Why do some people think it is wrong to vacation in Cuba?

Question

I am going to Cuba on Feb 24 (I am Canadian). Some people (Cuban ex-patriates) seem to think it is wrong to go there on vacation. The person who was slamming it said that tourists were taking advantage of slave labour(? I am pretty sure they get paid, just not a lot), and that tourism was contributuing to the corrupt system there. In my opinion, tourism contributes to an economy burdened by 60 years of trade embargoes. We tip generously, even though this is frowned upon by the government. We bring gifts of items that are hard to find in Cuba. How is this bad? How are we harming these people? Aren't we helping them?
I am not being argumentitive, just curious.

I in no way endorse or support the current government of Cuba. I am fully aware that the picture they present to the tourists and the rest of the world is not a true reflection of life there. That being said, I can't change it. Is it not better for me to spend my tourist dollars there, and bring helpful, and hard to find items for the staff?

Answer 1

People feel it's wrong ( Mostly Ex-patriates ) because they feel that your Dollars are supporting the Goverment , some would like to see Cubans in despair in hopes that a new revolution would bring change on the island.

I visited several times and I was criticized for visiting Cuba , Many Cubans who left feel hurt and want you to feel the same resentment as them towards the goverment, but in comparison ask a Cuban in the U.S. where his or her shoes were bought ( Payless) and you can counter with the same ideology , oppressed people children working for slave wages in unsafe conditions to make the shoes that you wear and you are supporting it.

Know how to tip , we send the wrong message when we overtip , but can we help it that $10 dollars is what the common Cuban worker makes in a month. Those who cater to tourism make more than a Doctor , sad but true.

You may ask how can anyone live on $10 dollars a month , easy the basic necessities are affordable , Housing is subsidized and Utilities are cheap, Food is basically raw goods like you would find in a marketplace , fruits and vegetables , meat sold outside not pretty but pretty safe. The problem is when someone wishes to buy NIke-ADDIDAS-Brand names , knockoffs or counterfeit items really don't have the same quality and are not affordable to the common person in Cuba.

Enjoy your trip , tip wisely take plenty of singles , $1 dollar per tip is good as sometimes you have 4 people helping you out , if you wish to tip more, it's your money.

Cuba is very safe , some uninformed people have answered prior to me, obviously tourist only locations would be safer, but venturing into Havana isn't a problem , and any wouldbe crooks know better than to mess with tourists, let just say that the Goverment police will apply the stiffest penalty or jail time to anyone hurting tourism, my one suggestion is keep an eye on your belongings , don't be careless .

Answer 2

Sounds like the ex-patriots are not educated about the tourism industry. You are 100% right in your feelings on this issue.
Countries like Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic are all cashing in on the tourism industry. In fact for most of these countries 30-40% of this industry represent their Gross National Product. That is there largest export and why not?
Countries like Haiti are missing the boat due to political turmoil and civil war.
The tourism industry is expected to grow some 60% in the Caribbean over the next 5 years.
There might be some truth to slave labour but in most resorts this is not the case. The workers must know or learn some English and they get paid and tip well. People who cannot work in the tourism industry in these countries are jealous or simply feeling left out. Kinda like not getting a job for the Gov of Canada because you don't speak french

Answer 3

Some people do believe that the tourist industry exploits the local worker, but without them the people of Cuba would be far worse off.
I have been to Cuba(I was in Varadero), and the place was amazing! The hotel staff was wonderful, and were very grateful if you left them a little something. I stayed in a European resort and I have to say that the Europeans staying there were quite rude to the staff and rarely tipped, which made me upset so I constantly over-tipped.
I don't think it's harming them at all.

Have a great trip!

Answer 4

I look at it this way. Yes you can visit their country whenever you want.They don't have that option.It, being Cuba a communist country will never afford their people the luxury of visiting other countries.It is a totalitarian state. You do as the state tells you or else.If it's such a great place, why are people risking their lives to get out of it.

Answer 5

The reason they say this is because Cuba is not the safest place to be. I just learned this in school. My history teacher said that when he went to Cuba he could not wait to get out. When he arrived he was taken through town. In town on the sidewalks, he said that there were men with guns. When you try to leave to get on a plane it is very hard because your times change a lot and you don't know if you are going to make it back home or not. This is just what he said.

Answer 6

Those people have seen and experienced the suppression, difficulties and even violence and death of living under a dictatorship. Perhaps they feel by vacationing in Cuba, you are condoning that type of government. Only those who have been through what they have can answer your question.

Answer 7

If it is such a wonderful place why are people willing to drown using makeshift rafts to get from there to Florida. If you become a political prisoner your country or the U.S.A. Have no diplomatic ties to help you out. You could be beaten robbed and raped and left for dead and there is nothing that you can do to get the offenders responsible to justice. Because there is no justice. HAVE FUN!

Answer 8

One wants a satisfactory holidays at low budget..Cuba is ideal ..A tourist is nothing to do with the local political and official system..

Answer 9

some say vacationing in cuba ignores the plight of dissident groups like the damas de blanco

Answer 10

Your view, their view, I wonder who is right.

depends on which side of the fence you are.
i would vote with 'Some people (Cuban ex-patriates)'.