Recently, Cuba announced that Chinese citizens can enter the country without a visa, causing a buzz on Weibo. Netizens exclaimed that this route is too convenient, as they can fly directly to Cuba and then swim to the United States.
During the closing ceremony of the 2024 Cuban Tourism Festival on the evening of May 4th, Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos Garcia Granda announced that Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports can enter Cuba without a visa. He also announced that China would be the guest of honor at the 2025 Cuban Tourism Festival, and direct flights between China and Cuba would resume on May 17th.
Within half an hour of the visa exemption announcement, the search volume for keywords such as Cuban hotels and flights on online travel platforms increased by over 40% compared to the previous day. Residents from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Tianjin, Shandong, Fujian, and other areas showed heightened enthusiasm for searching information about Cuba.
Some netizens shared their search results for flights from Beijing to Cuba, which require at least 2 to 3 layovers and a total travel time of 15 to 20 hours, with ticket prices exceeding 10,000 RMB.
The news quickly became a hot topic on Weibo.
Travel bloggers and Weibo influencer “耳朵Film” wrote: “Traveling to Cuba, the obstacle has never been the visa or long flights, but rather the economic blockade. Foreign payment systems are difficult to use in Cuba, and getting cash is a challenge. Mobile apps without VPN are mostly unusable. The 3G network signal is extremely poor, and data is expensive. Getting a SIM card requires queuing with a passport.”
Fashion blogger “珍石部落” commented: “Cuba lacks mobile networks, and the entire country is very backward in terms of mobile networks and internet access.”
“1. Do not rent mobile Wi-Fi in Cuba, there is no signal, and if found by Cuban customs, there will be a fine. 2. Only top hotels in Cuba offer free Wi-Fi; different rooms have different Wi-Fi passwords. Regular hotels charge by the hour, with a rate of 1 USD per hour. 3. China Mobile’s roaming costs 60 RMB per day with very slow internet speed; China Unicom’s roaming starts at 10,000 RMB for 1GB up to unlimited, which may lead to bankruptcy unless reimbursed. Calling a mainland China number costs 14.86 RMB per minute, while local calls cost 5.86 RMB per minute; sending SMS back to mainland China costs 3.86 RMB per message.”
“Old and expensive taxis, usually start at tens of dollars… Do not buy cigars at the airport; most shopping is at ‘state-owned’ stores. Houses are run-down, most rooms lack air conditioning and are very hot. If you want to experience the feeling of going back in time, you may choose to visit.”
The author of the headline article, “溫暖的燁,” stated: “Many visa-exempt countries do not have direct flights; it’s better if they offer visa on arrival or transit visa, otherwise visa exemption is almost meaningless.”
“霸氣威武烏拉” remarked: “In that distant place, there is a country called Cuba. Due to long-term association with the Soviet Union, it has become one of the poorest countries in the world.”
Video blogger and Weibo influencer “-書劍舞-” asked: “Will this become another way for people to enter the United States? Maybe even a shortcut…?”
The author of “双线融合-傳統工業企業電商操盤實戰,” Tony Fu, mentioned: “Good news for entry routes, those who want to enter the United States, do it quickly.”
Numerous netizens agreed: “It’s good news for entry routes, flying directly to Cuba and then swimming to the United States, this route is so convenient.” “Chinese people now have a quick way to reach the United States, first fly to Cuba, then take a boat to the U.S., and land directly. Wishing these travelers from China a smooth journey.” “Opening up the most economical pathway.”