Cuba Could Prove to be a Popular Destination

 

Cuba could prove to be a propular travel destination for Americans in the future. // (c) Jose Porras

With last week’s official announcement that the U.S. Treasury Department issued new guidelines for travel to Cuba, Travel Leaders is unveiling results from its latest survey. In the survey, 75 percent of consumers polled indicated that they would travel to Cuba or might consider a trip to Cuba if all restrictions were lifted; another 1.7 percent said that they had already traveled there.
 
The findings largely mirror the 75 percent of polled Travel Leaders travel agents who expressed the same desire to go, although 4 percent said that they have already been to Cuba. The consumer survey was conducted from March 10 to April 10, and includes responses from 953 consumers throughout the U.S. The nationwide poll of 231 Travel Leaders travel agents was conducted from March 2-15.
 
“Culturally and historically, Cuba fascinates a large number of Americans,” said Roger E. Block, president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group. “Physically, it’s amazingly close to the Florida coast, yet so far away because of continued restrictions for most citizens. Like the traveling public, our Travel Leaders experts would welcome the opportunity to experience the country for themselves and then assist their clients in realizing a trip of their own to this forbidden destination that has been off-limits for nearly a half century.”

Additional key statistics and findings included the following:

When asked, “If all travel restrictions are lifted, how interested would you be in traveling to Cuba?,” U.S. consumers responded in the following ways:
I’ve already been (1.7 percent)
I’d go immediately (20.2 percent)
I would go as soon as I believed Cuba was ready for Americans (21.8 percent)
I might consider going (33 percent)
I have no interest in going (23.2 percent)

When the same question was posed during the month of March to Travel Leaders’ owners, managers and agents, the agents said:
I’ve already been (4 percent)
I’d go immediately (24 percent)
I would go as soon as I believed Cuba was ready for Americans (20 percent)
I might consider going (31 percent)
I have no interest in going (21 percent)

The survey questions on Cuba were included in a comprehensive online consumer survey conducted by Travel Leaders.

Visit www.travelleaders.com.