Journey

Tourismusboom on Cuba

Since the political thaw between Cuba and the USA flock US-American tourists in masses to an island in the Caribbean. But their tourist infrastructure is not prepared – an enormous challenge.

Americans were once rarely in Havana’s historic old town to see. Today you will take a stroll in addition to Europeans and Canadians, in droves, through the squares and streets from the colonial era. Cuba’s tropical climate, its rich musical Tradition, the famous cigars, and vintage cars were for decades a taboo for most Americans. Fault were the sanctions of the USA against the Communist Cuba, including a travel ban for US citizens included. But now, these restrictions been loosened.

Cuban businessmen, street vendors and hustlers have on the tourist rush is already responding, and their prices for cab rides, food and Souvenirs increased. Women, cigars and chewing in colourful clothes and traditional headwear for a photo pose, take five now instead of like before a US Dollar.

City tour in classic cars convertibles

Cuba reported last year, a record of 3.52 million which is 17.4 percent more than in 2014. Visits by Americans rose to 77 percent to 161.000 – the hundreds of thousands of Cuban Americans, not counting their old home to visit regularly. Industry experts are concerned that the island is a further onslaught is unable to cope with could. It is however to be expected, if commercial flights and ferry operators from the USA this year as planned.

Too late for the original Cuba

Foreigners in Cuba, book a Hotel or want to rent a car, are currently facing extreme hurdles. And those who had hoped to Cuba to discover, before the stampede would find that you are already too late are: “Cuba is currently a tourist totally crowded. I have had so many Americans seen, it is no longer funny,” says the 44-year-old Ana Fernandez, from Nashville, Tennessee.

Renovated facades of the Cuban capital

The 46-year-old Gisela Hoiman from Berlin hoped Cuba to get to know “before it changed”. She was disappointed by the long lines at the airport, to the ubiquitous rip-offs and the crowds of tourists. Textbook editor, remained in Havana, to hang, because it was not a place in the Bus to Santiago in the East of the island to get hold of. “It was not to create too many other tourists were there. We stood and were again and again between various switches back and forth,” she says in a Café in old Havana. Your large backpack has you next to him on the ground parked. “I believe that Cuba is not ready yet.”

Restaurant in Tabakanbaugebiet Valle de Viñales

The United States and Cuba agreed in December 2014, a half-century of animosity to stop and re-established diplomatic relations. An international enthusiasm for Cuba inflamed then. The Opening came the small tourist private sector of Cuba to the benefit – often families, in their homes, Restaurants and accommodations. However, the tourist infrastructure as a whole is equipped with an impressive 63,000 beds across the country is still a largely state-owned business. Through decades of economic sanctions the United States and the underdevelopment of the country is this however bad.

Weak infrastructure makes it difficult to travel

“From Unloading at the airport up to the presence of Restaurants – the infrastructure is at the Limit,” said Collin Laverty, founder of Cuba Educational Travel. He organized tours for US Americans that travel to Cuba is still on the statutory requirements must hold.

The few foreigners operated Hotels, such as the Spanish Meliá hotel Chain are always booked up quickly. Many visitors will then only have the Option, in an old run down state Motel to check in or a room from private to rent. Some can also the high prices can not afford or are provided by Hotels rejected. Especially in Havana book groups American Luxustouristen whole Complex months in advance and pay higher prices.

“This is like a slap in the face, because it was canadian and European tourists in the past 25 years have helped the Cuban economy, keeping it going,” says Keri Montogmery, of a canadian company for groups and study tours operates.

Murals as popular Photo

The Cuban government is looking for more foreign investors. By 2020, it aims to 85,000 hotel rooms around the country. But it is only slowly progressing, projects so far, especially in the preferred Strandgebieten realized, less in Cuba’s cultural centres.

Forbidden pleasures, to be freely enjoyed

There are still tourist travel to Cuba because of the existing trade embargoes, Americans, are forbidden. However, there are 12 official travel categories, according to which U.S. citizens to Cuba are allowed because of religious reasons, for sporting purposes and for educational exchange, for example. One of the first actions of US President Barack Obama after the political rapprochement of both countries was that the trips to Cuba to make it easier.

The increased presence of Americans on the island, especially in Havana clear to feel. Measures to the tourist travel ban to actually enforce, it is hardly. To enjoy some of them Cuba’s beaches and Bars to the fullest and without any Effort, as Bildungsreisende to camouflage.

The US-American Supervisory authority for the Monitoring of trade and economic sanctions, OFAC has, since Obama in 2009, took office, not a single U.S. citizen to a fine lean. Under Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush was the authority of hundreds of individuals because of Embargo-related injuries – most due to unauthorized travel. More than 800 people received fines, alone, in 2004 and 2005, $ 1.1 million in fines.

Beach vacation is in the first place

Worth a visit to Cuba in spite of everything?

The California-based Tony Pandola, 33, has three years of U.S. citizens to Cuba. Earlier, original experiences, where people and culture come close to could be due to the many tourists now corrupted: “On a really beautiful, quiet Farm stood six gigantic tour buses around, their diesel engines constantly running. In addition, a couple of Minivans and Taxis, whose occupants all use the same tobacco planters wanted to visit,” he says in Viñales, a picturesque village which is often visited by tourists.

Backpackers can usually find a accommodation on the spot without advance booking. But some of them stranded in the middle of Nowhere: “A taxi driver in Viñales told me that they offer tourists, for ten dollars the night on your back seat to spend.”

The 34-year-old Leonardo Diaz from Viñales works in his hometown in tourism since he was a Teenager. In December any room in Viñales booked out: “Many tourists were sleeping just in the Park. The there was never.”

Trip in a Coco Taxi

Havana’s airport lacks the necessary infrastructure – baggage car, and Passagiertreppen about – to the number of tourists to deal with. “It is absolute madness,” said Roniel Hernandez at the Terminal for flights from the USA works. “The employees of the airport do everything Possible to make the visitors satisfied. But our devices are completely outdated and need to be replaced.”

The Retiree Joanna Sarff dreamed for 50 years of a trip to Cuba – now it is finally here. You want your Trip not by the inconvenience and the crowds of tourists to spoil. Unlike most tourists, she was especially interested in a Buena Vista Social Club-concert visit and omitted to dancing: “For me, the journey is a great opportunity for Cuba to get to know the culture, the people, the food, the Mojitos and the cigars!”