Cuba at a crossroads

An analysis of the potential relationship of Cuba and United States tourism interests by Sergei Khrushchev and two coauthors, reported in the November 2007 issue of the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, suggests that the U.S. hospitality industry can begin to help bridge the economic gap between Cuba and the United States.

As the son of the former Russian premier, Khrushchev has the unusual position of living in the U.S. but having dealt with both the Cuban people and Fidel Castro. Together with his coauthors, Tony L. Henthorne, Ph.D. and Michael S. LaTour, Ph.D., the article explains their personal experiences and their recent qualitative research in Cuba. The authors found a deep distrust between the people of the two countries, while, at the same time, U.S. dollars are desired in the Cuban economy. The authors contend that, if the current embargo was lifted, U.S. hospitality industry sponsored research could be a way for the U.S. to get its foot in the door in Cuba, while dispelling some of the distrust of America.

We see a historic opportunity for profitable investment in a new Cuba, write the authors. Not only can the U.S. hospitality industry participate in shaping that new Cuba, in partnership with locals, but we contend that now is the time to advance prescriptive, forward-thinking insight designed to shift the thinking of the U.S. business community about Cuba and, in so doing, shift the thinking of the Cuban government, businesses, and people about their neighbors to the north.


Posted by: Tom    Source