The Central Government Delegate in the Balearics, Alfonso Rodríguez, has called on the President of the Balerarics, Marga Prohens, to ‘defend’ the interests of local tourism companies with a presence in Cuba in the face of the effects of the lack of supplies and fuel. Rodríguez, at a press conference held on Wednesday, warned that the current situation could have ‘repercussions on the interests of the tourism sector’ in the Balearics.
The ban on exporting oil from Venezuela to Cuba, he argued, is intended to ‘suffocate’ the island and could have ‘repercussions on the interests of the tourism sector in the Balearics’. ‘And Prohens should defend them,’ he insisted.
‘The tourism sector has said that it intends to continue operating as best it can, even if this means stopping over in Santo Domingo, but it is running a risk that all governments should try to avoid, and the regional government has something to say about this,’ Rodríguez stressed. The central government, he claimed, has been trying for years to mediate to resolve the crisis in Venezuela and has already expressed its opposition to the actions taken by US President Donald Trump, whom he accused of ‘flouting international law’.
‘Trump’s decisions are putting tourism assets at risk, just as they first put the sector at risk with tariffs,’ said the Government delegate in the Balearics. One of the Balearic tourism companies with a presence in Cuba, Meliá Hotels International, has implemented a plan of operational adjustments to its assets on the island, which includes the temporary ‘compaction’ of three of its hotels ‘for the time being’ due to the current situation of supplies and demand levels on the island.
According to the company’s statement to Europa Press, this decision is purely operational and ‘based strictly on occupancy levels, with the aim of optimising resources and with the priority of guaranteeing the best service and experience for customers’. The Mallorcan hotel chain has specified that these adjustments are based on recorded occupancy levels and that it is maintaining ‘close communication and collaboration’ with tour operators to offer alternatives to customers who may be affected by these partial or temporary closures of facilities.
As for the availability of basic resources, Meliá has conveyed a message of reassurance based on information provided by the Cuban tourism authorities. According to the company, there is sufficient fuel available to ensure the normal operation of the establishments under its management. In fact, the company has confirmed that its hotels currently have ‘supplies in place’ to support the operational continuity of the infrastructure, minimising the impact of the logistical constraints facing the country.
In light of these circumstances, Meliá’s teams in Cuba have reinforced their focus on personalised service to resolve any guest requests. The hotel chain’s priority, as highlighted in the statement, is to convey ‘professionalism and reassurance’ in the customer experience, ensuring that essential services and the stay itself are provided in accordance with the brand’s standards.