Americans: Stop Making Tourism in Cuba About You Stevie Borrello - Bustle
go to original September 3, 2016

First US commercial flight arrives in Cuba (TRT World)

This week, the first commercial flight from the U.S. touched down in Cuba. There are 10 U.S. airlines that have now been approved for commercial flights to Cuba, and Carnival cruise ships began sailing to Cuba in May. Media outlets have been dedicating tons of coverage to the country, but what concerns me about many of these articles is the way they are promoting tourism to Cuba, with stories that explain how Americans are testing the limits by traveling to "the forbidden land" or headlines that read, “These People Are Cooler Than You Because They Have Already Been To Cuba.” A few months ago, the Kardashians flew down to Cuba, and their trip illustrated how tourism can quickly objectify a country.

Certainly, this is a historic moment, and one worth celebrating — but as people begin to pack their bags and wait for tourism to open completely in Cuba, it is important to remember that the country is not just a new resort getaway for people to indulge in crazy nights and boozy beach days.

People like me who have already been to Cuba often exclaim that they're happy to have visited before American tourism "ruins it." I’ve seen comments on Facebook from friends and colleagues who say they want to visit the country before giant hotels and other businesses take down the gorgeous buildings and all the old cars disappear. What these people forget is that Cuba has been open to tourists from all other countries except the United States since the 1960s — Americans don't single-handedly determine the future of Cuba. It is exactly this mentality that helped spur Cuba's revolution; the country had been turned into a tourist playground that abused and neglected its own citizens. Way to go, America — you're already getting ready for round two.

Cuba is not just a tourist destination with historical structures stuck in time for people to take photos of and put on Instagram. And before people start booking their cruise tickets it is important to remember that the Cuban people might not be benefitting as much as you think from your spending — larger overseas companies will be buying land for hotels, with business being catered to the tourist sector and not towards business that will sustain life for the Cuban people.

Read the rest at Bustle

Related: What an Influx of American Tourists Could Mean for Cuba (Mashable)

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