Efforts to unseat British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from within his party broke into open rebellion on Thursday (May 15, 2026), with one potential rival resigning from the Cabinet and two others positioning themselves for a future leadership challenge
Jwala Gutta 'donated 60 litres of breast milk to government hospitals in Hyderabad and Chennai' in one year: Here is whyJwala Gutta highlighted the importance of donor milk for infants in NICUs. The badminton champion shared her journey of ‘donating 60 litres of breast milk’
Is pancreatic cancer hiding in plain sight? Gastroenterologist explains the silent red flags most people ignoreDr Saurabh Sethi warns that pancreatic cancer often progresses silently, with vague symptoms like back pain and weight loss easily ignored. Family Published on: May 15
Father breaks laptop, makes student sleep on floor over 57.4% in CBSE examsThe Reddit post has sparked a discussion on the toxic environment created by some Indian households during academic cycles. Published on: May 15, 2026 12:20 PM IST By HT Trending Desk Share via Copy link A heartbreaking
China called on Friday (May 15, 2026) for a lasting truce in the West Asia and for shipping lanes to be reopened “as soon as possible”, as the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed during the war with Iran. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since
Cuba's tourism minister insists sector 'alive and kicking' amid crisis
Cuba's tourism minister insists sector 'alive and kicking' amid crisis
When US President Barack Obama stepped off Air Force One onto Cuban soil in 2016, he was one of around four million visitors to the island that year.
A record high at the time, Cuba's visitor numbers continued to grow until a high-water mark of almost five million people two years later.
Since then, however, the fall in Cuban tourism has been precipitous.
Battered by the twin effects of the coronavirus pandemic and harsher travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, last year was one of Cuba's poorest for the industry this century.
With the island's traditional industries – namely sugar, tobacco and nickel – in the doldrums, tourism is Cuba's main source of foreign currency earnings after remittances.
Fewer tourists, then, means less money in the state coffers to invest in the island's crumbling energy infrastructure, or to spend on urgently needed basic foods and medicine.
Traditional allies – Venezuela and Russia – are facing major economic challenges of their own, and while China has funded some solar power projects, Beijing is preoccupied with bigger geopolitical issues.
Today, Cuba is in the grip of its deepest economic crisis since the Cold War.
"Conceptually, tourism remains the country's economic locomotive," explains the Cuban tourism minister, Juan Carlos García Granda.
In Havana, the BBC asks the man at the wheel of that economic motor about the industry's current state of health:
Well, I'm not a doctor," García Granda comments wryly, "but I can tell you that Cuban tourism is alive and kicking.
He claims that the Cuban government has halted the slide seen in 2024, and that the second trimester of this year will show improved statistics.
"We face obstacles none of our competitors do," García Granda continues.
The intensity and the pressure from an economic war launched by the world's main source of tourists, the United States, has prevented Cuban tourism from returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Referring to the six decades-long US economic embargo on Cuba, García Granda says steps taken by Washington since President Trump's first term in office in 2017 have been specifically designed to harm Cuba's tourist trade.
In Trump's first term, they took 263 measures [against Cuba], the majority aimed at destroying Cuban tourism.
In particular, he points to a ban on US cruise ship companies from docking in Cuban ports.
"Without that, we could have counted on another one-million tourists [a year]", García Granda estimates.
A more draconian step came in January 2021 when the US again included Cuba on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT). President Biden removed Cuba from the list in January of this year, only for Trump to add it again just days later when he started his second term.
The classification has a knock-on effect: UK and some European tourists who have visited Cuba after 12 January 2021 are no longer eligible for an ESTA (the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) to enter the US.
Given the headaches for those travellers – of finding themselves plunged into a longer, more complex US visa process – many potential British visitors have been put off from visiting Cuba altogether.
"Thousands of British tourists must reach Cuba via Spain, via France, some even via Canada. Yet not through Miami. Explain to me why a Brit, completely free, can't travel to Cuba via Miami?" García Granda asks rhetorically.
Yet not all the decisions affecting the health of Cuban tourism have been taken in Washington. During the Obama-era thaw, the Cuban government instigated an ambitious hotel-building programme in Havana and the main beach resort, Varadero.
In the capital alone, at least half a dozen new five-star hotels have been erected to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. The latest, known locally as the Torre K, is the tallest building on the island, its imposing structure towering over the Vedado district of the Cuban capital.
There are plenty of other hotels in Havana and it doesn't fit in with its surroundings," says student Danais, speaking in the plaza opposite. "I'd have used the money for other ends, for things we really need like dealing with the blackouts.
"It doesn't respect its urban context," echoes Sabrina, who is studying architecture. "As an architect, I see some positive and negative points, and it's certainly one of the most impressive buildings in the country.
