Cuba, a challenge for Miami as tourist destination? (Havana: hotels, living)

[ElGuito]

I am referring to tourists from within the US.
If commercial flights to Cuba become normal and scheduled, I imagine New York to La Habana would be about the same price as New York to Miami. But, Hotels, Restaurants, Entertainment in general will be much cheaper.
The conditions that make South Florida so attractive during the harsh winter months are the same in Cuba, perhaps even better, no crowds, etc.

[elchevere]

That was my logic on my 10 visits to Cuba (minus the US tourists that made it even cheaper when I went in the 90's and early 00's).

[Coconut1]

I don't think so. There are plenty of places warmer than Cuba that are just as easy to get to from any major city.

Will there be a novelty of going? Sure, no doubt.

The bottom line is they don't have the infrastructure, and building it will take a tremendous amount of time. The gates aren't just going to be flung over to foreign investors.

It's taken Miami 120 years to get to where it's at, and that's without restrictions. Cuba's been severely crippled since 1959, and the cronies are still in power. It ain't going nowhere quick.

[elchevere]

tell that to the Canadians (especially on package tours), Europeans (also cheap package tours), Mexicans and other Latin Americans who have been flocking to Cuba for decades looking for a fun, cheap(er) vacation...of course, they don't get upset by lack of familiarity (what, no McDonalds?) and conditions of some casa particulares or bathrooms as some/many Americans would--but, if staying in a hotel (and there are some nice hotels currently in Havana, Varadero, and elsewhere at the moment) and it is cheap, Americans will love Cuba also. Now, if Cuba becomes as or more expensive than SoFla for lower quality then things will change and/or it could turn into a once in a lifetime visit as opposed to a regular / semi-regular vacation destination as Cuba (and SoFla) has become for some of the other nationalities mentioned above.

Tourism is a large part of their economy, so the Cubans will adapt to the increased demand.

http://www.sunwing.ca/Cuba-Travel/La...n-Packages.asp

http://www.signaturevacations.com/Cu...n-packages.asp

http://www.itravel2000.com/cuba-vacations.aspx

http://www.nashtravel.com/travel-cuba/

http://www.airtransat.com/en/Vacatio...amme&tmpl=HOME

http://www.cubatravelnetwork.com/en/..._to_havana.asp

http://www.cubajet.com/routes_cuba_f..._to_havana.asp

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/dest.../cuba-holidays

http://www.kuoni.co.uk/cuba

https://www.thomascook.com/holidays/caribbean/cuba/

http://www.directholidays.co.uk/holidays/cuba/

etc. etc. etc. etc.

Originally Posted by Coconut1

I don't think so. There are plenty of places warmer than Cuba that are just as easy to get to from any major city.

Will there be a novelty of going? Sure, no doubt.

The bottom line is they don't have the infrastructure, and building it will take a tremendous amount of time. The gates aren't just going to be flung over to foreign investors.

It's taken Miami 120 years to get to where it's at, and that's without restrictions. Cuba's been severely crippled since 1959, and the cronies are still in power. It ain't going nowhere quick.

[Coconut1]

You could say the same for any island. Heck, I could even say the same about Canadians and the Jersey Shore.

Time will tell, but if I were betting, I'd keep my money on Miami.

[Luke9686]

I was recently checking ticket prices and flights from the Midwest to the Bahamas were cheaper than to Miami.

[BNBR]

Why would you go to Cuba from Miami? Didn't Dear Leader Obama just declare that Miami is a living monument to Cuba and built by Cubans? It's basically, Cuba. You got it here.

[elchevere]

Big Cuban Cigar collector and salsa fan......Cuban Cigars still not legally available in US; annual Habanos cigar event....why do wine collectors go to Italy and France?

http://www.habanos.com/en/noticias/f...se-en-el-2016/

[Rotsen]

The Cuban beaches are more beautiful than Miami beaches(way more, believe me, I grew up in the island. The sand is whiter than it is here and the water is extra blue and clean), also, you don't get shark attacks, I used to go to Varadero Beach on a daily basis cause I lived near there and I would swim pretty far from the shore to the point where I could not touch the bottom with my feet and never got bitten by sharks. I am under the impression that when Cuba opens its doors to the world and american corporations start settling down in places like Varadero, Miami will have to work hard to attract americans from up north.

[Krokodill]

Originally Posted by ElGuito

I am referring to tourists from within the US.
If commercial flights to Cuba become normal and scheduled, I imagine New York to La Habana would be about the same price as New York to Miami. But, Hotels, Restaurants, Entertainment in general will be much cheaper.
The conditions that make South Florida so attractive during the harsh winter months are the same in Cuba, perhaps even better, no crowds, etc.

El guito, no, it won't happen as the embargo will continue.
The recent show was just a show off of two lame ducks, the Pope and Obama.
It has happened many times in the past.
Cuban government is not really interested, they are interested in creating a honeycomb to attract investors and then embezzle some money, but that's about it.
Cuba now attracts a few tourist more because of political news, as the effect is gone nobody will return because the country is in no condition for American tourists.
Not competitive as there are three rings of administration and everything has to be imported.
Now, if Cuba becomes a capitalistic country, Florida is gone...but we won't see that.
I like the country because I have visited the place during the last 40 years and I know it, if not I would never set foot there.