Page 12 - aruba-today-20180120

A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 20 January 2018

Tourism booming in Cuba despite tougher new Trump policy

rents two rooms in his home specially designated pur-
for about $30 a night. poses like religious activity
“Since then, it’s fallen off.” or the vaguely defined cat-
The ultimate destination of egory of “people-to-peo-
American tourism spending ple” cultural interaction.
in Cuba seems an obscure Obama allowed individu-
data point, but it’s highly als to participate in “peo-
relevant to a decades-old ple-to-people” activities
goal of American foreign outside official tour groups.
policy — encouraging Hundreds of thousands of
change in Cuba’s single- Americans responded by
party, centrally planned designing their own Cu-
system. For more than 50 ban vacations without fear
years, Washington sought of government penalties.
to strangle nearly all trade Since Cuba largely steers
with the island in hopes of tour groups to govern-
spurring economic col- ment-run facilities, Ameri-
lapse. Obama changed cans traveling on their own
that policy to one of pro- became a vital market for
moting engagement as the island’s private entre-
a way of strengthening a preneurs, hotly desired for
Cuban private sector that their free spending, heavy
could grow into a middle tipping and a desire to see
Private tour guide Javier Rodriguez, left, speaks to tourists in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, Jan. 18, class empowered to de- a “real” Cuba beyond all-
2018. The government figures show that 2017 was a record year for tourism, with 4.7 million visitors mand reform. inclusive beach resorts and
pumping more than $3 billion into the island’s otherwise struggling economy. Cuba’s tourism boom be- quick stops on tour buses.
(AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) gan shortly after Obama The surge helped travel-
By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ is booming from dozens gling economy. The num- and Cuban President Raul related businesses main-
Associated Press of countries, including the ber of American travelers Castro announced in De- tain their role as by far the
HAVANA (AP) — On a U.S. And the tourism dollars rose to 619,000, more than cember 2014 that their most successful players in
sweltering early summer from big-spending Ameri- six times the pre-Obama countries would re-estab- Cuba’s small but growing
afternoon in Miami’s Little cans seem to be heading level. But amid the boom lish diplomatic relations private sector.
Havana, President Donald into Cuba’s state sector — an 18 percent increase and move toward normal- Trump’s new policy re-
Trump told a cheering Cu- and away from private over 2016 — owners of pri- ization. U.S. cruise ships be- imposed the required for
ban-American crowd that business, according to Cu- vate restaurants and bed- gan docking in the Bay of “people-to-people” travel
he was rolling back some ban state figures, experts and-breakfasts are report- Havana and U.S. airlines to take place only in tour
of Barack Obama’s open- and private business peo- ing a sharp drop-off. started regular flights to cit- groups, which depend
ing to Cuba in order to ple themselves. “There was an explosion of ies across the island. Over- largely on Cuban govern-
starve the island’s military- The government figures tourists in the months after all tourism last year was up ment transportation and
run economy of U.S. tourism show that 2017 was a re- President Obama’s de- 56 percent over Cuba’s guides.
dollars and ratchet up pres- cord year for tourism, with tente announcement. They roughly 3 million visitors in As a result, many private
sure for regime change. 4.7 million visitors pumping were everywhere!” said 2014. While the U.S. prohib- business people are seeing
That doesn’t appear to be more than $3 billion into Rodolfo Morales, a retired its tourism to Cuba, Ameri- so many fewer Americans
happening. Travel to Cuba the island’s otherwise strug- government worker who cans can travel here for that it feels like their num-
bers are dropping, even
Jamaica imposes curfew in Montego Bay amid crisis though the statistics say
otherwise.
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) Police said Friday they will in killings that officials to search areas without a “Tourism has grown in
— Authorities in Jamaica take a zero tolerance ap- blame on gangs and lot- warrant. Cuba, with the exception
have declared a state of proach to crime in the tery scams. Police said busi- Authorities also have im- of American tourism,” said
emergency in areas includ- parish of St. James, where nesses and recreational posed a curfew in parts of Nelson Lopez, a private
ing the popular tourist town Montego Bay is located, areas are under a tempo- St. Catherine parish locat- tour guide. “But I’m sure
of Montego Bay amid a rise and nearby communities rary curfew, and the state ed just west of the capital that sometime soon they’ll
in violent crime. that have seen an increase of emergency allows them of Kingston.q be back.”q