What will happen to Miami's economy when Cuba becomes an exotic cruise ship mecca? Will Miami be 'more on the map' ? (Miramar: neighbourhoods, buy)

[dadeguy]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

Tiger

Before 1959, American Tourists that went to Cuba went there as an extensión of the keys.

A "further step".

There were daily ferries, flights every hour and hotels in Havana were better, more luxurious than the ones in Miami, and there were casinos, porno shows, luxurious department stores and more amenities than the ones offered in Miami.

There were no gaming or dry laws and Havana was a tax heaven.

But Havana back then was a superb city, something you can attest by studying the ruins.

But now it might take years, decades, or who knows?

not decades but within five years. from the word go there will be volumous capital flowing into construction and infrastructure to develope every bit of the littoral and the miriad of islands. cuba will become a world class resort and entertainment destination as it should have been all along. the myopic US policy of embargo has in fact extended the castro brothers grip on ten million people for no good reason.

[Leovigildo]

Dade

Who knows!!
Yes, 1.200 keys..

[mdwillis]

Question is not whether Miami/FLL will get hurt, but what will happen to the overnight cruises passengers who have been going to port visits to Nassau and Freeport and the extended cruises that stop in Key West. Havana will seem more exotic. And Havana wouldn't need a lot of change to handle 1000-3000 more day visitors (Look at Puerto Maya coming from a bare beach.)

[Mcsmith0210]

Wont happen. Cant happen. Most Americans dont like Cuba enough- and idk any cruise lines that would back out of deals with america and into shady deals with people who do not have the best record on foreign relations in the last 80 or so years.

[Leovigildo]

Mc

I visit Cuba frequently.
Believe me, most Americans I've met there are flabbergasted by the country.
Havana is a place in shambles, but even in ruins, the place kicks Miami and Florida all the way around.
First place, you can see hills and mountains.
Second place, even in ruins and packed with weirdos, Havana is a European city.
I don't even want to think what will become of Florida and the Bahamas if Cuba goes back to life.

[Mcsmith0210]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

Mc

I visit Cuba frequently.
Believe me, most Americans I've met there are flabbergasted by the country.
Havana is a place in shambles, but even in ruins, the place kicks Miami and Florida all the way around.
First place, you can see hills and mountains.
Second place, even in ruins and packed with weirdos, Havana is a European city.
I don't even want to think what will become of Florida and the Bahamas if Cuba goes back to life.

Explain how Havana, Cuba is a "European" city to me- without telling me about what happened 3000 years ago in history.

[Leovigildo]

Well, I guess that you would have to visit the city.

[Eduardo983]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

Ok, lets assume that tomorrow, Obama signs into law that ALL Americans can travel to Cuba, SPEND MONEY THERE, start businesses there, etc etc.

First of all, the infrastructure is so decrepit in Cuba, I think it will take at least 5-10 years before the island can accept 'regular' tourists. Ports have to be modernized, harbors dredged, and social services like modern ambulances and hospitals need to take hold. Then there is the deal with the legal system there in regards to foreigners, as there are many gray areas here.

If Cuba opened up tomorrow, and tourists started booking flights on AeroCaribe, Cubana, Aero Mexico, or even American carriers to go to Cuba, I think that they would fit into the 'eco tourist' category due to the state of Cuba's infrastructure. Trust me, a simple drive from downtown Havana to Jose Marti International Airport can be an 'adventure'. What a colorful drive this can be.

What will happen to Miami's tourist economy when Havana builds itself back into a world class "Beirut of Latin America" ? Will the cruise ship port look emptier? Will Miami Beach cater to more of a "Panama City beach crowd" in an attempt to maintain its level of revenue?

Or will the sheer influx of everyone trying to see Cuba put Miami on the map more than ever?

Cuba, as a tourist destination, will never hurt Miami`s economy.

Why visit Cuba when we can visit Puerto Rico (USA), Mexico, or the Bahamas?????

Cuba will never be like Miami. Miami will always be the preferred destination for Americans (North, Central, South) and Europeans . They visit Miami to purchase products in Malls, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Sawgrass, etc etc (Lower prices than anywhere in the world), and they also go to SoBe and Disney in Orlando.

Miami is the best tropical destination (hands down).

Even in 25 years Cuba will still be Cuba (no Disney, no Walmart, no U.S. laws/Safety, etc).

Cuba has one famous beach (Varadero) that is worthy, but the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean are located in Mexico and the Bahamas. Cancun is more beautiful than any Cuban beach and the Bahamas has the best hotel in the Caribbean (www.atlantis.com) + The Bahamas is a member of the British Commonwealth = Safety/Laws (About the Bahamas - Bahamas | The Bahamas).

Cuba has been attractive because Europeans and Americans (South and Central Americans) like to go there to experience the feeling of a "Communist" country (Communist system, old architecture, super old classic cars), and most of the male tourists mainly go there for the erotic/sexual (inexpensive/cheap) reasons (red light cubano district) that the island currently offers.

When Cuba becomes a democracy, it will be like any other average tropical destination ...

[Leovigildo]

Have you ever been to Cuba?
There are 1.500 keys in Cuba, and Varadero is not the best beach in Cuba, there are at least 100 beaches and resorts that far surpass Varadero.
No, European and Canadians tourists visit Cuba, the only Latin Americans there are the ones being sent by Chavez, Cubans consider then a plague. They bring fleas and plagues.
Cuba is not inexpensive, is a very expensive place for sexual tourism.
In 5 or 7 years under normal conditions, Cuba will have better facilities than Bahamas and Mexico, people there are prepared.
They also can have a Disney and whatever in no time.
Cubans will offer again whatever is forbidden in the Gold Coast, Casinos.

[vpcats]

To tell you the truth, I think Cuba will be a hell of a lot more popular than Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas or Mexico. The only reason those are popular NOW is because you can travel there freely, you have amenities, you have freedom to move about and go whereever and do whatever and they have TEMPORARILY replaced Cuba for a good majority of people.

Cuba was a extremely popular tourist destination for AMERICANS and those other countries and islands were around back then too. Once Cuba gets going a bit, it will probably take all those visitors and I seriously doubt it will ever need a Disney or a Walmart for tourism purposes.

Right now I'm trying to decide whether to go to St. Croix or Grand Cayman for week. I'm not going to Cuba yet.

Any suggestions?