Polish government advises against Cuba travel citing acute water shortages, fuel rationing, and prolonged blackouts.
Polish Government Issues Travel Warning
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a Thursday (February 12) evening statement advising against travel to Cuba. “Introduction of strict gasoline rationing, severe limitations in access to diesel fuel including aircraft fuel, and prolonged power outages cause significant difficulties for stays in Cuba,” ministry representatives stated.
Tourists must be prepared for unexpected accommodation changes, water access problems, transportation difficulties, and limited medical assistance. Flight connections are systematically decreasing, with aircraft refueling now occurring outside Cuba.
Safety Concerns for Polish Tourists
The MSZ advised Polish citizens in Cuba to monitor communications from the Polish Embassy and all updates from travel agencies and airlines. “Common crime has intensified in Cuba in recent years, mainly due to social impoverishment,” the ministry reminded. Hotel thefts and incidents in tourist rentals are increasingly frequent.
“One should not place too much hope in local police. Filing statements with police may take many hours and yield little result,” officials added. Police officers themselves may attempt to extort money from tourists.
US Secretary Comments on Cuba
Following the US attack on Venezuela and capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed other parts of South America and the Caribbean. When asked if Cuba would be the next target, Rubio – son of Cuban immigrants – assessed that the local government is “a huge problem.”
“I think they have serious troubles. I won’t say what our future steps will be and what our policy is at the moment. But I don’t think it’s any great secret that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime,” stated the head of American diplomacy.