Canada Urges Its Tourists to Exercise Extreme Caution in Cuba Due to the Spread of Dengue
MÉRIDA, Mexico – The Canadian government has recommended that its citizens exercise extreme caution if traveling to Cuba due to the spread of dengue on the island.
Last August 26, the Canadian government added a health advisory about dengue for travelers planning to visit Cuba, classified under the category of “high degree of caution.”
This announcement adds to the precautions made public in May due to the “chronic and severe” shortages of food, bottled water, medical supplies, fuel, and currency.
On August 9, Canada issued a regional alert for its travelers in Latin America regarding Oropouche fever.
The level alert urges Canadian travelers to practice health precautions, such as avoiding insect bites at all times, using repellent and mosquito nets, limiting outdoor activities when mosquitoes and gnats are most active, and wearing loose-fitting, light-colored clothing made of tightly woven materials, such as nylon or polyester, along with long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
Travel Precautions to Cuba
“Shortages are critical and affect a wide range of services,” the Canadian Government noted in May, also warning about the difficulties of traveling across the Island due to the fuel shortage, which directly impacts public transportation services and taxis, leaving tourists with few options for getting around.
The May advisory, which remains in effect, also warned that “petty crime,” such as purse and wallet theft, is common, especially in crowded areas like tourist zones, markets, public buses, nightclubs, and beaches, as well as in isolated areas.
“Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times,” advised the Government. It also recommends avoiding displays of wealth and keeping electronic devices out of sight.
While incidents of violent crime are not frequent, according to the Canadian Government, assaults can occur, mainly during robberies or burglaries. In addition, credit card and ATM fraud may happen, so caution is advised when using debit or credit cards, and it is important to cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
The advisory also reminds travelers that power outages occur regularly outside of Havana and tourist areas, making it difficult to access services during a blackout. “Plan accordingly,” the advisory recommends, suggesting travelers carry essential items like toiletries and medications.
Additionally, the government warned about the safety of women traveling alone, who may be subject to some form of sexual harassment, and noted that incidents of sexual assault against Canadian women have been reported, even in beach resorts.
In terms of telecommunications, the advisory reminded potential tourists that the network in Cuba is poor, and connections can be intermittent. It also warns of the possibility of authorities blocking access to mobile phones and the internet in case of civil unrest or prior to protests.
Canadian Tourism
Canada remains the leading source market for tourists to Cuba so far in 2024, although its visitors slightly decreased in the first half of 2024 (577,549) compared to 2023 (583,027).
In contrast, Russia showed a significant increase of 166.7%, rising from 67,612 tourists in 2023 to 112,721 in 2024.
Other markets, such as the United States, Mexico, and Argentina, also experienced growth, while traditional European markets like Germany, France, Spain, and Italy saw declines.
Cuba welcomed a total of 1,680,485 visitors during the first half of 2024, according to official figures from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI, by its Spanish acronym). While this number represents a 101.1% increase compared to the previous year, it reflects only a 0.9% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This figure shows that Cuba’s tourism sector remains far from reaching the government’s goal of attracting 3.2 million tourists in 2024.
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