Last Chance For the Real Cuba?

According to ABTA figures, two million British holidaymakers will head overseas over the Easter bank holiday.  Overseas holidays have also seen a big upsurge in bookings for Summer holidays.   ABTA figures indicate top spots for Easter are Spain, the Canary Islands, Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia..

However, ABTA data also indicates that Cuba has become increasingly  popular.  Tropical Sky already offers packages based in and around Havana and Varadero.   Old Havana retains an air of unique yet dilapidated charm and it seems holidaymakers are keen on experiencing the island’s singular atmosphere before the US travel ban is lifted. Many maintain that lifting the ban on US tourism to Cuba will be good for their economy, but perhaps not necessarily for the people?  American tourists do have a reputation for being very demanding and relatively inflexible in what they expect and the fact is that a four-star Cuban hotel will not compare exactly with a four-star American hotel.

Lifting the U.S. travel ban would be a real financial boon to Cuba, and tourism could take on the role a genuine economic engine.  The Obama administration has already thrown its support behind provisions that would make it easier for Cuban-Americans to visit and send money to family in Cuba, while the Congress is looking favourably at easing travel restrictions on a much broader front.

Some observers believe that as many as a million tourists would come from the United States in the first year alone if the ban were lifted.  It’s that possibility that some fear will change Cuba’s distinctive character for good.  As things stand, you can find great beaches anywhere in the Caribbean – but Cuba and Havana are both special and distinctive.   A visit to  Cuba , especially Havana, at least once in your lifetime is  now even more of  a must before it’s opened up to US commercialism and that certain “something “ the Island has is gone forever!

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