Russians disappear from Cuba beaches, casting doubt on tourism recovery

[El Presidente]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/russians-disappear-cuba-beaches-casting-doubt-tourism-recovery-rcna19668

Russians disappear from Cuba beaches, casting doubt on tourism recovery

In 2021, with much of the world hunkered down amid the coronavirus pandemic, visitors from Russia soared, and accounted for 40% of total arrivals in Cuba.

 

VARADERO, March 11 — When planeloads of Russian tourists left Cuba this week, their vacations interrupted by war in Ukraine, it marked a sad day in the resort town of Varadero, a visible sign the conflict will rattle the island nation’s fragile economy.

Varadero, a finger of white sand extending out into the blue Caribbean sea, has long been a magnet for Russians fleeing the northern winter.

 

In 2021, with much of the world hunkered down amid the coronavirus pandemic, visitors from Russia soared to 40% of total arrivals in Cuba, according to government figures.

Varadero’s beaches, usually teeming with tourists at this time of year, are suddenly quiet, said Yanet Costafreda, who sells trinkets to tourists along the palm-fringed streets.

“The Russians were the main market that we had in the last ... two years,” Costafreda said in an interview. “I am worried because we see that the future is uncertain.”

[OrangePaw]

What a beautiful picture, would love to be there now!

[rckymtn22]

40 minutes ago, therealrsr said:

Can they fly direct without flying east?  I have not kept up airspace bans.

Might be able to fly from Russia north, around Norway, west of Ireland and down through the Atlantic outside of each airspace. Just guessing by looking at the globe and not sure how far airspace extends out.

 

Might be on that specific beach in less than a month if things work out!

[nKostyan]

I can say that there are a number of reasons why Russian tourists who visited Cuba at the end of 2021 decided not to come on vacation to island anymore:
- the quality and variety of food has decreased
- the attitude towards tourists has changed for the worse
- tips are now not gratitude for service, but mandatory prepayment. If you have not paid in advance, you are not served. Tips less than 5 $/€ are not accepted
- fraud in LCDHs when a price tag is pasted on cheap cigars barcode from expensive ones.

As for air travel, now there is also added this problem.

[NSXCIGAR]

34 minutes ago, nKostyan said:

tips are now not gratitude for service, but mandatory prepayment. If you have not paid in advance, you are not served. Tips less than 5 $/€ are not accepted

I assume this is happening inside the all-inclusives? 

The Cubans sure know how to ruin a good thing. 

[joncat]

My experience at one of the resorts in Varadero in late February was quite the opposite. The staff was very friendly and expressed their appreciation for the tourists return to Cuba. Tips were not demanded at all and staff was grateful when tips were given. Cubans are poor but very proud.

 

[mcicvara]

On 3/19/2022 at 1:34 AM, nKostyan said:

- tips are now not gratitude for service, but mandatory prepayment. If you have not paid in advance, you are not served. Tips less than 5 $/€ are not accepted
 

I did not feel any pressure to tip during my December trip to Cayo Coco. And US$ 1 tips were gladly accepted.

[Homer]

Sooner or later russian airplanes can’t fly anywhere since they can not get spare parts from Airbus or Boeing.

[rckymtn22]

28 minutes ago, Homer said:

Sooner or later russian airplanes can’t fly anywhere since they can not get spare parts from Airbus or Boeing.

 They might start putting chinese knockoff parts in them. 

[Hammer Smokin']

let's hope Putin decides to fly in a plane with knock-off Chinese parts. 

Timber....

[Chas.Alpha]

I read this morning that Putin has reached out to China for replacement parts and they have refused. Not sure how accurate this is, as you never know what really is going on...

[MrBirdman]

4 hours ago, rckymtn22 said:

 They might start putting chinese knockoff parts in them. 

Can’t wait to see how that works out…

[nKostyan]

Sooner or later russian airplanes can’t fly anywhere since they can not get spare parts from Airbus or Boeing.

The primary problem is the cancellation of insurance. Spare parts - secondary

[Hammer Smokin']

insurance is a privilege, not a right. 

why doesn't putin just open up a government insurance plan to cover all personal and commercial needs.

[Carrie Nation]

They must have all gone to Matanzas. All the hotels there were crawling with Russians last week, especially El Vasco.