Following an extremely frosty relationship that has existed for more than fifty years, the United States and Cuba have finally been holding secretive talks in the Vatican State and Canada with the aim of bringing about a more cooperative and peaceful outcome. Ever since the Cuban Missile Crisis and Revolution in Cuba, as far back as the early 1960’s, the US has held a firm trade embargo on the island nation that is said to have cost the Cuban economy something like $1 trillion (ouch!).
In addition to extremely harsh trade sanctions, it was also illegal for most US citizens to travel to and from the island directly. With this in mind, tens of thousands of Americans would circumvent these laws and still travel to Cuba via other hubs.
Following the talks, President Obama and President Castro could now be on the brink of a brand new era. Political prisoners have been exchanged – which was the first and most important step in this process – now we just have to hope that the US Senate passes a resolution to allow the embargo to be finally lifted on Cuba.
Should this transpire, the Caribbean island of Cuba really could expect a totally different future when it comes to their tourist industry. At present, the island’s industry relies mainly on European visitors; however, if and when the embargo is lifted, they could look forward to literally millions of extra visitors to their island each year as they are so close to the US mainland and convenient for a great vacation.
Whilst many people have found Cuba quirky for the fact that it has been stuck in the past for so long: with its antique cars and worlds past aspects of life; there was a good reason why the people of Cuba had to adopt a ‘make do and mend’ mentality simply to exist over the past 5 decades or so. If this was the main impetus for you to make the journey to the Caribbean’s largest island, it would be a good idea to arrange your travel plans as soon as possible. This is because it won’t take long for the nation to modernise as soon as the embargo is lifted and this time-gone-by era will be lost forever.
