Will Tourists Pick Cuba over Florida?

A pressing frustration among Cubans is why the United States keeps its embargo in place. Some offer this theory to visiting Americans: Cuba would drain away Florida's tourism. So the state protects itself through vociferous calls to keep the lid on Cuba as vital for human rights of its people.

That may sound like far-fetched conspiracy theory, but there is much attention paid to Cuba's potential to attract tourism with its colonial history, diverse culture, mountains, dazzling beaches, coral reefs, music, art and cities that are living museums - all a very quick flight south of Florida.

Cuban-born George Aguel, president and CEO of the Visit Orlando tourism association, has not returned to his birthplace since he left with his family as a child. He's not worried about Cuba's potential to lure tourists from Central Florida.

"I think the surge would come from people who have an interest in seeing as it is today," Aguel said. In the long run, he said, Cuba likely will appeal to couples who enjoy the nightlife and "hanging out with mojitos on the beach," as was popular until the late 1950s.

"Thankfully that is not our market," Aguel said. "We are the No. 1 family destination, and I don't see any real form of impact for us. But I can't attest to that for other parts of Florida."

Cuba is a big question mark about what it means for Florida and other tourist magnets such as the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Cancun and Costa Rica.

Whether New Yorkers would prefer a long weekend in Key West or Havana depends largely on how Cuban leaders embrace tourism in years to come.

The picture today is mixed. Americans who prefer vacations of comfort may find themselves in Cuba yearning for the feel of their airliner's tires touching down in Florida.

"As beautiful as Havana is, as beguiling as that city is, as nice as the people are, it's going to take a while," said Pedro Freyre, Cuban-born chair of international practice in Miami at Akerman LLC. "The infrastructure is a disaster."

Judy Gallant, a Canadian agent with P&G Travel who works in Havana, said most Americans she has dealt with "do not really know the reality of Cuba."

Americans "are expecting the antique cars and other fun things to see, but still want First World and first-class service at the hotels," Gallant said. "The United States is galloping forward. Cuba is taking baby steps."

But steps are being taken, including, for example, with air conditioning, which visitors from the U.S. are thought to be obsessed with.

"Cubans are fast learners," said Eddie Lubbers, who founded Cuba Travel Network in Havana in 2002. He said even vintage American cars are being retrofitted with AC.

"It's only a matter of time before we'll see the standards and infrastructure in Cuba change to fully accommodate the American traveler."

The scenario of invading Americans enthuses many Cubans - certainly not all - as needed to enliven an island stifled by its pursuit of the revolution.

A driver, a 27-year-old enterprising Havana resident who grew up on a farm, said Dec. 17 last year was a very happy day for his country.

That was when President Barack Obama announced: "Today, the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba."

Obama has loosened travel restrictions, but Americans still are not supposed to enjoy endless mojitos and lounging seaside as Canadians and Europeans do.

Immigration officers casually quiz returning Americans: "Were you on vacation?"

Americans used to be required to obtain specific permission to travel in Cuba. Now they can check off a category on a form letter, authorizing family, government affairs, journalism, academics, religious and other serious purposes.

But each category includes the restriction, such as one for journalists that travel "will not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full time schedule."

Tour companies offer weeklong group excursions for educational purposes that cost several thousand dollars. It's possible to go it alone via charter flight by getting a Cuban visa through a travel agency. A recent round-trip flight from Tampa, Fla., to Havana cost $440.

In Cuba, it's readily apparent tourists already are a big part of the nation's economy. Several million arrive each year to visit a nation of about 11 million.

Airbnb is up and running. There are helpful apps that work without wireless, which, according to street talk, is available in pricey hotels.

There's a car-free street in Old Havana, Calle Obispo, that runs a half-mile along shops, museums and restaurants from the Plaza de Armas to El Floridita, billed as one of Ernest Hemingway's hangouts.

Obispo is crowded with Europeans and Canadians, browsing, drinking and dining. But Cubans have much more creativity than the theme of a bearded writer.

Elsewhere there is a bar with walls covered by old typewriters, a horse buggy that serves as a booth, reportedly gay servers, elegant cocktails and $2 cheeseburgers.

The Cuban Art Factory, or Fabrica de Arte Cubano, is a power plant converted to a multistory nightclub venue of art, dance, film and live music with lots of bars.

"We are waiting for the Americans," said a taxi driver, who taught himself English in anticipation of their arrival.

Source: The Orlando Sentinel