they can't take a trick.

[El Presidente]

 

 

https://havanatimes.org/features/ukraine-war-a-new-setback-for-the-cuban-economy/

In 2021, Russia became the leading source of tourists to Cuba, accounting for 41% of the 573,944 international travelers the island received, and knocked Canada from this position, who had been the main source of tourists to Cuba for many years.

European countries, the US and Canada have closed their airspace to Russian planes, so Aeroflot and other companies have suspended flights to the American continent, while some 5500 tourists are waiting on the island for evacuation flights to get them back to the Eurasian country.

Before the conflict began, Cuba was estimating a 4% growth of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022.

However, “sanctions against Russia are also going to be felt in informal supplies of equipment and materials for private transport,” business and ventures advisor Angelo Marcelo Rodriguez predicted in a conversation with IPS.

The sociologist and economist recalled the fact that many private drivers keep their vehicles up and running with parts and pieces that come from this country.

In addition to the classic US cars from the ‘40s and ‘50s, popularly known as “almendrones” (nutshells), a vast number of cars manufactured during the former USSR still drive on Cuban roads, such as old Lada models.

Official statistics indicate that approximately 27% of the Cuban capital’s total number of passengers get around thanks to self-employed drivers, which the Government has classified as key to alleviating the chronic deficit of public transport in this city of 2.2 million inhabitants.

“Medicine supplies on the black market will also be affected,” Rodriguez added.

Russia has waived visa requirements for Cubans, Russia had been a very popular shopping tourism destination up until now, where Cuban citizens would go to buy goods their families needed or to resell them on the black market.

[ayedfy]

We need a "one in/one out" policy on the US sanctioning countries. Don't want to ruin all their fun (well I do but I can compromise), maybe set a limit of two or three, then if they find a new country they want to sanction they have to drop sanctions against another country. Marie Kondo for imperialism. 

[Corylax18]

I had a very mixed experience with this issue last week. There was an Aeroflot A350-900 sitting at T2 when I landed. Its one of the only jets they have that can make the Moscow-Havana hop within current ETOPS requirements. 

I booked my Casa literally 20 hours before my flight landed. My plan had been to stay at a Combination of friends houses and Hector Luis Prieto's farm. But, a group of Russians had to cancel their two week trip at the very last second. Fortunately I and another American where able to get in for 11 of those 14 days, so it wasn't a huge loss for this particular Casa owner/operator. 

I was stunned to see, literally, busloads of Russians Scuba Diving and enjoying the Beach in the Bay of Pigs. Several Russian Diplomatic SUVs full of people as well. Most we talked to had been bussed down from Varadero. They didn't seem to be concerned at all. The weather on the north Coast was NOT conducive to diving, its was very windy, so they made the same change in plans that we did. Diving Cueva de los Peces in BoP rather than Playa Coral, about 30-40 min from Varadero on the north side.

[traveller]

On 3/12/2022 at 10:06 AM, Corylax18 said:

I had a very mixed experience with this issue last week. There was an Aeroflot A350-900 sitting at T2 when I landed. Its one of the only jets they have that can make the Moscow-Havana hop within current ETOPS requirements. 

I booked my Casa literally 20 hours before my flight landed. My plan had been to stay at a Combination of friends houses and Hector Luis Prieto's farm. But, a group of Russians had to cancel their two week trip at the very last second. Fortunately I and another American where able to get in for 11 of those 14 days, so it wasn't a huge loss for this particular Casa owner/operator. 

I was stunned to see, literally, busloads of Russians Scuba Diving and enjoying the Beach in the Bay of Pigs. Several Russian Diplomatic SUVs full of people as well. Most we talked to had been bussed down from Varadero. They didn't seem to be concerned at all. The weather on the north Coast was NOT conducive to diving, its was very windy, so they made the same change in plans that we did. Diving Cueva de los Peces in BoP rather than Playa Coral, about 30-40 min from Varadero on the north side.

Good diving in Cuba?