Cuba Tourist Numbers.


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Ouch

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“The total of U.S. clients is only 56.6 percent of what it was in 2017,” Bernal said. The state-run Cuban News Agency published the percentage decline in overall foreign visits separately, citing tourism authorities.

Cuban officials and many foreign tourism experts maintain Cuba is one of the safest destinations in the world.

The government still hopes the number of foreign visitors will reach the 5 million mark this year, Bernal said. It rose 16.2 percent to a record 4.7 million in 2017.

The number of Cubans living abroad who traveled back to the island jumped 21 percent in the first three months of the year, he said, and was showing steady growth. Other top markets were Russia and Mexico, which grew 32 and 23 percent respectively.

Bernal said Canadians still made up the largest group of visitors to Cuba by far, although he did not give any specifics.

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I found this article published last Friday. Similar content. This subject a politically charged, so I'll leave the article here and leave the political pontificating to the experts on the telly. LoL

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/11/great-american-wave-of-tourism-recedes-after-brief-cuban-dalliance/

The human side is... It's tough watch folks struggle like this. May the Cuban people find their way to a free Cuba soon. They deserve it. 

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1 hour ago, FatherOfPugs said:

It's certainly tough from an economics stand point, I really enjoyed my time there. I will say, I think a contributing factor for some Americans is that the whole trip has to be financed in cash, and many people I know, are extremely uncomfortable carrying more than $50 cash on them for fear of being mugged, regardless of where they are in the world. Again, these are just folks I've spoken with. If they could use a credit card, they would be more willing to go.

When I was backpacking as a kid, one of the the guys I travelled with got mugged in Brazil 12 times over a 9 month period. He taught me a trick I’ve done ever since. After the third time he was mugged, he kept all his money in his boots and a little money in his pocket. Muggers were always happy to get the few dollars in his pocket and get away quickly. When I travel with a lot of cash I always do a similar version of this.

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I have not been to Cuba, but in reading the forum posts over the last few years it seems like there was an increase in cost.  Prices for hotels, food etc seemed to be reported as much higher over the last 2 years.  Add this to the more limited access for US folks and it appears to be the economics of demand/supply.  Hopefully, the Cuban government allows those forces to play out and find a balance.  But if they step in and cause price fluctuations, then many tourists may not want to deal with the uncertainty.  

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4 hours ago, FatherOfPugs said:

 I think a contributing factor for some Americans is that the whole trip has to be financed in cash, and many people I know, are extremely uncomfortable carrying more than $50 cash on them for fear of being mugged, regardless of where they are in the world. Again, these are just folks I've spoken with. If they could use a credit card, they would be more willing to go.

 

I posted a story here about my trip to Havana.  My traveling partner insisted on holding my money because I misplace everything.  It was 4k in CUC/$.  In a moment that almost ended my friendship with my friend, my money was left on the bus in a bag and spend 6 hours traveling back and forth across Havana.  Amazingly enough, not even one CUC was taken.  I got it all back.  So I can confirm that Havana is one of the safest places on earth.  In my hometown of Portland Oregon, that money would have been stolen if it was left on a bus.  That is even with camera's on every bus.  Awhile back we had that horrible incident where a racist nut job stabbed 3 good samaritans who were trying to stop him from verbally assaulting a black girl.  After they were killed, some other jerk took a watch off one of the dead heros.

 

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40 minutes ago, Monterey said:

I posted a story here about my trip to Havana.  My traveling partner insisted on holding my money because I misplace everything.  It was 4k in CUC/$.  In a moment that almost ended my friendship with my friend, my money was left on the bus in a bag and spend 6 hours traveling back and forth across Havana.  Amazingly enough, not even one CUC was taken.  I got it all back.  

I recall reading your story on here. That was impressive. 

I have friends who are lawyers and RNs and the part some folks aren't ready to reconcile is that this isn't a resort oasis with plush accommodations. My friend who went, complained that they went to a beach and there was no water for sale for his toddler son. He had to go out of his way to get the kid a drink. I also agree with @FatherOfPugs in that people (I include myself in this bunch) don't like carrying large sums of cash while on vacation. Others have commented on the rise in prices. These are all valid issues.

Bottom line is you go to Cuba for culture, rum, cigars, and its people. I'm going back in November for first time in 38 years, since leaving as a 4 year old. I want to truly feel like I'm home. Only people can give you that feeling. 

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You guys can justify to yourselves how great it is to go to Cuba, but that is not going to change any minds in the USA. Let's face it, there are far more attractive places to take the wife and kiddos where you can have true 5 star accommodations if that is what you desire, safe water, modern amenities in the hotels and resorts, high speed internet, the list goes on and on. And guys like myself can take my own Habanos with me to these destinations. I had the desire to make a trip to Cuba on my bucket list, but meh, I really could care less if I ever make it there in my lifetime. Too many other destinations in the world I would rather see. My 2 c.

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I go to Havana regularly and saw the hotel prices rise dramatically with the increase in American tourists and them recently decline as the US visitors declined. As a Canadian I prefer the more reasonable prices and less crowded city. Having said that if there was a full opening and US credit cards were accepted as cards from Canada and the rest of the world are, it would get busier and more expensive but in time hotel capacity would shoot up and would help moderate that. Either way I will continue to enjoy my trips to Havana in addition to all my other travels.


