Lisbon, Mar. 5, 2026 (Lusa) - The Cuban ambassador in Lisbon said on Thursday that the country was taking measures to mitigate the impact on the tourism sector due to Washington's oil embargo and intends to continue its “excellent relations” with Portuguese hotel companies.
“We have excellent relations with hotel companies. Cuba has now had to implement measures, of course, to deal with this situation,” said José Ramón Saborido Loidi in an interview with Lusa.
One measure is the creation of “tourist hubs” to meet “tourist demand” in the country and ensure “a high standard of service.”
The hubs will be “a concentration of the hotel network” in order to make effective use of the resources available on the island, the diplomat said.
“When you have little fuel, you really need to seek a concentration to ensure that its use and service to tourists are ensured,” José Loidi continued.
The quality of service “is guaranteed,” argued the ambassador, who added that Cuba had the opportunity to promote its tourism, the main source of income for the Caribbean island, at BTL - Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market.
“We have a magnificent relationship with hotel companies here in Portugal that have investments in Cuba and that participate with us in a prominent way,” he said, adding that these companies have been working together with the island “to promote tourism.”
According to the Cuban ambassador, the relations of “understanding and complementarity” also extend to the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Portuguese people in general.
“There is a lot of solidarity on the part of the Portuguese people, containers of products have been sent, the population is collecting donations, there is really a general sympathy of the Portuguese people towards the Cuban people and the defence of their conquest and their independence,” added the Cuban ambassador.
The Cuban embassy clarified that part of the aid sent from Portugal to the island comes from collections by the Portugal-Cuba Friendship Association and also from Cubans living in Portugal.
In January, after the United States captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, an ally of Havana, Cuba lost access to Venezuelan oil, and US President Donald Trump ordered the imposition of tariffs on countries that supply oil to the Caribbean island, aggravating the worst economic and social crisis the country has experienced since 1959.
Tension between the two countries has been mounting since the new oil embargo.
The UN Human Rights Office has pointed out that the US blockade violates the United Nations Charter and international law, and that it has led to the dismantling of the island's food, health, and water supply systems.
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