Tourism has always played an important role in Cuba’s economy, but over the last few decades it has become essential. Once the world’s largest exporter of sugar for example, the impact of the trade embargo imposed on it by the United States has crushed this industry, along with Cuba’s wider economy. As a result, it now must import sugar, along with everything else under increasingly difficult circumstances. The impact of Cuba’s tourism industry reaches far beyond just hotels, beaches and sightseeing tours. For most Cuban families and communities, tourism provides opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange that would otherwise have been denied them. Tourism helps to support local livelihoods while preserving the traditions, heritage and unique character that make Cuba such a wonderful and unique destination.
At Love Cuba, we see firsthand how tourism benefits locals across the island. While we are a UK based travel company, with a dedicated team of Cuba specialists here, our operations team in Cuba are entirely Cuban. We employ Cuban staff throughout the country, maintaining an office in Havana, and working with local representatives across the island. This allows us to support local communities and families in Cuba directly, whilst ensuring that our clients benefit from genuine local knowledge and expertise.
Supporting Local Employment
Tourism creates jobs across many different sectors of Cuba’s economy. While hotels and resorts obviously provide the majority of employment opportunities, tourism also supports taxi drivers, tour guides, musicians, artists, ice cream parlours, bars, clubs, restaurants, photographers and countless other small businesses.
Many visitors are often surprised to discover just how much of their travel experience depends on local people. The guide explaining the history of Old Havana, your local rep ensuring your holiday runs smoothly, the driver taking visitors through Vinales Valley, the musician performing traditional Cuban music in a local restaurant or bar, and the family welcoming guests into their casa particular all benefit directly from tourism.
By choosing Love Cuba and the local experiences that we offer, travellers help to ensure that income generated from tourism reaches communities throughout the country rather than remaining concentrated in a small number of locations.
Strengthening Small Businesses
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the growth of Cuba’s private sector. After government reforms across the island, Cubans have established small businesses ranging from restaurants (Paladares), bars and guesthouses (Casa Particulares) to art and craft workshops.
Tourism provides many of these businesses with their main source of income. Visitors who dine out in private family owned restaurants, known as Paladares, or stay in Casa Particulares or purchase locally made art and crafts are helping support entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for families to invest in their futures.
These businesses often reinvest within their communities, creating a wider benefit that extends well beyond tourism itself.
Preserving Culture and Traditions
Cuba’s rich cultural heritage is one of the main reasons why travellers choose to visit the island in the first place. Music, dance, art, traditional customs, rich history and its incredible architecture all contribute to Cuba’s unique identity.
Tourism helps to preserve Cuba’s culture and its local traditions by creating demand for these authentic and unique experiences. Cuba also has no fewer than nine UNESCO WORLD HERTIGAGE sites, more than the rest of the Caribbean combined, without tourism it would be impossible to preserve these sites for future generations. Musicians continue to perform their traditional styles of music, artists showcase their skill and creativity, and communities maintain traditional festivals and celebrations that might otherwise struggle or even disappear.
Visitors are not simply observing Cuban culture; they actually help to create opportunities for it to thrive and be shared with future generations and visitors alike.
Supporting Communities Beyond Havana
While Havana is often the first destination that comes to mind, tourism benefits communities across the entire island. From the tobacco growing region of Vinales, the colonial streets of Trinidad, the picture post card boulevards of Cienfuegos to the colourful and unique culture of Santiago de Cuba. Tourism provides important opportunities in all of these areas and more, that may have few if any other alternatives.
This is one reason why we at Love Cuba try to encourage travellers to explore beyond just Cubas beautiful capital of Havana, or the stunning world class beaches of Varadero. By visiting different, sometimes less known areas of Cuba, travellers learn more about this wonderful country and help spread the benefits of tourism more widely and gain a deeper understanding of Cuba.
Through our team of local representatives across the island, we work closely with communities in destinations large and small, helping visitors experience the real Cuba while supporting the local people at the same time.
Building Meaningful Connections in Cuba that last a Life Time
One of the things that our clients often tell us that they remember most about Cuba is the warmth and hospitality of its people. The people of Cuba are renowned all over the world for their welcoming and friendly nature. Tourism in Cuba creates opportunities for genuine cultural exchange that benefits visitors and locals alike.
Conversations and everyday interactions with locals in general, help to build understanding between people from all different backgrounds. These personal interactions often become some of the most memorable moments of your holiday with many of our clients creating friendships that last a lifetime.
Responsible tourism isn’t just about where visitors spend their money; it is also about creating mutual respect and appreciation between cultures.
Travelling Responsibly in Cuba
Travellers can make a positive contribution by choosing itineraries that include Casa particulares, or itineraries that include more destinations than just Havana and Varadero, booking excursions with our local representatives and guides and eating in privately run restaurants, and purchasing authentic Cuban products directly from artists and small businesses.
At Love Cuba, responsible tourism has always been at the heart of what we do. Our UK-based team of Cuba specialists work closely with our Cuban team on the ground to create authentic travel experiences that benefit local communities while providing visitors with a deeper connection to the Island, that stays with them well after they have returned.
Tourism alone cannot solve every problem that Cuba faces, but it can be a powerful force for good, supporting livelihoods, preserving culture and creating opportunities throughout the Island for everyone. Every visitor who chooses Cuba for their holiday contributes, in some way, to the people and its local communities that make Cuba such a special place to experience.
Love Cuba are 7 times British Travel award winners and double World Travel award winners, and the UK’S Cuba holiday specialists. Their UK based team of Cuba holidays specialists have decades of experience tailoring holidays to Cuba, and they have exclusive representation locally in Cuba. Contact them today for the best deals on Cuba holidays on 0207 071 3636 or e-mail enquries@lovecuba.comwww.lovecuba.com
