The energy crisis and the tightening of sanctions on Cuba have caused a seismic shift in the European tourism sector, with the first aftershocks already being felt in southern Gran Canaria. With the mass cancellation of operations by giants like TUI and Dertour's flexible cancellation policies for the Caribbean destination, Maspalomas is positioning itself as a natural refuge for thousands of German tourists seeking a safe and reliable alternative this winter.
The situation in the Caribbean is critical: the German Foreign Ministry is already advising against non-essential travel to the island due to extreme fuel shortages and the inability to guarantee transportation and basic services for visitors. Faced with this scenario, TUI has taken the drastic decision to cancel all its flights to Cuba until April 30, 2026, also removing the destination from its summer schedule. Meanwhile, the Dertour group has eased restrictions, allowing free cancellations until the end of March and free rebooking changes for the entire season.
This closure of travel to Cuba represents an immediate shift in tourist flows towards medium-haul destinations that offer stability, and this is where southern Gran Canaria, and especially the Maspalomas area, plays its strongest card. Gran Canaria's air connectivity with Germany and the reliability of its services make the dunes the priority "plan B" for major tour operators, who need to relocate their clients to destinations with solid infrastructure in the face of Cuba's energy uncertainty.
In the hotel offices of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, this situation is being closely monitored. While airlines like Cubana de Aviación and Air Canada are suspending flights, and others like Air Europa are forced to make technical stops to refuel outside the Caribbean island, Maspalomas is reinforcing its image as a reliable destination. The sector anticipates that many of the last-minute cancellations for the Caribbean will translate into a surge in occupancy in the south of the island, allowing them to close the winter season with record figures and solidifying Gran Canaria's position as the unyielding stronghold of European tourism in the Atlantic.
