This was published 7 years ago
Expert opinion: Would tourism in Cuba change following the death of Fidel Castro?
Havana, Cuba.Credit: iStock
Phil Sylvester is a travel safety expert at Travel Insurance Direct, helping Australians get the most out of their trips.
Q. Are we likely to see any changes to tourism in Cuba following the death of Fidel Castro?
A. Fidel Castro maintained a dogged resistance to co-operation with the US but I think we can expect greater openness and access to Cuba now.
Phil Sylvester is a travel safety expert at Travel Insurance Direct, helping Australians get the most out of their trips.
The reforms have all come from Raul Castro, who seems more pragmatic about bettering the lives of his country folk.
The greatest barrier to travel to Cuba is the sanctions it applies to many companies based in the US, which means you can't use their services in Cuba.
They include Visa and many banks, which makes it difficult to access your money.
Insurance companies also have difficulties making payments to healthcare providers in Cuba.
But will change affect the appeal of Cuba? Part of the charm is that it has been cut off from American influence for so long.
The quintessential shot of Cuba would be a Chevvy convertible with fins.
What if the lifting of those trade barriers means the people of Havana can finally replace those cars, will it be the same if they're replaced by a Toyota Prius?
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