On Wednesday President Obama ordered the full restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and announced that an embassy will be opened in Havana as the United States “cut loose the shackles of the past”.
Obama also said that Washington’s current approach is “outdated” and called the changes the “most significant” in US policy towards Cuba in 50 years.
The announcement comes after 18 months of talks, and ends over fifty years of isolation. Whether or not this is a good move is currently being debated, but what we do know is that travel restrictions to Cuba will ease for Americans traveling for family visits, educational, professional, and religious activities, and public performances.
We can also expect to see a review of the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, along with an increase in telecommunications links, and efforts to lift the 54-year-old trade embargo.
While ordinary tourism will still be banned, it’s really only a matter of time before Cuba sees a huge influx of Americans ready to explore a country that has been closed for so long.
Cuba has long been popular with Canadians, along with other nationalities who enjoy it precisely because you’re unlikely to see large crowds of American tourists.
Source: Flickr
Cuba is a country without McDonalds, Starbucks, or KFC, and has been frozen in time, with severe shortages of food, oil, and consumer goods. However as the door opens for future tourism, it will inevitably become “Americanised”, which is why it should be on your travel list for 2015.
Prices are predicted to surge as restrictions ease for American travelers, and while the prices in Cuba aren’t quite as low as Southeast Asia, it still beats Europe by a long shot.
U.S companies such as Marriott International, and Hilton Worldwide, have already announced that they’re looking forward to opening hotels in Cuba, which currently has no 100 percent foreign-owned hotels.
We can also expect to see US department stores, fast food franchises, and banks opening in Cuba in the next few years.
Only around 27% of Cuba’s population has access to the internet, so if you’re looking for a beach destination where you can truly switch off, Cuba is an obvious choice.
Cuba is famous for it’s old, American cars, largely from the 40’s and 50’s. as economic sanctions are lifted, Cubans will likely be upgrading to newer vehicles, meaning far less photo opportunities for car enthusiasts.
If you’ve been meaning to visit Cuba, 2015 is definitely the year to do it. As American citizens may soon be visiting Cuba, we can expect to see a completely different country emerging in the next five years, and it’s guaranteed to be far more westernised than it is currently.
Are you considering a trip to Cuba next year?
