Post: #1

I have been to Cuba a few times but I am not American so I have never been prevented.

I predict American tourists will swamp the place. It sure won't be the same the next time I go back.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/world/...-cuba.html

Post: #2

Oh, yes. It's a de facto lifting of the embargo. American companies are already negotiating with Cuban officials to start operations through third countries like Mexico. American men should hurry up to go to Cuba to learn to dance Salsa and meet those cute Mulatto girls.

Post: #3

(01-15-2015 09:55 AM)Luvianka Wrote:  American men should hurry up to go to Cuba to learn to dance Salsa and meet those cute Mulatto girls.

All of whom won't give them the time of day without $$$$.

Post: #4

Oh I'm totally going.

Post: #5

"While formally the new rules do not allow basic tourism, they are written in such a way that experts said they may have that effect."

People need to get real. Nothing drastic is changing. McDonalds ain't going to set up shop in Cuba for many years.

Heres what will happen. Gradually Americans will be permitted more and more travel to Cuba. Eventually Cuba will double it's tourism once full American Tourism is permitted.

Places like Gibara, Guardalavaca and Varadero will have more All Inclusives built. In those specific areas Big Corporations will have businesses aka Nike, McDonalds, Starbucks. It's not like you are going to role downtown Camaguey and get a Frappucino from Starbucks. Cuba has stated many times they want to stay socialist. What they are looking for out of this is a gradual increase in tourism which brings them more dollars. Girls will become a bit more difficult when tourism with America is full blown simply due to double the tourists but it's all relative. Remember the vast vast majority of North Americans are All Inclusive Resort types as opposed to many Europeans who tend to stay in the actual city and rent apartments. There isn't going to be some drastic change in Cuba. A few more people will get rich the average monthly income (real not government income) will likely double. (perhaps $100-$200)

They are not going to allow the place to become Sosua. I won't lie I was at one point worried about Americans seizing control over Cuba but that won't happen.

Really Wealthy Americans aren't going to be interested in Weekend homes there simply due to the almost non-existent quality housing. They also won't open that market up as they know the result.

All that will happen is a gradual increase in tourism and the creation of corporate enterprises in the areas around All Inclusive resorts.

Post: #6

Cuba will become like Dominican Republic.

Post: #7

Read the posts on this thread. More people who actually spend large portion of their time in Cuba have posted in regard to the changes.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/f...-us?page=1

There isn't money for luxury goods / cars so don't expect all the cars on the road to change for a long time. People don't have tangible net worth. The vast majority of people don't even have a bank account aka their savings are non-existent.

I expect full changes in Cuba to the point where Americans are allowed to go without question to take another 5-7 years. With Corporations entering Cuba with relatively high frequency in perhaps 10+ years. The rest of the world has Corporations yet you don't see many Corporations from the rest of the world in Cuba. I've never seen a Tim Hortons in Cuba yet look how many Canadians visit Cuba (as an example).

Quote from another article:

"The few U.S. companies facilitating travel to Cuba say inquiries have exploded since December. American visits could triple this year, from about 90,000 annually. "We're hiring more people, we've secured more hotel rooms and assets in Cuba to provide additional travel," said Tom Popper, president of New York-based insightCuba."

200k more Americans when tourism is already 3 million+ would hardly change the landscape. 180k of them will be hidden on All Inclusives.

Post: #8

I may as well head there since I'm bouncing all sound South/Central America. Anyone plan on going soon?

Do you think that after tomorrow for the next few months there is going to be a abundance of Americans headed there?

Post: #9

There has to be a way for the everyman to make money from this.

Post: #10

(01-15-2015 01:32 PM)Stun Wrote:  There has to be a way for the everyman to make money from this.

There is, the loads of Cuban Americans and other foreigners who mule goods in for resale lol.

You need to understand how Cuba works. You can't just make a business as a non-Cuban even if you live on the Island. As a Cuban you even have to get licensed. Travel to Havana and tell me how many Foreign stores you see there. I can think of 1 in all of Havana. There is a Dino's Pizza. I'm not even sure thats foreign or it's just a name they give the Cuban restaurants as it's a chain.

There are tons of other countries that have major corporations which also aren't in Cuba. How many Canadian corporations are actually visible in Cuba? Some mining in remote parts of the Island, perhaps some hotel chains. (All of which they are minority owners in the business as the Cuban government is the majority owner).

Let's hypothesize that Americans coming in means double the Corporate presence in Cuba. When there is literally none as is.

There isn't a market for material goods other than in small segments of society and those who are in the market are likely those who already can travel to other countries and buy the goods themselves.

Post: #11

xx

Post: #12

Technically you cannot visit for vacation reasons. However, you no longer have to apply for the licensing which states your purpose for you are going i.e. humanitarianism, educational purposes, etc. SO there is really no way they can stop you for going for vacation reasons as long as you state to customs that your trip is for one of the legal reasons that you are traveling.

Post: #13

(01-16-2015 07:08 AM)The Reactionary Tree Wrote:  Technically you cannot visit for vacation reasons. However, you no longer have to apply for the licensing which states your purpose for you are going i.e. humanitarianism, educational purposes, etc. SO there is really no way they can stop you for going for vacation reasons as long as you state to customs that your trip is for one of the legal reasons that you are traveling.

It's a news summary, there's suggestion that words can be bent to allow basically anyone to travel. These news people aren't lawyers nor do they have any background in reading statute. Regardless based on the article it would require lieing to customs agents which most Americans aren't willing to do. (Many of those that were, already went to Cuba via Mexico, Canada, Bahamas etc.) Nothing all that exciting has happened. Now you may be able to lie and get on a direct flight as opposed to going to another country first. Both of them I'd assume constitute a criminal offence, neither of which were / are probable to be enforced.

Post: #14

(01-15-2015 01:58 PM)lavidaloca Wrote:  

(01-15-2015 01:32 PM)Stun Wrote:  There has to be a way for the everyman to make money from this.

There is, the loads of Cuban Americans and other foreigners who mule goods in for resale lol.

You need to understand how Cuba works. You can't just make a business as a non-Cuban even if you live on the Island. As a Cuban you even have to get licensed. Travel to Havana and tell me how many Foreign stores you see there. I can think of 1 in all of Havana. There is a Dino's Pizza. I'm not even sure thats foreign or it's just a name they give the Cuban restaurants as it's a chain.

There are tons of other countries that have major corporations which also aren't in Cuba. How many Canadian corporations are actually visible in Cuba? Some mining in remote parts of the Island, perhaps some hotel chains. (All of which they are minority owners in the business as the Cuban government is the majority owner).

Let's hypothesize that Americans coming in means double the Corporate presence in Cuba. When there is literally none as is.

There isn't a market for material goods other than in small segments of society and those who are in the market are likely those who already can travel to other countries and buy the goods themselves.

The trade embargo is still going to be in place, so I don't think opening a full-blown business was along the lines of what I was thinking. Maybe just some kind of way to bring something in or out of the country, that is marketable. Maybe just to even help pay for the trip.