‘Photocopy your passport’: Canadians describe travel to Cuba

Travellers to Cuba are urged to prepare for power outages, communication issues and shortages as Canada updates its travel advisory. Adrian Ghobrial reports.

Canadians are reporting mixed experiences travelling in Cuba as the country deals with intermitted energy shortages that prompted a federal warning to travellers.

A notice posted by the federal government is urging Canadians to “exercise a high degree of caution in Cuba due to worsening shortages of electricity, fuel and basic necessities including food, water, and medicine, which can also affect resorts. The situation is unpredictable and could deteriorate, disrupting flight availability on short notice.”

Canadians who’re booked to travel to Cuba have been left to scramble for information. “When we saw the travel advisory, the enhanced advisory created extra concern,” says Steve Chapman.

Chapman and his wife Lisan are booked to fly from Ottawa to Varadero this Saturday for their annual trip to Cuba. They called WestJet to see what contingency plans are in place should the situation deteriorate further.

“They (WestJet) told us they don’t pay much attention to the government of Canada travel advisories, it’s only when they issue their own travel advisory that WestJet will do something for you,” says Chapman.

CTV News asked WestJet to respond to Chapman’s claims.

“WestJet is closely monitoring the situation in Cuba and will continue to follow the direction of the Canadian government,” writes a spokesperson for the airline.

The United States has vowed that there will be no more fuel shipments to the Caribbean Island. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on any country that sells oil to Cuba. To reduce pressure on the islands electrical network, daily cuts to the power grid are taking place. Ottawa says unexpected nationwide outages in Cuba may last more than 24 hours.

Between April 2023 and March 2024, the Canadian government’s annual consular data report states that roughly 700,000 Canadians travelled to Cuba, making it the fifth most popular travel destination for Canadians.

Tourists in Cuba told CTV News they’ve yet to experience any of the issues listed in the travel advisory.

“Some places might be worse than others. But as of here in Varadero, right now, it’s very good actually,” says Canadian Tourist Emma Ghannai, who also shares that there’s been no noticeable shortage of food.

Though other Canadians who’ve left their resort and visited local Cuban communities say they’ve witnessed long lines at gas stations, and some empty shelves in grocery stores.

“Sometimes the only light in the area is the billboard from the resorts across the street,” says Humayra Kabir-Faisal from her home in Ottawa who just returned from vacationing in Cuba.

There are also stories emerging of lengthy power outages creating a troubling challenge for families.

“Locals were telling me there were going 24 to 36 hours without power in some cases. When they get electricity, it might come on at three in the morning, so you’re left to figure out what do I cook for my children, is the power going to go out for another day? A week? They don’t know,” adds Kabir-Faisal.

Photocopy your passport: expert

Those travelling to Cuba should prepared for prolonged power and communication outages, according to Wayne W. Smith, director of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research at Toronto Metropolitan University.

“Take an actual paper copy of your passport, (because) if you run out of power, your phone may not work to show the picture of it,” he said in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Tuesday. “So, make sure that you have not just your passport, but also a paper photocopy of your passport.”

Smith also recommended carrying extra cash and essential supplies when possible.

“If ATMs are working, get yourself out some extra cash, just in case,” he said. “Try to make it small bills if you can … you’ll be able to spend a lot more.”

The federal government is asking travellers to go online and sign up with Registration of Canadians Abroad. It might also be wise to keep the phone number for the Canadian Embassy in Havana on hand.