But it didn't need to be so opulent and extravagant, especially with so many hotels in the city lying empty.
I put those points to the tourism minister, saying most Cubans do not see the Torre K as a monument to the country's ingenuity and innovation, but rather as a symbol of poor central planning and the government's failure to listen to the most pressing needs of its people.
García Granda acknowledges that the hotel has its critics, but argues that plenty of Cubans, particularly those who work there, appreciate the new addition to the Havana skyline.
Nevertheless, Cuba's hotel construction push raises a key question over whether Cuba was misled by the Obama administration – sold a vision of warmer political ties and a steady flow of US visitors which never materialised.
Was the Cuban government guilty of failing to plan for changing political seas, or is Washington at fault for implementing a foreign policy which was not sufficiently robust or durable to last from one administration to the next?
Unsurprisingly, the minister insists that Cuba's tourism strategy was not predicated on poor planning.
"A gap" in hotel provision in Cuba was revealed "during the Obama era, which showed the need for more accommodation in Havana", he argues. Furthermore, he adds, the costs have not solely been shouldered by the Cuban state.
More than 70% of Cuban tourism is based in foreign investment, there are more than 19 international companies based here to attract tourism to Cuba.
Surely, I ask, the government can appreciate the frustrations of people on the streets when, in the darkness of a nationwide blackout, they pass a new 200-million-dollar hotel in Havana with its lights blazing?
Little wonder many are asking why those funds have not been directly invested into the Soviet-era energy infrastructure which so sorely needs it.
The people aren't frustrated," Mr García Granda retorts. "Yes, there may be some indignation on the streets, but they're still here. They're still fighting, still working, still trying to help.
Thrusting a graph into my hands showing green shoots of improvement in terms of UK visitor numbers since Covid, he remains defiant that better times are on the horizon:
We are going to fill the hotels," he insists. "We are going to get out of this economic situation and tourism will play its part.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Cuban cigar festival called off as US blockade worsens energy crisis Barack, Michelle Obama spotted on Steven Spielberg’s $250M superyacht in Italy How Jesse Jackson paved way for Barack Obama - and helped change US Here's Barack Obama’s Favourite Movies Cuban Accused Of Beheading Indian-Origin Motel Owner In Texas May Not Face Death Penalty Michelle Obama Questions If US Is Ready For A Woman President Doesn't He Look Like Barack Trump Sparks Fury After Sharing AI Video Depicting Barack Kota’s Missing Teen Girl And Boyfriend Climb Onto Police Vehicle Medical Helicopter Crashes Onto Highway In California
When world leaders sit across a dining table, the food rarely serves a purely culinary purpose. This familiar setup with a strategic warmth was once again on display in Beijing, where Donald Trump and Xi Jinping sat down for a working lunch shaped as much by politics as palate
1 days ago
India’s AI ecosystem is entering a new phase driven by collaborative platforms connecting builders, enterprises, and innovation communities at scale. As AI experimentation becomes more accessible, ecosystems such as ET AI Hackathon 2.0 are accelerating real-world innovation
1 days ago
Rathindra Bose has been elected unopposed as the Speaker of the West Bengal assembly. He is the first legislator from North Bengal to hold this prestigious position. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari proposed his name. The BJP holds a strong majority in the assembly
1 days ago
PM Modi landed, signed key deals, left UAE - all in 2 hours | Full list of pactsAmong the deals signed between India and the UAE during PM Modi's visit is agreement on framework for strategic defence partnership between both countries. Updated on: May 15
1 days ago
The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday called custodial deaths the “worst kind of crime” and a “profound failure of the constitutional machinery”, while ordering fresh inquiries in 262 cases. The court ordered fresh judicial inquiries after it was informed that the state had bypassed
1 days ago
Karuppu Twitter review: Suriya and Trisha Krishnan’s film gets a thumbs up, fans call it ‘paisa vasool’Karuppu Twitter review: Going by the early reactions, Karuppu seems to have struck the right chord, with many calling it a “solid commercial entertainer”. May 15, 2026
1 days ago
-3 Kaymer (Ger), Scheffler (US), Smalley (US), Potgieter (SA), Jaeger (Ger), Lee (Aus), Hisatsune (Jpn); -2 Conners (Can), Reed (US), Lowry (Ire), Brown (Eng), Theegala (US), Greyserman (US), Schauffele (US) Selected others: -1 Thomas (US); Day (Aus), Smith (Aus), Rahm (Spa)
1 days ago
Antique idol, brass items stolen from Chandni Chowk temple recovered; 2 heldAntique idol, brass items stolen from Chandni Chowk temple recovered; 2 held Published on: May 15, 2026 2:50 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, A 45-year-old burglar and a woman have been arrested for allegedly
1 days ago
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced that the NEET UG exam will move to online mode from the next academic year, a move aimed at avoiding a rerun of the paper leak in 2026 that has left lakhs of students in a limbo. Addressing a press conference
