Cuba Country Report

Cuba has slowly emerged from a completely statist economic model, despite continued one-party communist rule. The country has embarked on a program of allowing for limited privatization in certain sectors - particularly tourism - as the country is in constant need of hard currency.

Crime on the island is exceedingly low by regional standards due to the strong powers granted to security forces. However, visitors continue to note the aggressiveness and abundance of hustlers - or "jineteros" - for which Cuba's major cities are known. The quality of the island's infrastructure is erratic at best. Although Havana and other cities have generally reliable electricity and water, such is often not the case in more rural areas. Telecommunications follow a similar pattern, although internet access is limited even in major cities, as it is completely controlled by the government. Highways on the island are considered adequate, but smaller roads have been noted for their poor and sometimes impassable states. All aforementioned infrastructural variables are particularly vulnerable to hurricanes, which can hit the island between June and November.

There is no notable conflict threat to Cuba, nor is one expected to develop. Crime is considered to pose a low risk for those visiting the country, although hustlers and scams targeting tourists are quite common. Transnational terrorism is not considered a threat, and domestic terror incidents are no longer considered pertinent threats. Due to authoritarian control as exercised by the Communist Party for decades, the prospect for unrest is minimal.

Air travel is considered safe to and from Cuba, but domestic carriers have somewhat disconcerting safety records.

Cuban highways are generally adequate, but secondary roads are poorly maintained and even dangerous.

The port of Havana is the main port in Cuba. It is considered efficient.

Basic services such as water and electricity are still prone to shortages, particularly in rural areas. Cities such as Havana and Varadero are less affected, especially in their tourist hotspots. Access to the internet is strictly controlled by the government and not readily available, save in certain locations.

There are increasing concerns over the threat from cyber attacks, as the country has gained more access to public internet. Cuba Ransomware group has also been a sponsor of cyber attacks.

Cuba features a typically Caribbean climate, although heatstroke is a concern for the uninitiated. The Cuban government has a generally decent track record of capping pollution and promoting environmental protectionism, but smaller-scale pollution can still occur. The country, like much of the Caribbean, lies in a seismically active zone and experiences mild-to-moderate quakes every few years. Hurricanes and tropical systems represent the greatest environmental threat to travelers, as Cuba lies squarely in the hurricane belt. The hurricane season generally lasts from June through November, with activity peaking by September.

Public health is an extremely high priority for the Cuban government, and outbreaks of disease are rare and in general quickly treated. Cuban healthcare is comprehensive for visitors, although extremely specialized cases may need evacuation to a more economically developed country. All major medications can be obtained in generic form on the island, but more specialized medications may not be sold there. Tap water is considered unfit for drinking, and tap water shortages may occur in rural areas not reliant on well water.

Corruption in Cuba is thought to be a moderate problem, but less severe than in other Latin American countries. Rule of law as experienced by foreigners is unlikely to pose a risk, but is a major problem for Cuban nationals. The current regime has so far successfully established the beginnings of a peaceful transfer of power to a younger generation of Communist Party leaders since 2018. Multilateral sanctions against Cuba are a thing of the past, but the US economic embargo remains in force.