Amid an economic crisis and declining tourism, the construction of the Selection La Habana hotel in Cuba is drawing significant criticism. The luxury hotel, managed by the Spanish chain Iberostar, towers over Havana at almost 500 feet and features 542 rooms. Locals, such as 26-year-old artisan Susel Borges, question the government's decision to invest heavily in luxury tourism infrastructure. "All that money could have been spent to build hospitals and schools," Borges said.
Part of a state plan to build multiple luxury hotels, the project was pursued during the pandemic despite many existing hotels being underoccupied. Tourism, once a major economic driver bringing in $3 billion annually, has seen a dramatic decline, with 2.2 million tourists visiting in 2024—down from 4.2 million in 2019. Factors like supply shortages, an energy crisis, and US sanctions, which restrict travel and ban cruise ships, have contributed to the downturn.
Julio García Campos, a driver of the vintage cars popular with tourists, said, "Tourism is gone," recalling a time when the island was bustling with international visitors. State-owned and managed by GAESA, a military-controlled conglomerate, the hotel's financing details remain undisclosed, raising transparency concerns. Economist Pedro Monreal points to disproportionate investment priorities, stating, "With food insecurity a concern, it's troubling that agricultural investment remains 11 times lower" than tourism. Even the building's design is catching flak, with the likes of architect Abel Tablada calling it "a perfect example of what should not be done in terms of bioclimatic design." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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