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32 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

You guys can justify to yourselves how great it is to go to Cuba, but that is not going to change any minds in the USA. Let's face it, there are far more attractive places to take the wife and kiddos where you can have true 5 star accommodations if that is what you desire, safe water, modern amenities in the hotels and resorts, high speed internet, the list goes on and on. And guys like myself can take my own Habanos with me to these destinations. I had the desire to make a trip to Cuba on my bucket list, but meh, I really could care less if I ever make it there in my lifetime. Too many other destinations in the world I would rather see. My 2 c.

It depends on what you're seeking.  It's a once in a lifetime experience and everyone should go for at least a long weekend.  But I don't blame you for taking a week vacation elsewhere.  

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I honestly don't think the intention of this thread was to poo-poo or mud sling intentions for visiting. There are many places that people visit for different reasons. Thailand might be a great bird watching expedition for some and a different kind of vacation for some 20-somethings. 

I'm going to Havana in November and my wife said I want to stay in these boutique hotels because I want a few amenities. Is it a place you take 5-10 year old American kids? Probably not. There is still plenty of merit to visit the place. Lots of culture. 

My favorite place I've ever visited was Costa Rica. Upon landing I felt like I had landed home. What made that place special was the people. Everyone you saw was pleasant and their "Pura Vida" phrase was incredibly fitting. Life is pure out there. I'm hoping Cubans will be similar in demeanor. Looking forward to my visit. 

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21 hours ago, NYgarman said:

I am going to assume you speak for yourself and not your wife and kids. When I vacation my family goes with me. They would certainly not have any interest in Cuba as my wife and daughter don't smoke cigars or drink rum. :rolleyes:

I really can't say anything more than "Wow" to this!

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21 hours ago, NYgarman said:

I am going to assume you speak for yourself and not your wife and kids. When I vacation my family goes with me. They would certainly not have any interest in Cuba as my wife and daughter don't smoke cigars or drink rum. :rolleyes:

Well it’s different from family to family:  me, my wife and daughter (21) all went last summer. Had a great 2 1/2 weeks. Back to basics. Came off 4 and 5 star hotels in down to earth CP’s and loved it. Daughter a bit challenged the first few days, due to no connectivity, but otherwise fine - wife loves Havana and wants to go again - I’m one happy camper:D

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If all anyone is after in a vacation, is a 5 star accommodation, why would you ever leave the United States? Just to say you’ve been somewhere else? Hint: you haven’t. There is no 5 star accommodation anywhere in the world that truly reflects the country its located in. Traveling is about the experience of another culture, seeing how other people live. Bringing children in on this experience is incredibly educational. It boggles the mind to hear these sorts of complaints of Cuba. It’s laughable really.

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For transparency's sake, my only expertise on children is having been one and having many in my social circle.

It seems like the best way of educating children includes exposing them to a wide range of experiences.

It appears that the best way to instill some compassion and awareness in people is exposing them to some hardship and struggle. 

Re: prostitution, you can easily find it in every single city on the globe. Cheap & unnecessary shot to the Cuban people and everyone who enjoys visiting Cuba.

Cheers!

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2 hours ago, KnightsAnole said:

If all anyone is after in a vacation, is a 5 star accommodation, why would you ever leave the United States? Just to say you’ve been somewhere else? Hint: you haven’t. There is no 5 star accommodation anywhere in the world that truly reflects the country its located in. Traveling is about the experience of another culture, seeing how other people live. Bringing children in on this experience is incredibly educational. It boggles the mind to hear these sorts of complaints of Cuba. It’s laughable really.

My wife and I chuckle about food options at  resort lunch buffets and what is presented. You'll often find things like pizza and lasagna, and honestly we would love nothing more than some local fare. The last several years our vacations are more about getting out and seeing where we're staying. Enjoy the local food. The people. 

I think it'd be silly to say we don't love amenities, but to your point, and you really nailed it, if all you want is an extension of your current first world then why leave? It's not always safe to leave a resort, or city limits if you will, but when you can... Explore! You might appreciate what you have that much more once you learn how others live. And live happily I might add. 

35 minutes ago, Jeanff said:

Re: prostitution, you can easily find it in every single city on the globe. Cheap & unnecessary shot to the Cuban people and everyone who enjoys visiting Cuba.

Cheers!

THIS! ?

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49 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

This question is posed for all in this thread; IF there were NO cigars or rum in Cuba, would anybody still go? I guarantee you none of you would. Don't kid yourselves. :blink:

Assuming you know what other people think is one of the surest way to miss out on life, not including building no relevant friendships...

Food (not 5 stars) for thoughts ?

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42 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

This question is posed for all in this thread; IF there were NO cigars or rum in Cuba, would anybody still go? I guarantee you none of you would. Don't kid yourselves. :blink:

This is the exact reason some folks abroad look at Americans (us, I'm a naturalized American) funny. 

