Mrs Clintons Bombshell. Cuba opening up to US!

edm7583

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Is this DR related? I think so, as it has the possibility to decimate the DR tourist industry. Mrs Clinton is having her confirmation hearing today in Washington. Fox News has just reported that a few minutes ago, she gave testimony that she along with the rest Obama administration,and the President-elect himself, is committed to ending the travel restrictions to Cuba. (though most aspects of the embargo would still remain in place.)

As an American who has visited Cuba, I can tell you that though there are pros and cons between the DR and Cuba as tourist destinations, Cuba could really give DR a run for its money.
 
Mar 2, 2008
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Even though we were advised not to hold our breath, this is really not unexpected. There have been rumors to this effect since the election.

In the short-term, this might put a small crimp in the tourist travel to the DR, but overall, it will be a remarkably benefit for everyone concerned.

It will certainly force the DR government to pay more attention to issues that affect tourists, such as crime, fees, treatment by officials, etc. It will also give a greater voice toe expat community, as many might consider a move to a more welcoming environment.

Although I doubt there will be any real estate available on that island for many years to come, I'm sure the Cuban government already has schemes in place to entice expats, and their dollars, to spend as much time as possible in Cuba.
 

edm7583

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The Cuban government has not changed, nor will it. It is still a totalitarian dictatorship. The state will still control all aspects of the tourist industry. It will be a welcoming place for tourists to come for a week or so, lay on the beach, etc. but I don't see how it would welcome expats, retirees or long term residents! You can't buy property. There are extremely strict visa regulations for any non-tourist, or anyone who wants to stay over 30 days! And the few private industries that are allowed in Cuba (casas particulares, paladares,) are now frowned upon by the government, and they are no longer issuing new licenses to practice these occupations as they divert tourist dollars from the state.

For 50 years, America's position on Cuba has been the same, no matter if a Republican or a Democrat was in the White House: When Cuba allows free multi-party elections, when they recognize even the most basic human rights, and when they stop locking up political opponents, America will consider lifting sanctions. This news is indeed a bombshell as it veers drastically away from 50 years of US policy. I was hoping that Obama would take positions more moderate than the campaign rhetoric of the past year once he went into the White House, but it's clear now that socialism and appeasement to dictators will be the order of the day for the next four years.
 
Mar 2, 2008
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Anyone adamantly opposed to Cuba should certainly refrain from traveling there. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, no matter how selectively they apply it.

I'm sure there are many prognosticators who will offer a variety of differing projections as to what will transpire as a result of this announcement, with varying degrees of information and reasoning to support their pronouncements. Perhaps it would be wiser just to wait and see exactly how the Cuban government responds.
 

edm7583

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Now other media outlets are saying that she meant only Cuban Americans. I'm trying to find actual footage of her testimony. But Shep Smith on Fox News said that she advocated a lifting of travel restrictons.

As I said in a different thread- Dont hold your breath.
 

A.Hidalgo

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Oh get over it. Its time to drop the embargo. The US opened up to communist China during the Nixon era and now while China is officially communist it certainly acts like a mixed economy country. The US normalized relations with communist Vietnam and it too has started to transition to a market economy. I believe that if this embargo had never been implemented Cuba would be a totally different country now. Isolating it did not serve its purpose.

Decimating Dominican tourism, are you nuts. Dominican Republic's tourism will adjust to the changes and move forward.
 
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Hillbilly

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Cuba is not equipped to handle a huge tourist influx. Oh shyte HB, how do you know?

HUH...it seems that I have a connection in the tourist industry, and the stories I hear are incredible.
1) All employees at hotels are government appointees--Thievery is as much as 40%
2) they can't be fired.
3) There is no health care available. Not even a band aid. Nothing beyond what might or might be in the managers safe@
4) Travel restrictions
5) Lack of rooms....remember, there are 53000 rooms out in Bavaro-Punta Cana (or so I was given to understand)
6) Spotty internet access...
And I will be going to Cuba in May, Lord and $$ willing...

HB
 

PICHARDO

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May 15, 2003
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Oh get over it. Its time to drop the embargo. The US opened up to communist China during the Nixon era and now while China is officially communist it certainly acts like a mixed economy country. The US normalized relations with communist Vietnam and it too has started to transition to a market economy. I believe that if this embargo had never been implemented Cuba would be a totally different country now. Isolating it did not serve its purpose.

