Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - (Page 32) DESTINATIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 Americans to travel to Cuba. According to a statement issued at the end of the year, “ASTA believes that Americans would best be served by an elimination of current restrictions on travel to Cuba.” Further, Chris Russo, ASTA’s president and chair, continued, “ASTA has long supported the principle that Americans ought to be allowed to travel across the globe without restriction. While the U.S. government plays a legitimate and valuable role in exercising travel advisories to provide up-to-date information concerning the conditions in foreign countries, to use travel freedom as an instrument of foreign policy manipulation ultimately does harm to the very citizens it purports to protect.” Visit www.asta.org. Christopher P. Baker, who has written five books on Cuba, in Costa Rica A Tale of Two Presidents In a letter dated December 4, 2008, ASTA and a host of organizations from across the business community formally requested that the incoming Obama administration make immediate changes to U.S. policy toward Cuba, including a removal of the travel ban. “Alas, [Obama has] publicly stated that he believes in maintaining broader restrictions as leverage to pressure Cuba to reform,” Baker told us. “I’d like to think that he’ll see common sense and lift travel restrictions entirely, but nothing hints that that’s in the cards yet.” In fact, it was reported by Reuters back in July that Raúl Castro, during a speech commemorating the 55th anniversary of the start of the Cuban revolution, warned citizens of his country “to get accustomed to not receiving only good news.” Castro also said during the same speech that Cuba’s military would remain strong in the face of the U.S., no matter what the outcome of the then-upcoming presidential election. However, Baker does note Cuba’s plans to build 30 new hotels by 2010. “That can only be in anticipation of travel restrictions being lifted,” he says. Competition in the Caribbean On another level, the first of several golf course/marina/residential projects with villas HOW IT GOT TO THIS POINT February 7, 1962: President Kennedy broadens the partial trade restrictions imposed by former President Eisenhower to a ban on all trade with Cuba, except for non-subsidized sale of foods and medicines. The travel ban was then introduced by Kennedy in 1963. February 26, 2004: President Bush signs Presidential Proclamation 7757, which bans vessels from traveling to Cuban ports from U.S. ports. November 8, 2006: For the 15th straight year in a row, the UN General Assembly votes overwhelmingly on a resolution to demand an end of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. February 19, 2008: Fidel Castro steps down as the president of Cuba after a long illness. The announcement was made in a letter to the nation written by Castro and published on the website of Granma, the official publication of the Cuban Communist Party. May 20, 2008: Presidential candidate Obama calls for looser restrictions on travel to Cuba so that Cuban-Americans can visit relatives as well as allowing larger money transfers to the island, two positions that are popular within the Cuban-American community. and condos for sale to foreigners seems to be moving ahead. The first project, The Carbonera Club, will be outside Matanzas. The second will be at Bahia Honda. But whereas agents might welcome Cuba travel with open arms, some tourism destinations may not want it to come anytime soon. After all, tourism for many destinations will be challenged in 2009 with the economic struggles still at full strength. The last obstacle certain destinations need is another vacation spot stealing their business. Specifically, the Dominican Republic and some parts of Mexico have a little to worry about if Cuba becomes an option. “I believe that it will probably impact the entire region—certainly initially—but especially the Dominican Republic and, to a lesser extent, Cancun—two destinations that probably attract [that] type of tourism [and] tourists,” McCabe says. However, if and when Cuba travel becomes a reality, it will still take the destination some time to become a viable luxury destination. And only when it enters that competitive market will it become a true threat to the rest of the Caribbean. “The biggest impact on the rest of the region, in my opinion, won’t come until after there is a real government change and the luxury companies move in,” McCabe says. “I think until that happens, the destination will be more mid-market. But once the luxury hotels move in, along with American-owned hotels and tour companies, that is when we will see the biggest impact on the rest of the region.” I CONNECTING YOU For the latest updates on travel restrictions to Cuba, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/caribbean 32 | TravelAgent January 19, 2009 http://www.asta.org http://www.travelagentcentral.com/caribbean
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 Contents A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba From the Editor New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients Las Vegas: Tips for Agents on Demystifying Deals Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality Sandals' Star Awards Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember Tours: Tapping into the Gay and Lesbian Market JoyStar Collapse May Involve More Agents and Higher Losses Marriott's Spirit of Aloha Tour Rolls Along the West Coast Cruise Lines Continue to Pour Dollars into Advertising Small Business Resources Can Help Your Agency Stay Afloat Editorial Index Advertising Index Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page 1) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos (Page 6) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos (Page 7) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba (Page 8) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba (Page 9) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury (Page 16) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury (Page 17) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy (Page 18) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy (Page 19) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients (Page 20) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients (Page 21) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Las Vegas: Tips for Agents on Demystifying Deals (Page 22) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 23) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 24) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 25) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 26) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 27) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 28) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 29) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 30) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 31) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 32) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 33) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Sandals' Star Awards (Page 34) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Sandals' Star Awards (Page 35) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 36) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 37) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 38) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 39) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 40) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 41) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 42) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 43) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 44) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 45) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 46) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 47) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 48) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 49) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Tours: Tapping into the Gay and Lesbian Market (Page 50) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - JoyStar Collapse May Involve More Agents and Higher Losses (Page 51) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Marriott's Spirit of Aloha Tour Rolls Along the West Coast (Page 52) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruise Lines Continue to Pour Dollars into Advertising (Page 53) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Small Business Resources Can Help Your Agency Stay Afloat (Page 54) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Editorial Index (Page 55) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page 56) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page Cover4)
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