energy system, and the long-term challenges the country faces in maintaining a robust tourism industry amid ongoing energy instability.
Summary: Navigating the Crisis and Looking Ahead
Cuba’s ongoing fuel shortage is creating significant challenges for both local residents and international tourists. The relocation of tourists to fewer hotels and the disruption of essential services are the visible effects of the fuel crisis. However, the Cuban government is prioritizing tourism by ensuring that essential services, including tourism, continue to operate amidst the shortages. Despite these disruptions, efforts to support tourism and manage the fuel supply crisis remain a central focus of the government.
Similar fuel shortages in other countries, such as Sri Lanka, have shown how such crises can ripple across tourism, public transport, and daily life, affecting the overall travel experience. Cuba’s long-standing energy challenges provide context for the current crisis, underscoring the vulnerabilities of the island’s tourism sector amidst energy instability. As the Cuban government continues to address the fuel shortage, the global community is reminded of the critical importance of stable energy supply to sustain the tourism sector and economic stability.
