Castro resignation could lead to new US cruise destination
Fidel Castro’s unexpected resignation raises speculation about US travel there but the most likely impact may be on the cruise business, analysts say.
Cruise lines that cater to Americans could be calling on Cuba within months of getting the go-ahead from US lawmakers.
That’s what industry watchers such as Robin Farley of UBS suggest. He notes that major lines such as Carnival are ready to jump on Cuba as a destination should the US lift its embargo on the Caribbean nation.
While the move does not mean that the US will end its economic embargo in the near future, “new leadership could be a positive event for the cruise industry if diplomatic relations resulted in the opening of Cuba to American tourism,” Mr Farley wrote in a research note.
The note said Cuba would represent a new itinerary with significant pent-up demand from American tourists and a lack of developed hotel infrastructure, favoring cruise ships as a way to visit the island.
“Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and only 230 miles from Miami, allowing for it to be part of a variety of itineraries and has long been in the cross-hairs of the American cruise lines,” Mr Farley wrote. He added:
“Havana is a natural deep-water port and we believe operators could build dockside infrastructure on a much faster timeline than it would take to build US branded hotel.”
Few industry watchers expect the USA to lift its embargo on Cuba anytime soon. But the move has raised the possibility that changes in the country — and in the US’s relationship with it — could be coming.
So far the major cruise lines are not talking much about future plans.
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told USA TODAY that while the line hopes to have its ships visiting Cuba in the future, “it’s premature to judge how events will unfold there, and (we) don’t have anything to say at this time.”
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025