In defiance of the Canadian government's official travel warning, advocates are urging Canadians to continue traveling to Cuba. They note that tourism is vital to the island's economy and that it remains a very safe destination. 

That advice comes on the heels of the latest imperialist attacks from the United States, which is sanctioning countries that sell oil to Cuba. Critics say choking oil flow into the island is an attempt to topple the communist government by fomenting a humanitarian crisis.

“We're the most important market for tourism for Cuba, and at this time of the year, Canadians represent 40 per cent of that market,” says Samantha Hislop, co-chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba.

“It’s billions of dollars into their economy, and the effects of [losing that] is felt by every single person in Cuba.”

The federal government’s official travel advisory warning Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to Cuba began in early February. By Feb. 9, Air Canada suspended commercial flights headed there. WestJet and Air Transat followed soon after. All have been sending empty flights to help Canadians return home.

This is directly hurting Cubans and their economy, says Hislop, “because of low occupancy” at hotels, resorts, AirBnBs, and by extension at restaurants and all other tourist-oriented attractions. 

That translates into huge losses of currency the Cuban government needs “to carry out important government functions on the island,” says York University assistant professor, Tamanisha John, who researches Caribbean politics and sovereignty — that includes everything from provision of monthly food rations, to garbage collection, to transportation and energy.

Also, the lack of fuel in the island has made the movement of foods and other goods extremely difficult for Cubans. And the rolling blackouts — which have gotten worse over the last year — mean “most people only get a couple hours of electricity in their house per day,” says Hislop, whose spouse’s family lives there.

“This is in the hopes that Cubans will revolt against their government and their way of life on the island,” explains John.

But the reality in Cuba — by design — is that tourists feel very little, if at all, of that chaos, says David Barlavi, owner of Piña Tours/CubaABC travel agency, based in California, and a frequent visitor of the island.

“What Cuba does is it cherishes its tourism industry so much, that if the sanctions can affect the Cuban people, let’s say, 30 per cent negatively, it’s only translated to maybe a five per cent drop in [tourists’] enjoyment.”

He says in all his travels to Cuba over the years, he’s always been met with generosity from the Cuban people, despite the hardships they’ve endured due to the illegal embargo the U.S. has had on the island for over 60 years.

“Cubans know how the embargo has affected their country, but they do not let that affect tourism,” he says. 

“As tourists, you stay in the best hotels, best accommodations, [with] great transportation, amazing food… So tourism is still almost the same as it was before the sanctions. The problem is there’s just not enough tourists.”

Canadian complicity with US aggression

The Canadian Network on Cuba is currently petitioning the Canadian government to, among other things, “Firmly oppose U.S. economic and other coercive measures against Cuba and vigorously advocate for their removal; [and] Deepen economic ties, trade and assistance to Cuba.” The petition has nearly 11,000 signatures as of time of writing.

On Feb. 10, NDP leader Don Davies also asked the Federal Government if they will “uphold independent Canadian foreign policy and support Cuba in the face of open aggressive U.S. imperialism.” He said the “U.S. has imposed an illegal blockade on Cuba for decades, crippling its economy and causing mass suffering to the people.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand evaded the question by saying they’re prioritizing the “safety and security of Canadians” trying to return home.

On Feb. 25, Anand announced $8 million in humanitarian aid for Cuba via “international non-governmental organizations.” 

When reporters asked about conversations with the U.S. regarding sending fuel to Cuba, Anand said she hadn’t discussed it with them as this is “Canadian foreign policy.”

But John, whose research also includes Canadian foreign policy and economic imperialism, says sending “selective dispersals of aid” via international organizations or, as the U.S. does, through the church and private sector, is “actually very consistent with Canadian strategies of sabotage in the Caribbean.”

“If Canada wanted to actually help Cuba, it would send oil to Cuba and continue flights to Cuba,” John stresses, because “travel is one of the most important ways to help Cuba.”

