U.S. travel group eyes forbidden Cuba

[PJT]

Interesting reading today on CNN's travel website regarding U.S. travel to Cuba. If it were to open up, the first year an estimated one million U.S. tourists would visit and then five million per year within five years after restrictions lifted. The D.R. Ministry of Tourism should take a hard look at these figures. It's a wake up call. There will be serious competition for the tourist dollar between the two nations. Regards, PJT

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TRAVEL/NEWS/...eut/index.html

[Escott]

While Cuba has been the forbidden fruit for US citizens it hasn't been that way for Canadians and Europeans. They are free to go. The US only contributes 15 percent or so of the tourists to the DR so the loss won't be astronomical.

Regards

[mondongo]

When you went to the DR, were you able to display your water filter product? how did it turn out?

mondongo

[PJT]

The U.S., according to U.S. Ambassador to the D.R., Hans Hertel, contributes 29 percent of the tourism of the D.R. in a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce on Jan 23, 2002.

The prospect of ending restrictions of U.S. tourism to Cuba is a threat to the economic viability of tourism of the D.R. and should be a concern to the Dominican government.

One must understand that the act of ending the restrictions would go in hand of loosening or ending other anti Castro embargoes that the U.S. has kept in place since the Cuban Revolution. The sanctions and embargoes have restricted in various ways the free trade between Cuba and other nations of the world, including Canada and Europe. U.S. policies have discouraged and penalized nations that trade with Cuba.

There is a lot of held back demand for tourism and trade with Cuba. If and when the barriers to Cuba are opened by the U.S. by the act of its ending embargoes, a wave of U.S. tourism will flood it and will include all the direct and indirect services associated with the industries, to include pent up Canadian and European interests also, a economic boon for Cuba. It will cut into the Dominican tourist market.

Major investors will be going to Cuba. It is a possibility investors with interests in the D.R., rather than invest some of their capital back into the D.R. they will be turning their eyes and finances to the lucrative Cuba market. Why, build or expand a resort in the D.R. when Cuba will offer more incentives for them there.

It is this scenario the D.R. should be preparing itself for. How to keep its tourism marketshare at a time when Cuba will be the place to visit? Regards, PJT

[GRS]

Yes, the D.R would be affected. Same as Bahamas, Cancun, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. The U.S is a big market and the sun will shine for everyone.

Regards,

GRS

[MommC]

Especially now with the hint of "new" gold finds and oil in the DR.

[lilsam]

I dont see why anyone even if they were allowed would go to Cuba over the Domincan Republic or Puerto Rico .
Americans would I would think not forget the asshole Fidel and his Regime are and have been..

[Tony C]

Originally posted by lilsam
I dont see why anyone even if they were allowed would go to Cuba over the Domincan Republic or Puerto Rico .
Americans would I would think not forget the asshole Fidel and his Regime are and have been..

Every liberal hipocrite in the 50 states will gladly line up for a trip to the "Socialist paradise"!

Tony C

[lilsam]

Tony,
I have seen autorcities done to some of Fidels citizens like having their whole set of teeth bashed out by rifle butt and other unspeakable thing they did to the Bay of Pigs caputured . I have been asked to buy Cuban Cigars and would not for my friends. I would instead introduce them to Domincan Cigars. I myself for the record am a born North American form the Unted States that has adopted La Republica as my second home.
Ubfortunatly you are probably correct Tony....

[Escott]

Originally posted by mondongo
When you went to the DR, were you able to display your water filter product? how did it turn out?

mondongo

Sample didnt come in on time. Next trip.