1 days ago
In the space of two days, India has crossed two pharmaceutical thresholds—one in the brain, one in the lung. Eli Lilly’s Lormalzi (donanemab), launched Wednesday, is the first drug available in India that goes after Alzheimer’s disease itself rather than just its symptoms
1 days ago
Jaipur, May 15 (PTI) Two Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel and a person they had detained died after a speeding trailer rammed into their motorcycle on the Ajmer-Bhilwara National Highway in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, police said on Friday.Jaipur
1 days ago
'Why is Bangalore rental situation this bad?': Woman says landlord ‘randomly’ hiked rent by ₹4,000 a montha Bengaluru woman’s video about her landlord allegedly increasing her rent by ₹4,000 a month has sparked a discussion around the city’s rental crisis. Updated on: May 15
1 days ago
JBL at 80: Dave Rogers talks audio revolutions, engineering, India and AI tuningAs it was 80 years ago with innovations that defined the D130 and L100, Rogers insists JBL’s engineers set out to define industry benchmarks Published on: May 15
1 days ago
A viral Reddit post shared shortly after the declaration of Central Board of Secondary Education Class 12 results has triggered discussion online around academic pressure, toxic parenting and mental health among students in India. The post, which included a photograph of a shattered laptop lying on
1 days ago
The US has cleared around 10 Chinese firms to buy Nvidia's second-most powerful AI chip, the H200, but not a single delivery has been made so far, three people familiar with the matter said, leaving a major technology deal in limbo as CEO seeks a breakthrough in China this week.Huang
1 days ago
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (May 14, 2026) announced that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping would be making a reciprocal visit to the White House on September 24. “Thank you again, President Xi, for this beautiful welcome, and tonight, it is my honour to extend an invitation to you
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.This simple travel hack can make sure you stay hydrated during your vacationsA water bottle sling bag keeps hydration close at hand and saves you from carrying a heavy backpack through
1 days ago
CEO spends ₹96 lakh a year for roles that bring ‘zero revenue’, shares whyThe CEO’s post about roles that are important even if they don't generate revenue has resonated with many. Published on: May 15, 2026 8:34 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link Many founders view hiring
1 days ago
' South Korean said on Friday it remained committed to a planned strike starting next week, even after the company proposed resuming without conditions, sending shares down as much as 5.9%.Government-mediated negotiations between the union and the company over pay and bonus schemes collapsed this
1 days ago
NFR installs automatic weather stations to improve railway safety during monsoonNFR installs automatic weather stations to improve railway safety during monsoon Updated on: May 15, 2026 11:11 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Guwahati, The Northeast Frontier Railway on Friday said it has started
1 days ago
Apple’s two-year-old partnership with OpenAI has become strained, with the AI startup failing to see the expected benefits from its deal with the iPhone maker and preparing possible legal action, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday
1 days ago
Indian markets open lower as fuel price hike dampens investor sentimentOn Friday, Indian equity markets opened down amid a national fuel price hike. The BSE Sensex fell 64.22 points, while Nifty IT gained. Published on: May 15, 2026 10:07 AM IST ANI Share via Copy link Indian equity markets opened
1 days ago
Iran’s Foreign Minister accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of direct involvement in military operations against his country during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi on Thursday (May 14, 2026), Iranian state media reported. The spat comes a day after the UAE denied a statement by
1 days ago
Gita Gopinath calls out lack of female representation at US-China high-level talksGita Gopinath's post about the all-male Xi-Trump meet has gone viral. Published on: May 15, 2026 10:06 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link Former first Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary
1 days ago
‘Breach in command chain, we take responsibility’: Govt after NEET paper leakAddressing a press conference, union minister Dharmendra Pradhan vowed strong action against those responsible for the NEET-UG paper leak. Updated on: May 15, 2026 11:13 AM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link Days
1 days ago
WBJEE Admit Card 2026 released at wbjeeb.nic.in, download link hereWBJEE Admit Card 2026 has been released. The direct link to download the hall ticket is given here. Updated on: May 15, 2026 11:03 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via Copy link West Bengal Joint Entrance
1 days ago
Avocado toast has gained a lot of popularity over the past few years. It has become a breakfast staple, available across several cafes and restaurants. This summer season, give it a seasonal twist by adding another fan-favourite – the mango! This mango‑avocado toast is a sunny
1 days ago
