The End of Cuba’s ‘Tourism Apartheid’?

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  08.11.09 | 4:25 PM ET

Photo by lepiaf.geo via Flickr (Creative Commons)

It’s been more than a year since Raul Castro rescinded the ban on Cubans in local hotels and resorts, but the shift is only now seeing tangible results. Writes Nick Miroff of Global Post: “Given that the average wage on the island is less than $20 a month, the change was largely considered a symbolic one at the time. But this summer, something unusual has been happening up and down the beach at Varadero. The hotels are filling with cash-wielding locals.” Apparently, the influx is largely a result of steep discounts in a recession-hit off season. I never thought I’d say it, but this might be one “staycation” I can get behind.

Tags: Hotels, Politics, Caribbean, Cuba, News and Briefs

Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


3 Comments for The End of Cuba’s ‘Tourism Apartheid’?

Robert Downes 08.11.09 | 4:40 PM ET

I visited Cuba in 2000 and was surprised to find ‘first world’ deluxe vacation resorts at Veradero and the Bay of Pigs along with an expressway and rental cars at the ready.  Also, crushing poverty, hordes of prostitutes and hustlers, and a lack of consumer goods, even in Havana.
  The tale is told on my site, http://www.planetbackpacker.net if anyone’s interested…

Carmen Ferreiro 08.12.09 | 1:30 PM ET

Good observation, something I wasn’t aware of, but the answer is quite simply this, since the Obama administration changed the remittance policy which now allows any Cuban-American to send as much money as they want to their familiies in Cuba, and travel without time restictions; the impact must somehow be a cause-effect factor from both these changes in policy.  The sad part is that as you mentioned most cuban nationals do no make enough to enjoy these restaurants and beaches on a constant basis, and they other thing is they must convert what they earn into CUC (convertible currency) and lose 25 cents on each dollar they spend, which is a fee collected by the Castro government.  Also, not all Cubans despite this policy change benefit, those who do not have family abroad get no remittances, and those the government can arbitrarily discriminate against, are not permitted near tourist areas.  They way I see it, the people of Cuba do not get to enjoy their country in the same manner that foreign visitors can.

Andi 08.12.09 | 1:49 PM ET

I think this is a WONDERFUL change!!!  I was disgusted with the fact that Cubans weren’t allowed in the tourist hotels and resorts when I was there. 

If anyone is interested in my time there please visit my site to read about my Cuban adventures!

http://blog.mybeautifuladventures.com

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