The Trump Administration’s restrictions have vetoed US citizens from staying in any military-run hotel, resulting in a tourism lull that has been a sucker-punch for the sector. Tourism has su ered a seven percent drop in the rst quarter of this year, the rst fall in a decade. The allegations of “sonic attacks” on US Embassy sta in 2016 – still an
unsolved mystery – resulted in 60 percent of the American diplomatic sta being dramatically evacuated and Cuban diplomats expelled from Washington. Cuba is now back in the old, familiar position of being bullied by its bigger neighbour.
Then there are the natural disasters, such as Hurricane Irma in autumn last year, which battered the island furiously and caused many million pounds worth of damage. To make matters worse, recent ash ooding in Cuba’s centre destroyed yet more homes. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that the economy is in the doldrums, too. Despite all this, the world is looking again at Cuba, hoping it will overcome its di culties.
If you wish to nd out even more about this remarkable country and its economic potential, I encourage you to read our cover article.
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