Cuba/US relations warming, good for the economy, but will it work?

NEW ORLEANS - March 21, 2016 - PRLog -- Air Force One touched down in Jose Marti International Airport Sunday, making Obama the first president since Calvin Coolidge to visit Cuba. President Obama's three day visit comes after a slow warming of relations that began at the end 2014. Although Cuba and the US are a long way from restoring full diplomatic and economic relations, the progress the nations have made looks good for balance sheets so far. Starwood Hotels, bought-out by Marriot Monday, announced plans to develop two properties in Havana, and signed a letter of intent to manage a third. Though current US sanctions would prevent such a deal, Starwood was granted an exception by the US Treasury Department, essentially a trial run for further economic interactions. Starwood is looking to tap into what will undoubtedly be a huge tourism market. In fact, after the December 2014 changes to policy which started the US/Cuba thawing process, international tourism in Cuba has ballooned 17%. Airlines have also enjoyed the policy changes. With well over a dozen new flights going directly to Cuba, airlines can now tap into the growing tourist economy. Although US tourism is still limited, US visitors to Cuba have jumped 77% in 2015. Proponents of free-trade see this as an early sign of a big economic victory. If and when trade barriers break down completely, Cuba, an economy of 11 million people, will suddenly demand a huge array of US goods. While the country is not nearly as developed as the US, they will undoubtedly demand US products and services. Beyond the economic gains, for which there are many, culture stands to benefit too. There are nearly two million Cuban-Americans in the US, and while there are two million different opinions on the opening of Cuba, this new situation will allow for a positive cultural exchange. But like every big story, there are two sides to this narrative. Despite the positive economic gains, there are issues we, and Cuba, cannot ignore. Guantanamo Bay is the elephant in the room Obama is refusing to talk about, and will eventually have to be addressed. The Cuban government is known for greatly inhibiting free speech, and severely infringing upon human rights. Americans will not let this issue go unresolved, particularly Cuban Americans (Marco Rubio campaigned on a platform against Cuba/US relations). In Cuba, many citizens are anti-America; scores of Cubans protested Obama's arrival Sunday. If both nations can diplomatically solve these issues, America, and Cuba, could enjoy a tourist economy not seen since 1959. - See more at: http://michelletuckerinternational.com/cubaus-relations-w...