Decimating Dominican tourism, are you nuts. Dominican Republic's tourism will adjust to the changes and move forward.

Lord have mercy upon my soul!!!

A.Hidalgo!!! You just made my heart skip a beat!!!!
You're defending the DR's tourism industry Vs Cuba?!?!?!?!?!?!?:surprised

It was about time something positive came out of you with the DR on the same sentence!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with your assessment 100% on this post!!!!

Note to self: Be more positive of your fellow DR1er A.Hidalgo this 2009!
 

AK74

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Jun 18, 2007
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Is this DR related? I think so, as it has the possibility to decimate the DR tourist industry. Mrs Clinton is having her confirmation hearing today in Washington. Fox News has just reported that a few minutes ago, she gave testimony that she along with the rest Obama administration,and the President-elect himself, is committed to ending the travel restrictions to Cuba. (though most aspects of the embargo would still remain in place.)

As an American who has visited Cuba, I can tell you that though there are pros and cons between the DR and Cuba as tourist destinations, Cuba could really give DR a run for its money.


Good news! Beautiful country. Rich culture and history. Great education, sport and healthcare. Ecology is A+. Havana is superb. I love those 1952 Caddilacs and Dodges.

Varadero is heaven on Earth.

Really good news. We deserved it.
 
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cobraboy

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Just wait until a few hundred thousand Cuban Americans and their heirs go to Cuba and raise a stink, asking for their property that the government stole back...
 

A.Hidalgo

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Until the regime collapses that is not going to happen. Many of the Cubans that will be traveling more frequently once the restrictions from the Bush administration are lifted, have no confiscated properties to speak of. Those are from the generation of the 60s from the upper class that left right after the revolution. They have aged and will not return until the brothers are out of power or dead.
 

NALs

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Jan 20, 2003
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Is this DR related? I think so, as it has the possibility to decimate the DR tourist industry.
I hate to burst your bubble, but the DR is among the best prepared countries to deal with this, for several reasons among which includes:

1. Cuban tourism is already open to the entire world, except the U.S. Thus, the opening of Cuba is only affecting ONE source of tourists. The DR attracts tourists from a diverse range of countries. The DR is not Puerto Rico or Jamaica or the U.S. Virgin Islands, or even Aruba; islands with well over 90% of their tourist base consisting of American tourists. The DR is the most popular island for the French, the Italians, the Spaniards, the Canadians, etc.

2. Currently, Cuba only has X number of rooms/hotels available; most of which are mediocre by Dominican standards. Even if Cuba was able to suck dry the American tourists from all other islands, DR included; those Americans flocking to Cuba will, in effect, be displacing the millions of Canadians, Latin Americans, and Europeans that currently vacation there. As the competition for the rooms available in Cuba rises, so too will the cost of vacationing there. Now, given that most tourists currently vacationing in Cuba do so due to cost, and given that there are only so many hotel rooms in Cuba; they will need to go somewhere.

Hm, the DR with a new void will sure become appealing to them and with the DR already being an established mass market tourist destination for the very same nationalities that in Cuba will be displaced by the Americans; its only natural that the American void in the DR will be counterbalanced by the influx of more Canadians, Europeans, and Latin Americans looking for a bargain and a room in the Caribbean.

So, I'm sorry to burst your dooms day scenerio, but the islands in the Caribbean that will see a decimation in their tourist trade are those like the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and St. Lucia to name a few; that overwhelmingly depend on American tourists.

Islands like Martinique, British Virgin Islands, and St Martin are the best prepared because they depend almost entirely on the European market.

And then there is the DR, which depends more or less 50/50 on the U.S. and on the rest of the world and alas, its the only country equipped to receive the displaced tourists that opening Cuba to the Americans will create.

Sorry, Dominican tourist industry is not threatened by Cuba.

Heck, Florida has more reasons to worry about this than does the DR!

-NALs
 

Berzin

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If the doors to Cuba are finally opened, it will lead to more construction of hotels, especially the type that cater to the all-inclusive crowd. Just like the DR has.

