What do you thing about this ?

Question

About those people that go to cuba for vacations and pleasure and talk about it with complete disregard of the suffering of the Cuban population, who has NO access to any of those benefits and desperately tries to escape

Answer 1

It is incorrect to say those of us who vacation in Cuba have no regards for the Cubans who are living in Cuba.  We spend money  at the resorts  creating employment which would not otherwise be available for thousands of Cubans   In my opinion not to go to Cuba would cause even more hardship for Cubans.  The blockade has not worked and trying to discourage tourists does not help your cause.  It certainly isn't that we support Castro  Put some thought into the previous dictator  Batista  who helped turn Cuba into the bordello of the Caribbean certainly nothing to be proud of and the banana republic it was where the mob ruled, education and hospitals were  only for the rich. it was no paradise that's for sure.Edit:  I want to choose my words carefully mainly because I don’t wish to offend the posters who no doubt are of Cuban origin and have very good personal reasons to hate Castro and the Castro regime.  No one is saying that Castro is a white knight; history will show how brutal the man has been however he has also done some good in regards to education and medicine.  As for preaching about Batista we already know he was a brutal man who looted the country and welcomed the mafia and other American interests who had no interest in the welfare of Cuba and Cubans.   I’m old enough to remember Batista and friends who visited Cuba during his rule all attest to what went on in Cuba at that time. That is history which can’t be changed.

To Nadi.  Your information about he beaches is incorrect.  I have personally sat and drank from a bottle of rum with a Cuban family from Holguin who were enjoying their dia de libre at Playa  Guardalavaca.  That same day another Cuban family invited me to share their lunch which they were preparing on the beach as the kids played soccer and cavorted in the sea.   I have photos of those families It was the same at Playa Ancon near Trinidad, all kinds of Cuban families were regularly enjoying the beach when I vacationed there.

To Ludd Zarko.  Thank you for your comments  I know you are all very sincere however to give us due, I still believe when the Canadians, Brits, Europeans and others visit Cuba it helps  keep thousands employed.  I doubt you would want to see those resorts closed.  That just doesn’t make sense.   On another  tact, I have no use for George Bush and his aggressive war machine however I still visit the U. S. upon occasion and spend money in restaurants, on airlines etc.   Tourism benefits everyone; it must that’s the reality of the world economy.  I realize there is an aggressive anti-Castro movement in south Florida who put their spin on the situation.  For my part, I do my best to separate the truth from fiction that is all I can do and hope you do too.  I sincerely hope some day soon, Cuba will be really free.  I won’t say more lest someone considers this a rant, it isn’t intended that way.    Please remember, it is your wonderful relatives who welcome us to Cuba and treat us so well that we return time after time.With respect,

Riki.

Answer 2

No one can blame you for feeling hurt and please don't think that we are trying to minimize anyone's feelings and hardships at all.

I can understand your thoughts and feelings on this because I don't like it when people completely disregard others' feelings and hardship circumstances.

But it wouldn't be very fair to say that those who vacation in Cuba have disregard for the Cuban friends and their life circumstances. Personally, I love going to Cuba just because of the people. I appreciate that, no matter what life throws in their way, or what hardships they have, they always try to make best of everything...and with a smile on their face. They don't walk around moping like many do in countries where they have amenities and just can't be satisfied.

They are good, hard-working people who care and don't give up in life.

At the same time, there are those in Cuba that do have access to things that are of benefit for them. My Cuban friends work hard and they pull together with their families and live well. Their homes are clean and many have beautiful homes. Not all homes are rundown. Here in North America, there is no excuse for rat-infested, rundown, filthy homes...but they exist in certain places and so do the inhabitants. Cubans DO have access to medical care that is good. One of my friends working at the place I stayed at had to go to the hospital one night in her town. She got the help she needed and she was back at work the next day doing well. They have beautiful teeth :-) .... yes, I had to use that example because even in affluent countries, there are people who can go to dentists but don't and don't look after their health....and there are those who need medical care but truly can't afford certain 'tiers' or 'levels' of healthcare because they can't afford it...and too bad for them if they don't have the proper insurance or income.

Just like in other countries, people work to make a living. And there are many who choose to be in tourism/hospitality fields because they can make a little extra (and do this honestly) to bring home to their families.

Every person I've known that has gone to Cuba always keeps in good contact with their Cuban friends...and will send gifts, or bring them back with them, to help in every way possible.

Cubans have diginity and are not beggars. And they befriend you because they genuinely want to be a friend...and not for any benefits.

