Will South Florida be losing its snowbirds to Cuba?

Will South Florida be losing its snowbirds to Cuba?
September 10, 2015

The Sunshine State is afraid its snow birds may soon be flying further
south.

Not only do several million tourists visit Cuba every year, but now,
even Airbnb is up and running and a tourist district billed as one of
Ernest Hemingway's hangouts is car-free and ready for foot-traffic.

As tourists test the boundaries of the improving relations between Cuba
and the United States, some in the Florida tourism industry fear the
lost island could sap some of its annual visitors.

Not so fast, say travel agents who help set up trips to the island. Not
only is vacationing there still against the law — an economic embargo
remains in place after five decades because of continuing human rights
violations and crushing political oppression in Cuba. Because of
crumbling infrastructure, Cuba lacks many of the amenities American
travelers are used to, such as comfortable rooms, air-conditioning and
the ability to use credit cards based in the United States.


(PHOTO: Private street vendors sell produce November 12, 2012 in Havana,
Cuba. By Greg Kahn/Getty Images)
Judy Gallant, a Canadian agent with P&G Travel who works in Havana, said
most Americans she has dealt with "do not really know the reality of Cuba."

Americans "are expecting the antique cars and other fun things to see,
but still want First World and first-class service at the hotels,"
Gallant said. "The United States is galloping forward. Cuba is taking
baby steps."

Source: Will South Florida be losing its snowbirds to Cuba? | PostNOW -
http://postnow.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/09/10/florida-ponders-whether-cuba-may-sap-its-tourism-dollars/