Engage Cuba: Industry will take USD3.5 billion hit if Cuba travel is curbed
Opposing a possible roll back of Cuba travel reforms by the Trump Administration, Engage Cuba has spelled out the cost to the economy of returning to the dark days of a Cuba embargo.
Reversing the reforms enacted by the Obama Administration would cost US airlines and cruise lines $3.5 billion and affect up to 10,154 jobs during Trump’s first term, the group said.
The economic impact analysis was conducted in cooperation with a number of businesses and organizations including the American Society of Travel Agents, Cuba Educational Travel, Pearl Seas Cruises and the United States-Cuba Business Council.
"In the past two years since President Obama announced his policy of opening up to Cuba, we’ve seen economic exchanges, investments and jobs growth in the U.S. and in Cuba’s private sector. For a jobs-focused President, to reverse these jobs creating reforms, especially one that affects many of the agricultural states that voted for him, makes little economic sense and no political sense," said Christopher Sabatini, a Latin America specialist and executive director of Global Americans.
Several U.S. airlines and cruise lines now serve Cuba and major travel players like AirBnb, Expedia and TripAdvisor also offer bookings to American travellers for Cuba.
Taking into account all Cuba-US trade sectors including agricultural exports, the impact could be as high as $8.1 billion USD and affect 14,500 jobs, Engage Cuba says.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists