The Changing Face of Cuba's Tourism Industry

Tourism in Cuba is on the way up thanks to lifted travel restrictions and changing policies. 2.7 million travelers visited the country last year. 2012 is expected to be even more successful.

When it comes to alternative holiday destinations, one country that is on the rise is Cuba. Although their tourism industry has been in decline for a number of years, changes – both to the country itself and to global tourism as a whole – have meant a steady increase. This resulted in 2011 being the best year yet for Cuban tourism with 2.7 million visitors in 2011 and they hold high hopes for 2012.

Cuba has been an area many people have been wary of ever since the revolution of 1959. Prior to this event, it was favored by America as a gambling resort, but it has only been in recent years that its citizens have returned to the island.

This change came after President Obama lifted travel restrictions, in 2009 he lifted the embargo on Cuban-Americans and in 2011 all other Americans were allowed to visit again. The relationship between the two nations is improving as is seen with the agreement to end the exclusion of Cuba from the Organization of United States. As a result American tourism to Cuba is booming, 375,000 Cuban-Americans alone are said to have visited in 2010 and many others can be seen on the streets of Havana, although it is said up to 30,000 were already visiting illegally each year.
(Source: Tourism-Review)