Trump’s Cutting Off Of Cruise Ships Hurts Americans As Much As Cubans
Get over it, America.
It’s time put an to end all the travel restrictions to Cuba.
President Trump has trumped Obama’s attempts to open up travel to Cuba by banning cruise ships from visiting the island nation. This will cut off American money to the Cuban military, he claims.
But what it will really do is hurt Americans at least as much as it does the Cubans.
This will cost Americans jobs in travel agencies, cruise ship affiliates and others who have made a living arranging travel to Cuba. It will also further depress the Cuban economy, causing more Cubans to flood South Florida, where they have all but taken over Miami.
This new policy won’t adversely affect the Cuban military or government, but it will plunge many of its citizens into deeper economic despair. Just as a few were starting to make some money by giving tours in classic American cars, renting out rooms in their houses Airbnb style and getting American dollars for souvenirs and services, they now face financial disaster.
The lack of tourist dollars will also slow the progress of Cuba as a travel destination. Havana has some expensive corporate-type hotels but the Internet is almost non-existent and there is overall a lack infrastructure, certainly compared to many other destinations.
People I’ve talked to who have gone to Cuba (a couple of Americans and some Aussies and Canadians, as well) did so for the novelty of it and to “check it out” in their words. All said the are unlikely to return because of a lack of infrastructure and overall the area is pretty depressed and poor.
Cuba remains primarily a one-time destination for many, so it’s not as if Americans are overrunning the place and spending millions of dollars a year.
It must be noted that – for now, anyway – commercial airline flights are unaffected by the new policy and university groups, academic research, journalism and professional meetings are still allowed to travel to Cuba.
Fidel Castro has been out of power since 2006 and it’s been 58 years since the Bay of Pigs. It’s time to get over this decades-old obsession with travel restrictions to Cuba.
#Cuba
#Cubatravel
#TrumpCuba
Great stuff, Heidi. I can’t believe your cruise to Cuba was re-routed!
As a Cuba expert with nearly the last decade of travel to the island, this is sad news. In fact, I’m on cruise right now that was heading for Cuba. We have rerouted. However, please note that US citizens can still travel via air to Cuba under the previous 12 categories. I would suggest Support of the Cuban people. Thus entails 7-8 hrs of activities that support private enterprise, staying at private houses, using private drivers, and frequenting paladares (private restaurants). If you want an intro to my trusted providers and friends, message me with your email. On my website you’ll find Cuba travel tips, off-the-neaten-path adventures and even my book Cubicle to Cuba http://www.heidisiefkas.com