Cuba's tourism survives U.S. embargo

Cuba's tourism survives U.S. embargo

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Havana

In this globalized world where America's food and pop culture
dominate almost everywhere you turn, it seems strange not to find
an outlet of a popular American chain in a country where tourism
is one of its strong economic pillars.

Welcome to Cuba: a country without any sign of the golden
arches -- the symbol of McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken,
Starbucks, Burger King or Planet Hollywood. The decades-long
embargo imposed on Cuba by the U.S. government has prevented
these companies from opening their enterprises here.

So forget the American lifestyle as Cuba has so many
attractive natural and cultural assets to offer to its growing
number of visitors.

Apart from these, Cuban traditional food, such as cocina
criola (a mixture of Spanish, African and pre-Columbian
delicacies) will delight those who taste it for the first time.
Cuban beverages such as the Mojito (a blend of white cane sugar,
lime juice and rum) and, of course, abundant Cuban coffee, rum
and an assortment of liquor have made the country a paradise for
tipplers.

Despite the embargo, people from the United States and some
European countries, the major markets making up Asia's tourist
industry, including Indonesia, are likely to choose going to Cuba
and the other exotic Caribbean islands for security reasons.

Geographically, Cuba may probably gain benefits from tourism,
particularly because of the recent outbreak of the war in Iraq.
Many passengers are staying away from doing any risky or long
distance trips which would take them past Iraq and Middle Eastern
countries to some Asian tourist hubs, such as Phuket or Bali.

Emerging from its past as an isolated socialist country, Cuba
is opening itself up to international tourism and has been
successful in luring an estimated six million visitors each year
since the late l980s. Tourism has so far generated billions of
U.S. dollars in revenue to the country, which is in desperate
need of cash to renovate its crumbling cultural legacies and to
construct new infrastructures to support tourism.

At present, an additional 80,000 hotel rooms are being
constructed to accommodate an estimated seven million tourists by
the end of 2010.

Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean sea and
the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba is only 180 kilometers
away from Miami, Florida, in the United States, and 210
kilometers from Mexico.

Cuba boasts white pristine Caribbean beaches with
international standard resorts, not to mention, its famous cigar
and rum factories and extraordinary culture.

Diego Roberto, an executive at a local travel agent, said his
company had been receiving an increasing number of inquiries from
Europeans wishing to spend their holidays in Cuba. "They mostly
come from France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany,"
Roberto said.

He said that tourists from China and Japan had also started to
fly to some of Cuba's tourist resorts. "Cuba has a famous
Chinatown in Havana, which was built around the early 19th
century," he said.

A diverse ethnic group, comprising native Indians, Spanish
descendants and immigrants from Africa and China, has inhabited
Cuba for centuries, forming a distinguished mosaic of traditional
and cultural wealth, which has become one of the country's
prominent tourist products.

The Spaniards left behind their excellent architectural, art
and cultural heritage 300 years ago as well as a population with
a beautiful mix of races.

Getting to know this rich, diverse and well-preserved cultural
patrimony is enough of a reason to visit this country. Cuba's
capital city of Havana, for instance, is like living in an
architectural laboratory. Built in the early 16th century, Havana
is encircled with sturdy European fortresses, which were used to
protect the city and the colonial administration from buccaneers.

The architectural value of Havana and many other Cuban cities
is derived from the exquisite mixture of different styles:
Spain's Moorish architecture, European Baroque and neoclassical
styles. Art deco buildings as well as a modern style, resembling
the sturdy Russian style of skyscrapers, also enriches these
cities' skylines. Many of the palaces, villas, museums and other
public buildings have been well-preserved.

City tours are the best option for first-time visitors to
Cuba.

"You can register with local travel agents, take a taxi or a
unique bus called the Camel," said tour guide Lilian Estevez, who
speaks fluent English.

Taxis here mean vintage American and Russian cars produced in
the l940s and l950s. Because of the embargo and the shortage of
gasoline, the Cuban government prohibited the sale of vehicles to
private citizens.

"Taxis usually cater to foreign visitors. Taking a bus would
be a nightmare for us," she said. The Camel bus, which got its
name from its length and shape, can accommodate up to 300
passengers. "It is a 'Saturday night' bus, meaning that
passengers can squeeze in like lovers because of the lack of
space on board," she said, adding that most locals prefer to walk
everywhere: to the park, schools or offices.

"Look at our legs. They are so strong and muscular," she said,
while pointing to hers.

Benita Lubic, a travel organizer from Washington, warned us to
be cautious, especially when walking in public parks, flea
markets and entertainment centers.

"Watch out for your wallets," she continuously warned us.
However, it is wise to keep your important documents in the
hotel's safety deposit box when you visit Cuba. But don't forget
to bring small change -- such as US$1 banknotes -- to hand out to
amateur musicians, clowns or pretty girls wearing traditional
Cuban dresses in city parks.

When you are in a public park, you can have your picture taken
with a beautiful Cuban girl wearing the colorful Caribbean
costume with flowers in her hair for $5 a picture. You can also
hear musicians chasing you while singing the famous song,
Guantanamera (the girl from Guantanamo), which is the infamous
U.S. naval base about 100 kilometers east of Havana where
suspected al-Qaeda suspects are being held.