If there were no cigars and no rum... I'd still go back to see my aunts and uncles who remain. @NYgarman they say different strokes for different folks, and just like no one is attacking your stance on the island... There's no need to cast a net as if to claim you could possibly get into peoples' heads and know their intent for visiting. I'm certain there are thousands of Americans, Canadians, and Europeans that visit and leave the island without rum nor cigars. 

The irony is it sounds like you don't care to visit, but you enjoy the finest things the island has to offer. (Which by most accounts is arguably the best tobacco products on the globe, which is pretty big.)

The question for YOU my friend is... If you couldn't have the USPS drop a box at your doorstep from several thousand miles away with your favorite Habanos, and instead had to go pick up the finest tobacco in the world yourself.  Would you visit then? 

In the words of the officer in the old Looney Toons skit with Bugs...

YOU MIGHT RABBIT. YOU MIGHT!

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good points for both sides.

@NYgarman  with his example explained reasons that led to the decrease of north american turists in Cuba.

And some of them are the reasons that make me go there but his statement showed disdain what sounds a bit disrespectful in a forum about cigars/Cuba.

To me:

Cheaper cigars 

Meet new lads

Rum

Bucaneros

Laughs

No internet

 

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First three times I traveled to Cuba it was for neither cigars nor rum. I had my first cigar in Cuba and a love for rum soon followed. That’s the thing about traveling, to experience new things and bring them into your life. I agree the question is disrespectful and not just a little bit ignorant.

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8 hours ago, FatherOfPugs said:

Big false on this one. That's one hell of an assumption you're making.

My wife and I both have studied Spanish influenced culture(s) for years, and we are both fluent in the language. With studying the countries that predominantly speak Spanish, you learn about the cultures, and the differences in dialects of the same language. Costa Rican Spanish is much different than Castilian Spanish in how they pronounce words no different than if you look at folks from the northeast of the US and compare them to the southwest.  Having traveled to my share of Spanish speaking countries, Cuba was another place we have wanted to go for some time, and we finally pulled the trigger. My wife literally could not care any less or give two flying f*cks about the cigars and rum, she loves the culture, and she wanted to go.

When my wife and I were in Havana, the whole point of our trip was to experience the culture, we did. They actually thought we were from Spain with our dialects and how we spoke Spanish. I bought very few cigars while there (big mistake on my part), the rum, it's pretty darn good and I enjoy it, but there are other spirits that I enjoy far more.

I plan on going back to experience more of the culture, the food, the music, take a trip to the tobacco fields, see the beauty of the island; and yes, partake in the cigars and rum. If you can't take an hour and sit at the Hotel Nacional over looking the Malecon and take in the beauty of the views, I think the whole point of being on an island is missed. I was happy to be 'disconnected' while there. No internet was a Godsend. No one bugging me or my wife. I think there is a ton of value in examining their agriculture. I think that is a big part of what sets Cuban tobacco apart from other tobacco grown in the world.

However, if the only thing were cigars and rum, hell I can get those without leaving the comfort of my own home.

Well, you have made valid points about why you and your wife visited. Either you are childless or left the kiddos home, as you made not mention of them. To each their own. I was validating my reasons for not going there. Obviously there are millions of other Americans that have no interest in going there either, as that is the main topic of the OP. Americans are smart enough to choose where and how they spend their vacation dollars, and as I previously stated for my family and myself there are many better vacation destinations other than Cuba. End of story. Cheers.

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I stayed in both Havana and Cayo Coco/Cayo Guillermo. I didn’t really smoke cigars more than maybe 5 times a year before Cuba. I knew about Cuban cigars and Rum but that was not the main reason me and my GF went, it was definitely an added bonus and created my current unending quest for habanos and Havana club…  For Americans -  I can’t speak for us all – Cuba has been off limits for 50+ years and it’s a country where time stopped in 1962. To see the cars, architecture, people and history were the main points of our trip. And the beach…We wanted to go before it becomes something other than what it is today, corporations and too tourist’y. That may not happen given the current political climate but…  As soon as the travel ban was lifted I knew I needed to go and my GF felt the same way.

In Havana we stayed right on the Malecon and our roof balcony offered an amazing view of the ocean and the street that flooded with people every night til 4 am. Havana was unlike any place I’ve ever been and I don’t think anywhere else can replicate the special circumstances surrounding Cuba and my experience there. The Cuban people were amazing. 

As for family vacations – Havana is probably not the most kid friendly place to go however the resorts in Cayo Guellermo were packed with Canadian and European families with way more kids than I expected. Everyone there assumed we were Canadians and acted pretty shocked when we said Americans. People in Havana were more accustomed to seeing Americans but the resorts said they never get visitors from the USA. For an all-inclusive stay it was fairly cheap by resort standards (in July). No the food wasn’t the best but the location and amenities offered were what we wanted. We took a flight out from Havana to Jardines del Rey International Airport (which was demolished during the hurricane) and opted to take a cab from Cayo Guellermo to the Santa Clara airport to see the country side ( 4 hour drive).

I’ll go back to see some of the things we missed and to restock my Rum and Cigars, and if I had kids I would have no issue bringing them to Cayo Guellermo whatsoever.     

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