In Cuba, the closure to tourism for more than a month is severely affecting the country's economy

Text by: Domitille Piron

In terms of the epidemic, the coronavirus seems to be controlled in Cuba, it has killed 74 people so far and the peak has passed, but the main victim is the Cuban economy already in great difficulties. Stationary, tourist activity is one of the main inflows of foreign currency into Cuba, and stationary also old American cars which remain in the garage while awaiting the return of tourists. Reportage.

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From our correspondent in Havana,

Run cars empty to maintain them! That's the only thing Ernesto Reigosa can do for over a month. This driver of old tourist cars owns two pink Buick cars from the 1950s.

"  We just can't do anything, keep the cars, do some maintenance and wait for it to pass," he explains. But I have a lot of hope that once it is over tourism will double because people will want to live all over the world, and it will be beneficial for all.  "

But in the meantime, for him as for the 617,000 workers in the private sector in Cuba, or 15% of the active population, no aid is planned by the State. The loss of activity will not be compensated, only the payment of the license has been suspended. But living on his savings, Ernesto will not be able to afford it for long, he reluctantly thought of selling one of his cars.

“  It was one of the first things I thought about, like many of my colleagues. But it is a global crisis so whoever could buy is not going to do so and prefers to keep his money, whoever wanted to invest prefers to wait or whoever wanted to build also waits.  "

The paralysis of tourist activity due to the coronavirus worsens the situation of self-employed workers, who are also the main victims of the last American sanctions.

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• Cuba
• Coronavirus
• Economic crisis
• Tourism

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