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The State of American Tourism: Thailand, India, and Cuba
The internet is abuzz with news from abroad right now. Thailand's Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok remains closed; India is reeling from a devastating terrorist attack aimed at British and American tourists in Mumbai; Raúl Castro is open to ending Cuba's 40-year feud with Washington, thereby allowing Americans to travel there more "freely." The last thing most Americans want to do right now is travel to a place where they are not welcome. We no longer want to travel because there is a greater fear of it. The state of things as we knew them is suddenly turning on its head. Fear exists even in the most intrepid travelers. As a solo, female traveler stepping off the plane in Vanuatu, Myanmar and Colombia last year, I had little knowledge of exactly what I was walking into. However, the one thing I have going for me every time I travel to some less-trodden destination is that, although I carry a U.S. passport, I don't look American and I'm from a state that sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles from the mainland.
So, when people ask where I'm from, I tell them I'm from Hawaii. Sometimes they don't know where that is. Sometimes they think it's a country in itself. Only rarely do they know that it is part of the United States. There's an advantage to looking the way I do and being from where I am: They don't have to know I'm American. But plenty of Americans cannot hide behind their fair skin, accent, or residence, so most stay at home for fear of the unknown.
As of late, I have become increasingly interested in news from Cuba. My friend and I are planning a trip there early next year and quickly discovered a lack of resources and general antipathy for American tourism in Castro country. We hope to help out for a week in Cuba with hurricane relief, but even a complex Google search for "volunteer in Cuba" came up empty. The message coming from Cuba is clear: "We don't want help from Americans. Stay out of our country." This message is increasingly resounding around the globe, and the state of American tourism is, I would say, grim right now -- and the hope that Obama can turn things around come January just isn't enough to quell our fears.
As of late, I have become increasingly interested in news from Cuba. My friend and I are planning a trip there early next year and quickly discovered a lack of resources and general antipathy for American tourism in Castro country. We hope to help out for a week in Cuba with hurricane relief, but even a complex Google search for "volunteer in Cuba" came up empty. The message coming from Cuba is clear: "We don't want help from Americans. Stay out of our country." This message is increasingly resounding around the globe, and the state of American tourism is, I would say, grim right now -- and the hope that Obama can turn things around come January just isn't enough to quell our fears.
Filed under: Learning, Stories, North America, India, Thailand, Cuba, United States, News, Travel Health
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James Nov 28th 2008 1:01AM
From my brief time in Cuba I would say that Cuban people make a distinction between the US government policies and the US people. I detected no negativity towards Americans while I was there. I think you would be welcomed if you visited Cuba (they dont stamp your passport so no tough questions to answer on the way home). I also think that Cubans are very proud of how self sufficient they are (and have been made by the US embargo and the collapse of the Soviet Union) and that may be the interpretation of the message you thought you were getting. Hurricanes Ike and Gustav devastated parts of the country and they probably could use all the help they could get at this point its a shame they would not let you help out.
Catsfive Nov 28th 2008 1:51AM
Considering the fact that, over the past 15 or so years, the only countries Americans can find on a map are the ones they just recently bombed or otherwise disasterously occupied, it's a wonder Americans are welcome anywhere. HEY, International travellers! STOP WEARING CANADIAN FLAGS and thinking your boorish behaviour won't give you away! LOL
Joe Nov 28th 2008 6:07AM
I've had friends that come back from Cuba and tell me how great it is despite the acrimonious history between our two countries. They regularly deal with American tourists so I don't know how you came to the conclusion they didn't want your tourist dollars.
Help on the other hand is something they will scrutinize. If you know the history of US foreign aid you will have a lot of success stories and a lot of hard feelings. For one, Gustav and Ike are not the first hurricanes the Cuban people have had to deal with. They already have programs in place. For you to come in and "help" for a week is no help at all. It's more like a weeks job training and then you'll be long gone before your help would have contributed anything. For them, your weeks help seems more of a way for you to tell your friends you did something, rather than actually doing something. If you wanted to help for 2-3 months then your talking, else just enjoy the beaches.
The thing a lot of Americans don't realize about US foreign aid is that it is used as a way to submarine our domestic policy into a foreign country. Things like abstinence only education replace effective condom distribution and birth control. A lot of these policies are in direct conflict with local policy. And that is why Cuba would rather buy food from us rather than take a donation.
dennisharvey Nov 30th 2008 7:16PM
On the subject of not wanting help after a hurricane, and to illustrate the Cuban opinion of the American people, in the period directly after hurricane Katrina Cuba offered to send more than 3000 doctors to help with the recovery efforts. The response; "we don't want help from Cubans, stay out of our country".
Cocuyo Dec 3rd 2008 8:18AM
Personal accounts from several posters forcefully cleared any misgivings about the welcoming attitude of Cubans toward Americans. Not only the Cuban people, but also the government institutions, are warm to the American people. Remember, the travel restrictions, the economic and cultural blockade, the antipathy are all coming from American administrations pandering to shady Florida political groups (some involved in terrorism against Cuba). I don't know if you just can walk in and say "I want to volunteer"; nice but ineffective. To be sure, if you go to Cuba you will violate American government's travel restrictions and be subject to hefty fines when you return. So make sure your passport is not marked for the travel. It is demeaning, isn't it?