When I got to know more Cuban friends, some were in the process of leaving to be with their family in another country/island nearby. They've had family members already leave and didn't have a problem.

Some don't want to leave...others I'd learned about actually left North America because they couldn't live there and wanted to be back home in Cuba.

There are so many different angles and aspects to look at.

One major thing for me is that, even though some have difficulty leaving and they're living in hard-pressed times/conditions, why should THEY be punished and not get to know others from other places? We can go see them.

My family, along with many other families we know, never forget our Cuban friends. We try to be hospitable with them as they are with us.

But most of us go back to Cuba, not really just because of the beaches...because there are many beautiful beaches in the world....but it's because Cuba is magnetic because of the people.

Cuba has opened up tourism in their country and many Cubans will work in this field. They're not resentful that there is tourism. It brings freshness and friends to the country and they make true friends.

So hopefully you won't always have a one-sided view about those who go to Cuba.

*EDIT: You all seem to misunderstand the answers. The question asked was why tourists go to cuba for vacation and speak with disregard of the suffering of the Cubans.

We have NO disregard for the sufferings. And we acknowledge this. And I'm not saying that the healthcare system is 100% in Cuba. I live in Canada and honestly, the healthcare system has massive faults and is unjust. I know this firsthand because of how someone very close to me did not get the help needed, even though it was afforded...and they died because of the healthcare's purposeful negligence...But it is true, the depth of these topics are not for this section. And I'm not arguing to say that Cubans have it all. I don't agree with the misuse of authority...no one in their right mind does.

However, what I did say was that it's a pleasure to be with my Cuban friends. So why should they be punished in the sense of not being able to know others outside of Cuba if they are some of the ones not able (or even choose not) to leave??

It is not right for anyone to assume that all tourists go to Cuba disregarding the Cubans' situation. Just about EVERY person whose gone to Cuba just wants to help their friends there in any way possible.

Some of my friends were able to make extra money honestly by braiding vacationers' hair and being able to use the money for necessities. Cubans are encouraged to work extra jobs if they can. And we respect their hard work despite their difficulties.

THAT's what we are saying. No one has disputed the other important issues.

Answer 3

Very sad indeed

Well, as my countrymen have said. Your approach of the situation is twisted.

You pretend to explain the Cuban situation from the point of view of a foreigner, but you are totally mistaken.

To absorb the reality you must LIVE IN CUBA for a month, but not as a tourist, but as the Cubans live, and not as the comunists, that are in deep denial

A cousin of mine had a Spaniard as guest. She was a member of the comunist party of Spain, and she refused to admit the reality, no matter how much my cousin strived to make her see it

To Rikki and Tropical:

As some people say here, this is not the place to talk about these facts. I would love to explain many things about what you say, but this is not the right place.

Personally, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. I know that for foreigners is not easy to absorb the Cuban situation in just a few words.

As somebody said, I offer my email address: [e-mail] if you wish to contact me and make a more detailed explanation about the point

Answer 4

Very sad. I have seen tourists that returned with photographs of people bathing in the reefs, as a curiosity. Something typical of Cuba

The sad part is that we go to take a bath there because the beaches are forbidden for us. They are only for the foreigners

Touristic apartheid. It hurts

Answer 5

I have seen some answers. Allow me to explain

To Riki:

I am Cuban. I must say that your answer is wrong. The money you spend goes to fidel kastro. It has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with employment in Cuba.

Cuba IS NOT the USA

And we don't need the lecture about Batista . We know more about him and fidel that you will know in your life and I must say that it doesn't fit. It would take a very wide space to explain and is not the purpose of theis site. If you wish a more detailed explanation, you can contact me at my email

[e-mail]

I will be more than happy to answer all your questions

To Tropical:

Excuse me, but we know about the health service. Have you wondered why, in spite of that, so many cubans try desperately to escape ?

All dictatorships have something good.

hitler built freeways and eliminated unemployment in germany ( 6 milion people ), but I hope that you will not say that you suport nazism

As I said before, you may contact me at [e-mail]

Answer 6

It is part of our sad history. The tourists go to Cuba and talk about how wonderful is Cuba.

Cuba is wonderful, but they close their eyes regarding the dictatorship that has ruled Cuba for 50 years with an iron fist, causing an incredible suffering, deaths, and family separation  

Besides, the fact, as somebody said, that they can enjoy our country whereas we cannot

I remember once I was a guest in a hotel and I asked for a bottle of Cinzano, but the bartender told me that it was only for the foreigners