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I’m very conflicted on the whole Cuban travel proliferation
I have many friends that are of Cuban descent. I don’t think a single one has spoken out in favor of touring Cuba. They and their parents have very viscerally negative feelings about the regime that has ruled Cuba for decades. Most of them are children of immigrants who fled Cuba for a better life here. They have spoken out about celebrities touring Cuba and trivializing the oppression and poverty endured by its citizens by citing celebrities who have proclaimed, “get there before it’s ruined with western influence.” I think there is a curiosity with anything that is perceived as forbidden, and as a result, the intrigue surrounding a Cuban visit exists in many of us. But, does Cuban travel help or hinder the Cuban people themselves?
I’m not an expert
I had this same debate when visiting the U.A.E. last year. I disagree with aspects of their government, but then again I disagree with certain aspects of my government here in the USA. I ultimately decided in favor of visiting the U.A.E. because the argument for beneficial tourism results outweighed the negative. The laws and culture in the U.A.E. are leaning towards human rights, not away. The decision of the Emirati royalty to open up expansion to outsiders has provided upward economic mobility for many laborers, pulled black and white human rights issues out of the fray and into discussion, and provides a landscape for people to witness the benefits of progressive capitalism. Can the same be true for Cuban travel?
I’m up in the air about it
- This will most certainly be resolved as expansion continues and western institutions subsidize development and if congressional restrictions ease, US banks will seize on the Cuban opportunity.
- Money infused into the Cuban travel industry directly and positively helps the existing Cuban regime. One that has not made overtures in favor of human rights, dignity, and freedom.
- This, in my opinion, is a poignant obstacle to tourism pulling people up from poverty. While there will be more jobs, the government dictates terms. These terms are set, dictated, and enforced by the government and due to #4 there lacks a credible court system of due process. If the government decides that it will rake back 3/4 of workers wages, what exactly will stop it?
- Without a credible court system, what protections are there for citizens, workers, and businesses? I’m less worried about business protection because of size, scale, and economic incentive for government for favorable terms. Maybe business will go to bat for workers’ rights, but profits also lie on the side of long hours with low wages.
So does this yield beneficial tourism results or negative ones? I’m still not that sure.
Economic reforms of 2011.
There was a reform in 2011 that allowed shopkeepers, cab drivers, etc to have and hold licenses from the government to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. This was cast as part of a wider net for non state payroll endeavors and contributed to the expansion of non-state owned land/cars. These are steps that continue to move the country away from the old Soviet style government and, at least, start to bend towards capitalism. But have these movements occurred because the government has been effectively suffocated by the US embargoes and thus forced to embrace western practices as a means of continued existence?
I don’t really know. If that is the case, then the new influx of capital and investment could, in fact, halt capitalistic progression. It could provide the much needed air to an asphyxiated regime whose pulse was slowing. Yikes that would be terrible. The goal is to aid and propel economic opportunity.
The flip side, and the hope of the Obama administration, is that the capital infusion will yield opportunity, upward mobility, and fuel a human rights movement. If that were the case, then I think that the argument would be over. Of course, Cuban travel would be positive and beneficial. But none of those things benefit the regime, and how many regimes actively seek the undermining of their existence?
I don’t really have the answer, I suppose I’m merely presenting issues to consider and base your proposed travel upon. I think people want to taste the forbidden fruit, but there should be a net positive for the people.
Cubans, on average, make less than $30 a month
Yes. A month. For the most part, everything is rationed, shared, and owned by the government. Even when we look at the above obstacles for foreign investment, one of the requirements is that the government is a co-owner. This is technically the case in the U.A.E. as well, and foreign investors are still flocking to the country. Investors are now starting to flock to Cuba – according to the cubajournal.com – and it has 12 hotel properties in development in Q1 2016. While I would imagine that many people from the States will be interested in staying at a new Starwood, Marriott, or Kempinski property, it is still partially owned by the government. Not that I’m advocating for or against staying at one of these properties, but you are effectively putting money in the coffers of the government.
AirBnb offers a unique way to visit and on average puts $250/week in the pockets of owners
Fusion.net ran an article highlighting the exceptional growth that Airbnb has seen in the Cuban market. What I found to be the most interesting aspect of the article was how Cubans were benefiting from the arrangements themselves. They were able to have a higher occupancy rate than before Airbnb all the while earn 8x their monthly income in just a week. Now that is the power of capitalism and opportunity. The system has even provided middle men who are able to pay the people cash and successfully circumvent Cuban banking regulations. If you’re looking to take a trip down there, this could ultimately be a successful way to get a taste of authentic Cuba all the while putting the much needed $$$$ into the people’s pockets.
I’m still torn on whether I would go
I just don’t know yet. I’m eager to hear experiences that people have and gauge the impact that tourism is actively having on the Cuban economy. Is it helping to pull people up? There is certainly a bevy of options now unto which you can make your Cuban Travel dreams come true, but I’m still going to sit on the side and have a think. I tend to lean towards western influence yielding positive results in the long run, but I stand skeptical as to whether foreign investment yields an empowered Cuban, or an empowered regime.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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