More on Cuba and The Current State of It’s Travel Industry
To those who are very familiar with Cuba and their tourism industry it sounds as though my last post on the Bill to Change Travel Restrictions has hit a nerve with them.
I received an email today which I’m going to quote bits and pieces of here – it will shed some light on the state of the current Cuban tourism industry and brought to light some things that I was never aware of prior to this.
Melia, Club Med, Barlovento, Iberostar are a few of the international hotels that are “well” establish in Habana, Veradero, Cayo Coko, Cayo Esmeralda and other locations in Cuba. There is a Benneton in old Havana. And cruise ships that do not conflict with the US embargo/blockeo visit Habana all the time.
The Melia Cohiba in Vedado (a Habana neighborhood) is a 5 star hotel and does not need the imput of young men to improve its infrastructure. It rivals any Ritz Carlton anywhere. And before you say the ol’ “but Cubans can’t stay there,” remind yourself that most US citizens can only dream of staying at the Ritz. After all, it is all about money! And the hotel apartheid that kept Cubans out of many hotels no longer exists, if they can pay, they can stay.
The streets are filled with tourists including many from the states. The Embargo/blockeo has not stopped folks from the states from flying to Cancun, walking across the airport and getting on AeroMexico and going to Havana for a visit. While this is illegal, it is very easy. Cuba does not stamp your passport.
No matter what though – the Cuban tourism/travel industry will have much to gain when travel restrictions and the trade embargo are lifted with America.
Related posts:
- Bill Going Through House of Representatives Lifting Ban On Travel To Cuba
- Castro’s Resignation and Cuba’s Hotel Industry
- 2008 In The Hotel Industry
Category: Hotel Development, real estate, resorts
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Read my 
Andrew,
Do you think that a bill will be passed this year? Is this something that the President should move on quickly as part of his Stimulus Plan? I would see a flux of both development and tourism dollars infused into the US Sector.
I don’t think a bill would be passed this year solely regarding easing travel restrictions, I also don’t expect to see a bill being passed instantly removing the trade embargo either, but I do expect to see more activity in Washington in regards to Cuba than has been done in the past.
I believe by the US government lifting the EMBARGO 100%, will bring democracy by osmosis. The way I see it, its the Cuban elite who were kicked out by Castro, and who lost their illegal wealth to him, and the US governments antiquated policies that still thrive today that keep Cuba closed to American citizens.
The restriction of travel in my opinion is wrong and may be illegal in relationship to our Bill of Rights, I am not 100% sure, I am not a lawyer, just an older guy trying to make a living. I make baseball bats, I would like to sell them to Cuban baseball players and enjoy the quality baseball that is Cuba and of course, I hear the beaches are super.
The bill being passed in Congress is not for everyone, its for Cuban-Americans, limits how much they can spend in US Dollars(a joke) and limits their stay in Cuba, (What a farst).
The politicians in Washington need to wake up and not allow a group of Cuban elitist, most of whom have passed on, continue to deny tax paying American citizens the right to travel to any destination they choose, especially Cuba.