I was somewhat surprised when I learnt that in all the evaluations and statistics plus forecasting for our cruise ship berthing facility we didn’t look over our shoulder.

If we had we would have seen not just one island but a number of islands, and one of those islands is very big.

I am speaking of Cuba that lies to our north. Cuba is a nation, an archipelago, and the largest island is the largest island in the Caribbean. It has 11 million inhabitants. Around it are four other main groups of islands.

• Los Colorados along the north –east coast of the Pinar del Rio Province.

• Sabana Camaguey also known as Jardines del Rey north of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Sancti Spirtus , Ciego de Avila and Camaguey.

• Jardines de la Reina South of Ciego de Avila and Camaguey.

• Los Canarreos South of Matanzas, Habana and Pinar del Rio. Among the small islands the most outstanding for the importance in tourism and ecology are: Cayo Levisa, Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco, Cayo Saetia and Cayo Las Brujas.

• Cayo Largo. This beautiful island located to the south of the Cuba, in the Caribbean Sea, is only 175 Kms from Havana and 170 from Varadero. Cayo Largo is in the Canarreos Archipelago. It is 1 Km in its wider part, has an area of 37.5 Sq. Km and is 27Km long , which is also the complete length of its beaches. Apart from having a marvelous history, where the settlement of the first Cuban Indian Siboneyes tribes, descendants from the Arauca Indians, Cayo Largo was visited by Christopher Colombus in 1494 and by famous pirates like John Hawkins, Jean Lafitte Latrobe, Pepe El Mallorquin and Henry Morgan between 1565 and 1820. Also a shipwreck happened in Cayo Largo shores in 1600 with a precious treasure belonging to the famous corsair Bartolome the Portuguese. The average temperature is 26ºC, with 8 hours of tropical sunshine, and with these conditions you’ll have to admit that Cayo Largo is easily the paradise of holidaymakers. Different kinds of fauna representatives can be found in Cayo Largo, such as the Iguanas, Colibries, Tortoises, Sea Gulls, Coruas, Shellfishes and Pelicans. Cayo Largo is the ideal lspot to recover what has been forgotten because of daily routine, to fall in love, or simply to recover lost inspiration; to live passionately like it is always done in Caribbean lands. Cayo Largo is an All Inclusive island, meaning that you can eat, drink and make use of all services and facilities in the different properties there.

• Cayo Coco. With a surface of 350 Sq. Km this island converted into a paradise is an exclusive resort. This island was an old refuge for the pirates. At present it is one of the main resorts in the Cuban tourist industry. A unique work of engineering connects Cayo Coco to mainland. It is called Pedraplen and it is 17 Km long across the sea. Enjoying the benefits of its marvelous beaches Cayo Coco has become a destination for those holidaymakers seeking relaxing vacations and good beaches. Among the birds found here we find a colony of flamingoes estimated in 12 to 15 thousand pairs which makes it the most important in the western hemisphere. Also the Pajaro Coco bird is found here. It is a white bird that gives the name to the island.

• Cayo Guillermo. This island is well known for the transparency of the water in its beaches and the sand quality. Found to the north east of Cayo Coco, Cayo Gullermo enjoys beautiful underwater landscapes and coral reefs very close to the shore. This island is connected to the neighbour Cayo Coco by a pedraplen that goes across shallow waters.

• Cayo Levisa. It is at about 2 Km fro the north coast of Pinar del Rio this small island enjoys wonderful beaches and blue transparent waters. This is an almost virgin island. Near the island there is a great coral barrier containing different types of corals.

• Cayo Saetia. A peninsula linked to the main land by a narrow causeway and a drawbridge over a canal that joints two bays. This 42 Sq. km island is a virginal, unspoiled part of Holguín. A patchwork with different ecosystems is found here. Ranging from mangrove swamps to rain forests in which wild imported animals roam freely. (Ostriches, zebras, deer, antelopes, feral pigs, wild bulls, leguanas, and innumerable species of birds). Cayo Saetia is said to have 25 Km of small beaches, separated by high limestone cliffs and rocky outcrops.

The above was edited and taken from Cuba Destino Caribe

The island I have placed in bold type is the biggest threat to our tourist industry. I have been there and the sand is equal to our 7 Mile Beach. Tourists, mainly from Europe and Canada stay there and it is just a small flight to the Main Island and Havana – the capital. Tours, attractively priced, are in abundance.

In one of the articles in today’s iNews Cayman you will see that Cuba is listed at NUMBER 1 IN THE WORLD by Traveller’s Choice for destinations on the rise. Two other Caribbean countries are also listed in the top 10 – Costa Rica (#2) and Belize (#6).

A second article in iNews today starts off: – “A sign bearing the image of Fidel Castro is seen behind a truck in Mariel, Cuba. The coastal town, situated just 30 miles from Havana, will soon play host to a giant new port and free-trade zone.

Did you make a note of  – “a giant new port and free-trade zone.”

This article is followed by other articles warning us here in the Cayman Islands that Communist Cuba is reforming and beginning to embrace Capitalism.

And what will be the next step? Unification with the USA?

Are we forgetting how much of Cuba is undeveloped, how cheap compared to here the labour is? When the Cuban government makes a decision it doesn’t spend years, like we have done, talking about it – it gets done immediately!

Do any of our tourism heads actually visit not just Cuba but other countries as a tourist? Or do they go on all expense-paid government sponsored trips and dream of impractical ideas that have no bearing on what is happening in today’s tourism market?

When it comes to the UK/European stay-over market the only serious game in town for sea and sun resorts is the all-inclusive. In the last 10 years it has transformed the way people take holidays because it’s very good value and convenient. Right now if I wanted to fly out from the Untied Kingdom to Grand Cayman on British Airways in February the round trip fare is nearly £900 on top of which I would have to add the hotel, food and drinks. At the same time I can fly to Cuba for a week for £841 (£1072 for two weeks!) or the Egyptian Red Sea for £425, both completely all-inclusive!

When you look at what Cuba has to offer and what we have our situation is even worse. Soon we will become an overpriced destination no one wants.

Cayo Largo is already prepped up to attract customers from the United States. Other islands are being ear-marked to attract the rich Americans with their private jets.

The restrictions to travelling to Cuba from the US are soon going to be lifted. It is not going to be a case of ‘if’ – it’s when.

Why are we not looking over our shoulder? Is it because it is so close we seem to forget it is there?

When it comes to Cuba we do so at our peril.