I sometimes think I can predict the next big travel destination based solely on the freelance writers’ queries we receive every day. After all, these professional travelers make their living anticipating the destinations that will capture the imagination of fickle consumers. At one time, it seemed like every writer was pitching stories on Croatia. Then it was Costa Rica. Then Argentina. The Maldives. Recently, it was Vietnam. It is telling therefore, that the latest wave of story pitches are related to Cuba.
Indeed, it seems as if the stars are finally aligned to, once and for all, lift the travel embargo to Cuba. Besides, President Obama’s apparent openness to the idea — based on his recent easing of travel restrictions for some Cuban Americans — a CNN poll showed that 64 percent of Americans are in favor of lifting the ban. Certainly, travel industry groups, from ASTA to the National Tour Association, have come out in favor of the move, and lifting the ban would also be a great economic shot in the arm to the travel industry at a time when it could use it the most.
If the ban is lifted, there is no doubt that this nearby island, which already captures the imagination of so many Americans, would be the next big thing in travel. And I don’t need a legion of travel writers to tell me that.
