Reprint from Travel Weekly | Johanna Jainchill | May 02, 2019
As travel suppliers puzzle over the possible impact of an announced but not specified change in U.S. policy toward Cuba, consumers are rushing to book trips before potential restrictions kick in.
“The John Bolton speech … has seemingly energized the traveling public,” said Insight Cuba CEO Tom Popper, who said the company was seeing a 23% increase in traffic to its website week-over-week following the speech. Bookings were up 18%.
Bolton said in Miami on April 17 that the Treasury Department “will implement further regulatory changes to restrict nonfamily travel to Cuba.”
Classic Journeys CEO Edward Piegza also said that Cuba inquiries and bookings are up in the wake of Bolton’s remarks.
“With prior changes to regulations for travel to Cuba, two things generally took place,” he said. “One, the regulations took several months to be put in place. Two, travel that was already in place was grandfathered in. Both combine to create additional demand for travel to Cuba that is scheduled, if not fully completed, sooner rather than later.”
Many consumers are confused, and tour operators say they are reassuring them that Cuba travel is legal right now. To make the point, Cuba Candela doubled down on its 100% guaranteed departures policy, assuring that the U.S. government won’t stop their departure.
“Many Americans were already confused about whether travel to Cuba is legal. The main concern now is whether clients might lose money on a booked trip,” said Cuba Candela CEO Chad Olin. “We have assured them there is no risk.”
Popper also said guests and travel advisors are savvier now.
“The consensus seems to be that travelers are less concerned about potential changes to the travel regulations than they were after President Trump’s announcement in June of 2017, given that little changed back then,” he said.
Reprint from Travel Weekly | Johanna Jainchill | May 02, 2019