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Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already

 

For tourists from Europe, England and Canada, who have been traveling to Cuba for years, the big change anticipated when Americans start to arrive has already started to happen.

A report by Claire Boobbyer of Skift, the travel industry news and analysis site, says that visitors are already seeing price rises, shortages of rooms and crowding at popular spots, even before the expected changes in the U.S. ban on "normal" tourism ends. During the first 11 months of 2015, Cuba played host to over 3 million visitors, up 17.6% from 2014.

That includes a big increase in U.S. visitors now that the U.S. allows citizens to self-certify that their visit meets one of the official purposes, such as people-to-people programs, journalism, humanitarian and religious work and cultural programs. Still, even a big increase in U.S. numbers, is not the main increase in Cuba's numbers.

With recent agreement allowing direct non-charter flights between the two countries, the momentum is likely to grow, worrying both Cubans and tour operators who are seeing prices rising. One British tour operator told the reporter that despite hotel room costs that have tripled this year, his company has taken 22% more Brits to Cuba this year, and expects to continue.

For the full report, click HERE

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The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

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One reason for the surge in European visitors is they believe that Cuba will not be the same after the US visitors arrive in numbers.

Cuba is the most religious country I've ever been to.

Just the sight of the Pope on TV brings the Cubans to a standstill.

And the use of over-tipping by Americans will create a division like it has in the Dominican Republic. Where only the high tippers get a service at peak times.

Remember - one US Dollar is equal to a days pay in Cuba - 24 Cuban Peso.

Nice photo!

Last edited by GarryRF

The whole question of "not the same" is an interesting one. That's certainly the impression of friends of mine who broke the travel ban in the 1960s and saw a vision of what Cuba might have hoped for, had it not become a pawn between the Cold War interests of the U.S. and Soviet Union. 

I'm sure the transition ahead is as worrying to many Cubans who believe they have built something unique that is threatened with change, as it is to the tourism industry.

I'll certainly have my eyes wide open when I visit!

The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

One thing that unites the Cuban people is that they are mostly poor.

The past few years have seen an elitist group of affluent hotel workers becoming very rich - by local standards.

Their income far exceeds the Doctors and University Graduates of Cuba.

I've seen the Maids who clean the room getting $1 Dollar from each room they clean. Since then I've also seen the Maids Supervisor come into my room and take the tip off the bed before the maid gets there.

I've seen the stores where the Hotel workers take their gifts from the tourists.

Then they trade the "new dress for my 2 year old little girl" for cash.

There are a now a few very rich people in Cuba. And so the division starts again.

 

 

Incidentally, Claire Boobbyer, the author of the Skift report, is also the author of the just-published and quite excellent Frommer's EasyGuide to Cuba. I'm reading it, and I'm impressed...

The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

We're off to Cuba in 3 weeks "to see it before it changes"... Please Gurus - what is the best currency to take, especially for tips? Any advice is welcome. 

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things."  Henry Miller

Hi Mac. You need to take clean, unmarked £20 notes.

You will exchange them within your Hotel where the currency is at a fixed rate.

You will receive Tourist Pesos in return. You wont use the local currency.

The Peso you will use is a CUC. Cuban Convertible Peso.

Its equal to $1 US.

Ask for small denominations'.  No one has change of a 20 CUC note.

Ask for 20 CUC in 1 CUC coins. For tips. She'll understand why.

Tourists call the currency C - U - Cs or KUKS.

A tip of 1CUC is about 60p UK or a US dollar. A days wage in Cuba.

Give the barman a 1 CUC when you arrive at the bar. He should serve you well.

Maybe another 1 at the end of the session if he's been attentive.

Also 1 a day for the maid who will make animals from your towels.

Maybe give 1 to the  gardener and ask him for a fresh cut Mango. Delicious.

Nothing like a store bought Mango. 

(No side effects - like plums)

 

Last edited by GarryRF

Canadian Dollars are welcome too.

There was a ban on using US Bank Cards when I was there in June.

Maybe someone has the latest on the situation.

It was still illegal for Cubans to have US$ currency.

They will take US$ as a tip - but they risk jail - a day per dollar !

U.S. government restrictions on U.S. credit and debit cards have been removed, and the MasterCard and Visa people have set up arrangements, but as of 12 Dec. 2015, the U.S. Embassy in Havana is noting that ATM and credit cards do not work yet.

One Florida bank has just announced agreement on a MasterCard branded debit card that will work when issued.

The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

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