Cuba prevails - Village Magazine

 —  June – July 2013

HE history of Cuba is the history of sugar, coﬀee and slaves, and

of revolution. The intriguing island of  million people, the larg-

est in the Carribbean, is rich in heritage, history and resources. As

well – as any visitor will say – with the laughter and generosity of its

generations at play. Its tourism attractions, including white sandy beaches,

alluring warm waters, the friendly nature of its people, and their rich music,

art and culture, may now determine the economic future of the country.

From the arrival of the Spanish in the late th century, Cuba became the

Caribbean hub of the transatlantic slave trade where millions landed from

Africa to work the sugar and later coﬀee plantations that enriched the set-

tlers in it and surrounding countries and deﬁned the physical evolution of

its old cities and towns.

The dramatic victory of Fidel and his band of revolutionaries in 

has played no small part in the continuing fascination with this small coun-

try, not least in the courage and ability of its people in standing up to the

world’s most powerful military force, ever since.

The crippling trade embargo imposed since it refused to bend to its

nearest neighbour which, before the revolution, had used it as one big

Maﬁa-run gambling and prostitution den and a source of valuable raw mate-

rials, would have destroyed many stronger economies. While it remains

poor it does not suﬀer the widespread poverty, homelessness and drugs-

induced crime wars that mark its Caribbean neighbours. Every family is

guaranteed its basic food needs, a renowned standard of health care and an

education system which compares favourably with those of most, including

much richer countries. Cuba has also assisted with the health and educa-

tional development of others through the provision of tens of thousands

of trained doctors and teachers across poor countries of Africa and Latin

America including in exchange for Venezuelan oil. However, its evolution

as a global, and cost-eﬃcient, tourism destination is one of Cuba’s most

ambitious projects.

During a recent trip to the FitCuba fair in Varadero, sponsored by the

Ministry for Tourism (Mintur), the potential of Cuba’s growing tourism

industry was evident as journalists from around the world were given a

brief ﬂavour of some of the country’s unique visitor attractions. From the

historic French-inﬂuenced architecture of historic Trinidad on the west

coast, to Che’s resting place at Santa Clara and the infamous Playa Giron

(Bay of Pigs) in the east, its rich political and social history is mixed with

an extraordinary natural beauty. The commitment to preserving the fauna,

ﬂora and wildlife of the countryside is in sharp contrast to the over-devel-

opment of many such unique resources in neighbouring destinations.

With over two million Canadians visiting each year, Varadero with its

teeming, sun-soused beaches and pristine waters, is by now a world resort

with investment by Spanish, Italian and other hotel chains carefully improv-

ing its product, including the quality of food and other services, over recent

years. Visitors to Cuba have often complained about miserable, inconsist-

ent food but a lunch in the ﬁve-star Iberostar Laguna Azul hotel revealed a

marked improvement in a variety of meat and ﬁsh oﬀerings from previous

visits. Much attention is also being given to the demands of eco-tourists

and especially those interested in diving, yachting and other nautical activi-

ties. A new hotel and over  berths at Marina Gaviota at the very tip

of the Varadero peninsula oﬀers visitors a chance to rent a craft and travel

around the coast of the island at a very competitive price.

Havana too is a unique location which retains most of its colonial char-

acter despite the run down appearance of many buildings not helped by

a shortage of raw materials such as paint over many decades, due to the

US embargo. The renovation of the historic old city in a culturally- and

socially-sensitive way where refurbished houses, hotels and bars are set

side-by-side with primary schools and day centres for the elderly makes

for a joyful, safe and welcoming environment.

With music coming from every second bar, Havana is a friendly place

while the problem of female prostitution that was so apparent during the

‘special period’ of ﬁnancial crisis in the late s and s has been largely

resolved. Its trademark s Cadillacs and Chevrolets, many of which

are now licensed as taxis under new reforms, ensure that cities like Havana

and Santiago de Cuba, retain a character that has been homogenised out of

nearly all other tourist haunts. For all their diﬃculties, its people have kept

their humour and their principles in the face of great adversity.

frank connolly

Cuba prevails

Interesting, reforming politics

combine with great natural beauty

and heritage and a radiant,

exuberant people

Street life, Havana

Hotel Nacional bar, photo: Frank Connolly

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