Two Cuba specialists reported little to no impact for their clients who are in the country as the island suffered another nationwide blackout Monday, followed by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake in the eastern part of the island on Tuesday.
Cuba's Ministry of Energy and Mines reported the grid collapse Monday on X, according to the Associated Press, which said it was the third major blackout in the country in the past four months.
The restoration of the most recent electrical failure was proceeding "in accordance with established protocols," according to posts by the ministry on X this morning.
Shabi Samoohi, the director of Cultural Island Travel in Forest Hills, N.Y., said power was back up and running in certain areas, including where her clients stay and visit.
Many of the restaurants and venues her clients visit have their own generators or solar panels, as the island is no stranger to blackouts.
Johnny Considine, the CEO and founder of Cuba Private Travel in New York, said since he creates trips for clients on the premium end, all providers have alternative power solutions.
"We have clients on the ground, and they are fascinated to be here at this time," he said.
Even with the power grid failure, Considine said shops are beginning to reopen.
Tour operators last month said they hadn't faced major issues operating itineraries, even as a nationwide energy shortage caused by the U.S. blockade of Venezuelan fuel exports to Cuba prompted Canadian airlines to halt flights.
The first Trump administration's reversal of Obama's normalization of relations with Cuba, the Covid pandemic and Hurricane Irma have all weakened tourism to the country over the last decade. The country saw record tourism in 2018 when it welcomed 4.8 million visitors, but only 1.8 million visitors came last year, according to UPI.
President Trump on Monday said Cuba was a "very weakened nation" and that he believed he would have the "honor of taking Cuba."