Cuba has become increasingly  popular with Irish tourists, however it may soon become very popular with American travellers too and that may mean the death knell for the island’s unique atmosphere…

Tropical Sky already offers packages to Cuba, based in and around Havana and Varadero.   Old Havana retains an air of unique yet dilapidated charm and it seems holidaymakers are keen on experiencing the island’s singular atmosphere before the US travel ban is lifted. Many maintain that lifting the ban on US tourism to Cuba will be good for their economy, but perhaps not necessarily for the people?  American tourists do have a reputation for being very demanding and relatively inflexible in what they expect and the fact is that a four-star Cuban hotel will not compare exactly with a four-star American hotel.

Lifting the US travel ban would be a real financial boon to Cuba, and tourism could take on the role a real economic engine.  The Obama administration has already enacted legistalation to make it easier for Cuban-Americans to visit and send money to family in Cuba.  Many in the Congress are looking favourably at easing travel restrictions on a much broader front and some believe that as many as a million tourists would come from the United States in the first year alone if the ban were lifted.

It’s that possibility that some fear will change Cuba’s distinctive character for good.  As things stand, you can find great beaches anywhere in the Caribbean – but Cuba and Havana are both special and distinctive.   A visit to  Cuba , especially Havana, at least once in your lifetime is  now even more of  a must before it’s opened up to US commercialism and that certain “something “ the Island has is gone forever!