US travellers to Cuba continue to rise

US travellers to Cuba continue to rise
By admin


The number of US visitors to Cuba continues to rise, even as the more than five-decade-long embargo remains firmly in place.

Within the first three months of 2014 alone, there were more US tourists to the island than in all of 2013 from England, Germany or France, according to a report by the US-based Havana Consulting Group provided to The Associated Press.

Canada remains the No 1 country of origin for travellers to Cuba, but the number of US travellers to the island has been steadily increasing over the last seven years.

Some 173,550 US travellers visited Cuba in January through to March. That compares to 149,515 from England, 115,984 from Germany and 96,640 from France in 2013.

"The data confirms, although the Cuban government does not recognise it publicly, that the United States, even with the effect of the embargo, is the second greatest source of tourists to Cuba after Canada," Emilio Morales, the consulting group's president wrote in the report.

"The push in the first trimester has been huge," he added.

Most of the US travellers are Cuban-Americans visiting family but others have no ties to the island and travel to participate in academic and cultural programs.

The continuing increase in US travel to the Communist-run island comes five years after President Barack Obama loosened restrictions on travel to Cuba. In 2009, Obama lifted a limit put in place by former President George W Bush allowing Cuban-Americans to travel to island country no more than once every three years to visit relatives. And in 2011, he reinstated the so-called "people-to-people" trips, allowing US citizens to apply for a travel licence to participate in educational activities that promote contact with ordinary Cubans.

Havana is the top destination for most US travellers, followed by Santa Clara and Camaguey. The vast majority fly out of Miami International Airport. More than 1,000 flights have departed from Miami to Cuba so far this year, with another 109 leaving from Tampa, the report said.

Travel in the first three months of 2014 was higher than in the last trimester of 2013, when many Cuban-Americans travel to spend the holidays with their family. The number of US travellers has increased steadily each year, from about 245,000 in 2007 to nearly 600,000 last year.

"We except that 2014 will be a record year," Morales wrote.

On average, Cuban-American travellers spend about $US3,238 ($A3,505) per person during their stay, accounting for a major source of revenue for the economically-strapped island.

The study was based on data from US airports and Cuba's National Statistics Office.

While the data points toward another big year for US travel to the long-forbidden island, there is one ongoing hurdle: Cuba suspended consular services in February after being unable to find a new bank in the US for its diplomatic accounts. While many US travellers had already submitted their visa requests for northern spring visits to Cuba, the situation remains unresolved and charter operators say it is having an impact.

"At this point, it's just getting worse," said Armando Garcia, the owner of Marazul, one of the largest Cuba charter operators. "For Cuban-Americans born in the United States we already have serious problems because we don't have visas for them. It's affecting travel, no doubt."

Latest News

  • Health & Wellness

Bannisters by the Sea unveils retreat style package for new mothers

Boutique hotel Bannisters by the Sea has revealed a brand-new package for new mothers – Bannisters Mummymoon – right in time for Mother’s Day. Designed to nurture and rejuvenate new mothers, this luxurious escape prioritises postpartum self-care and wellbeing in a serene coastal setting. Reconnecting and Recharging: The two-night Mummymoon allows mums to reconnect with […]

  • Destinations

APT offers destination incentives to enjoy the Best of Asia

APT Luxury Travel launches has launched its Asia Sale featuring 20 trips, with journeys through Vietnam and Cambodia as highlights, as well as opportunities to explore Japan, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka. It’s ‘Spiritual Cambodia and the Mekong’ land and river cruise tour for example takes guests on an all-inclusive 11-day journey through Vietnam […]

  • Travel Agents

Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland

Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]

  • Cruise

Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]

  • Destinations

Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents

World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]