Following President Obama’s statement on 17th December, hotel searches to Cuba made by US users increased by 180 percent, according to hotel search website trivago.co.uk. In comparison, searches to Cuba made by UK users increased by 42 percent over the same period.

Costa Rican tourism authorities predict that 2015 will be a positive year for this industry in the country, but they consider that they have a strong regional competition, mainly Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Cuba, media reported today. From January to September 2014, Costa Rica welcomed more than 2,190,000 tourists.

More countries are now ready to follow the US lead on eased visa requirements for Chinese tourists. Outbound travel from the mainland is tipped to become the major driver of growth for airlines based in the region.

Cuba's nascent private sector is bracing for an influx of visitors should the US embargo ease, but many businesses in the country appear unprepared for a torrent of tourists. Currently, most hotels, guest houses and restaurants in Cuba are state-owned, though private enterprise has grown in recent years.