Why anyone would think Cuba won't see this and take advantage of this opportunity is beyond me.

The potential US tourist market will go hand in hand with more development.

Second, Cuba has one thing going for it that the DR does not-a vastly different political culture that has been closed to Americans for many years. Out of sheer curiosity there will be an influx of tourists who will want to experience this.

The portion of DR tourism that caters to the AI crowd can pretty much be replaced by any other country that has sand, sun and sankies, so it's only natural that the allure will lie in experiencing Castro's Cuba, even if its' from a hotel room by the beach.

And what Cuba lacks in infrastructure it makes up for in space-the island can support much more development because its' so much bigger than the DR.

And there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that the number of Americans who will decide on Cuba instead of the DR as a vacation destination will be magically replaced by more Canadians, especially in these tough economic times.

I find it quite hilarious that people think the DR is totally immune to anything that happens on a global level. The world economic crisis? Won't effect the DR in the least.

Cuba opening its' doors to US tourists? It will effect all the other islands except the DR.

If Cuba allows development geared towards tourism, it will improve their standing all over the world as a vacation spot, not just for US citizens.

And this will eat into DR's portion of available worldwide vacation dollars. I don't see how it won't.
 
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bob saunders

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It will certainly affect Dominican tourism, but Canadians and Europeans have been going to Cuba for a long time and this hasn't drastically reduced the number of tourists going to DR from Canada or Europe. Cuba is beautiful and full of contrasts and history. Some people prefer it to the DR and others prefer the DR. The more convient distance will make it popular also.
 

cobraboy

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If the doors to Cuba are finally opened, it will lead to more construction of hotels, especially the type that cater to the all-inclusive crowd. Just like the DR has.
Why would investors put $$$ in a country that owns all the means of production, or has a major stake/controlling interest in each of them?

Cuba would have to allow capitalism for your scenario to occur. I won't be holding my breath for that...
 

cobraboy

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Until the regime collapses that is not going to happen. Many of the Cubans that will be traveling more frequently once the restrictions from the Bush administration are lifted, have no confiscated properties to speak of. Those are from the generation of the 60s from the upper class that left right after the revolution. They have aged and will not return until the brothers are out of power or dead.
Imagine the embarassment to the administration when the US allows travel to Cuba, but the Communist regime there denies entry to many, based on the fact they were former property owners from there.

I lived for nearly 40 years in an area with a very large Cuban population, and have MANY friends among them. Most of them were folks (or their children) who fled for their lives after Castro confiscated their property. One interesting factoid: among the "property refugees", one common act carried out is definitive proof of property ownership there. There were ingenious ways they smuggled out documents for the single purpose of proving the ownership when they, or their heirs, returned. And their wills go into great detail about Cuban property being handed down.

I think folks underestimate the number of folks who have been living for the day they can go back and reclaim what was stolen. They have NOT forgotten.

And I'll speculate that includes some prominent Cubans currently living in the DR.
 
Mar 2, 2008
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"Why would investors put $$$ in a country that owns all the means of production, or has a major stake/controlling interest in each of them?

Cuba would have to allow capitalism for your scenario to occur. I won't be holding my breath for that..."


Good question, except many said the same thing after Nixon opened relations with China.

There are many billionaires and privately owned businesses everywhere in China, and it has become our largest trading partner.

Perhaps more importantly, China now holds more of the US debt than any other country, including our own.

Things don't remain the same for long. The situation with Cuba will evolve over time, as everything does.

Things will also evolve in the DR. The new US/Cuba relationship will have an impact on that evolution.
 

mountainannie

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I think that the one thing that the DR really has going for it- and that it could indeed do a great deal more with - is its attraction as a retirement destination. I wonder if others would speculate on how many foreigners there are who live here? Own property? Full time residents or just snow birds?

From what I have seen and read the DR is still the easiest place for a foreigner to come and just have a place in the sun. All the other countries (in this hemisphere) are either much more expensive, more dangerous, or have much harder travel/living requirements.

As soon as they figure out how to get the cars on the Malecon to actually STOP to let me cross so that I don't feel like I am running the bulls every time I go for a walk, then I will really be ready to start promoting the place!