Varadero Half-Empty Hotels and Deserted Restaurants

[helix]

The slide continues. Hopeless.

Varadero, Cuba: Half-Empty Hotels and Deserted Restaurants - Havana Times

[SignalJoe]

The island appears to be in its death throes. Every time I have been back post-COVID is more startling than the last. Seeing the Malecon and 23rd street without foot or vehicle traffic is still surreal. Between the power outages and lack of just about everything I don't see a solution in the short or long term.  

While I realize that tobacco sales are just a part of the economy I can't help but think that the raising of prices has been detrimental to tourism. I know many a smoker who would travel to the island on a long weekend to make the rounds at the Casa del Habanos chasing prize boxes and humidor stock. With prices what they are those smokers are staying home and the taxi drivers, paladars and casa particulares are out on that revenue that would have been cycled back through the economy.    

It seems shortsighted, but why would the owners of HSA be concerned with that?