“The reason Canada is doing neither, and as an assistant to U.S. foreign policy, is because both Canada and the U.S. are currently attempting to limit, through selective dispersals of aid, the Cuban government’s access to currency.”

Hislop agrees it doesn’t make sense that Canada, being the main exporter of tourists to Cuba, is “the only country where every single airline cancelled all the flights, until at least May — right in the peak of the season when Cubans need tourism the most.”

“It doesn't make sense [because] Cuba is still safe and stable and there are Canadians who have chosen not to come back on those [empty] flights,” she says. 

“In my opinion, it was very exaggerated, and it almost feels like [the Canadian] government is kind of being complicit with U.S. foreign policy objectives and trying to make it very difficult for Canadians to visit Cuba.” 

Continuing support for Cubans

Other countries have continued flights to Cuba, refueling in neighbouring countries as well as in Mexico, which has opened its doors to any flights looking to refuel there.

Internationalist solidarity group Nuestra America is currently also planning a Global Convoy to Cuba to deliver aid by March 21 and is accepting donations.

Hislop says the Canadian Network on Cuba is also sending monthly containers with material aid including food and medicine thanks to donations. They’ve also begun coordinating with the airlines to send supplies in the empty planes traveling there. She says more donations are crucial to increase how much aid they can send. 

They’re also helping people figure out how to get there by connecting through Mexico City with Aeromexico, through Panama City with Copa Airlines, and even through Miami with American Airlines. 

She says travellers may also choose to take supplies like toiletries and medicine, particularly children’s tylenol. Food might be heavier to carry, but canned beans and rice can be helpful.

Barlavi, from Piña Tours, says they offer a service that will help tourists who choose to take supplies dispense them in Cuba. He says he has a team of seven locals who help with all the arrangements. 

His agency offers four different packages starting at $359 to help everyone from first-time travellers to recurring visitors of all ages “do Cuba right.” That can include everything from fully booking the trip and making all the arrangements for travellers, to actually going there with them and helping them navigate Cuba together.

“It’s little things,” he says, like preparing them for the fact that there’s “not the same variety” of foods and drinks, for instance.

More significant planning, like arranging travel options for those who want to visit different cities, are also helpful given the lack of fuel and long waiting lines at gas stations.

“It’s still possible,” he says. “You just can’t wing it. You have to plan it out very meticulously.”

He says it’s also important to remember to tip well and not haggle over prices. “It’s not a capitalist country, so they're not trying to profit off of you. They’re just giving you a good price.”

Above all, Barlavi and Hislop both agree that being respectful to Cubans, critical of anti-Cuban propaganda and aware of rampant misinformation, are all crucial. 

“There’s a lot of misconceptions, in that if you travel to Cuba, you’re taking resources from the Cuban people and making it worse,” says Hislop.

“But that’s just not how it works. … Tourism brings in billions of dollars in revenue and foreign currency and they have allocated resources specifically for tourism. Basically, tourism just multiplies their resources. It doesn’t take away.”

Historical knowledge is also important, adds Barlavi, stressing that when he takes people there, he makes sure they “understand how the embargo has affected Cuba.”

“There’s no poverty in Cuba,” he says, “but an extreme lack of product.”

Barlavi notes that there’s no homelessness, and lauds Cuban’s level of education and healthcare, given their universal access to these things.

But there are no spare parts to repair old refrigerators or cars; without fuel, garbage trucks can't pick up garbage; there is no paint, no cement, no steel to fix dilapidated buildings that are constantly hit by hurricanes. 

“And you have to be emotionally prepared to see that…. It’s aesthetically beautiful, but Cuba doesn’t have the product to fix things,” he says.

“But once you understand Cuba, you see the beauty in it … and you understand what that’s associated with. It’s not associated with lazy people. It’s not associated with poverty. It’s associated with an embargo … by an imperialist country that wants to open casinos and take away their healthcare.”

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