CUBAN TRANSITIONS

Cuba has long held out to opening its borders to the United States, just as the US has maintained its embargo on Cuba, but it seems to be the case that American tourists will soon be able to flock to the island. Already Obama has made it easier for American groups like schools and churches to travel to the island, though there are still regulations on their activities. During the Bush administration, restrictions were tightened so that only Cuban-Americans could return to the island to visit their families. Though it certainly will not be American tourism, it can be considered a step in that direction.

Playa Pilar

With images of the island as show above and an increasing number of Americans visiting Cuba each year, more people will be seeking a vacation on the island that has long been an enigma. If Cuba were to open its borders to US tourists, then, there could potentially be extreme negative implications for the island. Already Cuba has been forced to commercialize its culture to an extent to cater to tourists from other countries and by allowing Americans to visit the island this will only be exacerbated. The engagement of Cuba in heritage tourism is already evidence that the island has been forced to sell its culture.

Americans coming to the island will also create an interaction between capitalism and communism that is unprecedented on the island. Likely never having learned about Cuba and accustomed to travel in other countries centering on material goods, Americans will be looking to consume Cuban culture as well. This is exactly contrary to the ideals of the Revolution, which could be devastating if Cuban citizens were to learn from Americans and adopt their values. This is not to say that Cubans are envious of American society, but the two are certainly different and there is potential for undesirable cultural exchange.

Havana

Permitting American tourism on the island would also have a negative impact on tourism in the rest of the Caribbean. Instead of going to the same Latin American countries where they have toured for years, Americans will instead choose to explore what has been unavailable to them for so long. Now it is really a question of when this change will occur and how Cuba will prepare for it.

Source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/obama-loosens-travel-restrictions-to-cuba/2011/01/14/ABGKrhD_story.html