Cuba travel interest down one year after US lifts restrictions

Cuba travel interest down one year after US lifts restrictions
By Darla Guillen, Chron.com / Houston Chronicle Updated 7:45 am,
Thursday, May 4, 2017

When the U.S. lifted travel restrictions to Cuba a year ago, it seemed
there was instant and widespread interest in visiting the county.
Now, travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance says that
interested is waning.
"Our survey found that merely two percent of Americans think they will
go to Cuba in the next six months, two percent believe they will make it
there by the end of 2017 and 10 percent think they will go sometime in
2018," said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global
Assistance USA.

Initially, the study showed, Americans were concerned with safety and
the country's communist government.
"Instead, lack of information on Cuba's travel experiences, travel
infrastructure and internet/mobile connectivity are the factors making
Americans less interested and likely to travel to Cuba," a spokesperson
for Allianz Global Assistance said in a press release.
Beach resorts remain the biggest attraction for prospective travelers.
The country's cultural attractions, products -- including food and rum
-- and people-watching are, respectively, the rest of factors drawing in
tourists.

Despite these recent reports, cruise liners are offering more sailings
to Cuba. Durazo said this may eventually increase travel interest again.
"It will be interesting to see how (cruise travel) affects visitors'
interest," he said in a prepared statement. "It may be having initial
effects as Allianz's cruise survey from earlier in the year showed that
17 percent of Americans felt the recent announcements of cruise lines
adding sailings to Cuba made them more interested in visiting the country."

Source: Cuba travel interest down one year after US lifts restrictions -
San Antonio Express-News -
http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/travel/article/Cuba-travel-interest-down-one-year-after-US-lifts-11118468.php