古巴文化的戴维·李(David Lee)谈论出售古巴的魔力
by杰西卡·蒙特瓦哥/
According to data from the the Bureau of Statistics, Cuba had already shown a 20% drop in arrivals in June, after Washington that same month banned cruises to Cuba and made it harder for U.S. citizens to get an exemption from the ban on travel there.
专门从事古巴私人旅行的目的地管理公司Cultural Cuba的创始人David Lee表示,他的业务相反。“我们的数字已经达到了很多,因此可能是很多因素。信息是,对古巴的兴趣并不是关于“我可以去的?”和“我怎么能走?”的更多兴趣。”
前往古巴的法定旅行是非常有可能的。尽管美国财政部对巡游和人与人之间的新限制施加了新的限制,但古巴文化的古巴仍在法律上运营“照常”。
Lee告诉Travel Market Report:“我试图消除'受限制'的观念。”beplay客服他向有兴趣出售目的地的旅行顾问提供了一些建议。
Travel Market Report: What would you tell travel advisors who want to sell Cuba?
David Lee: There’s still a lot of confusion among travel advisors. In some cases, some agencies have told their advisors not to sell Cuba. They’re nervous and not sure what they can count on, and a lot of it is fear-based.
When there is confusion, is when travel advisors need to step up. It’s where they show their value. At the end of the day, most of the advisors I talked to are looking for answers and advice. What’s true for American clients? How should they be selling Cuba?
The majority haven’t dropped Cuba, but they are seeking answers. It’s tough because, if you’re a travel advisor, you might be an expert in a certain niche, but it’s hard to keep up with constant legal changes – and that is where we come in. Our whole message to agents is to work with companies like ours that are true DMCs. You want to work with someone who has a team on the ground. There is a huge difference between that and reselling.
TMR: What advice would you give them?
DL: The key with Cuba, this is a consultative sell. This is something that requires a phone call, a little more explanation, that it is open and legal, and how you can travel there. I never use the word ‘restrictive.’ The idea is you’re meeting with people. The big difference is to use us, have us do a three-way conference call with your client. We’ll be a united front with the travel advisor. Use us to explain directly any questions. Don’t hesitate. We don’t mind, get us on the phone with them.
一旦顾问出售,重复业务的口口相传,它会继续下去。这是Instagram的宠儿,它具有婚礼,多计划等的广泛吸引力。它有很多东西要提供。对于大多数地方来说,这不是一个遥远的飞行,我们计划的旅行中有85%是四个晚上。它会让您想要更多,但尤其是当您私人习俗时,它会让您希望将来再次回来。
TMR: Why is the situation so confusing to travelers and even advisors?
DL:美国政府本可以带走所有前往古巴的旅行,但是在12个类别中,仍然有11个类别。政治上发生了太多的两极分化,人们觉得一切都是典当。它非常混乱,还不清楚。该信息应该是我们正在做事的所有积极原因 - 例如港口费和税收,这些港口和税收是政府口袋的排列 - 但这是非常灰色的。如果您继续使用OFAC,古巴部分是如此多的合法性。作为旅行者,这对我意味着什么?
您想做的一件事是觉得您永远不会违反法律。您可能想学习和体验一种新的文化,但是归根结底,如果感觉很复杂,您可能会在其他地方看。这是可以更好地处理的地方。我已经与政府和财政部的人们进行了交谈,他们并没有试图阻止旅客。
TMR: Why is it so important that Americans still travel to Cuba?
DL: The message from our perspective – why it is so important to go – is if Americans stop going, they are the driving force monetarily and in numbers. If you talk about the people themselves, Americans are for supporting the Cuban people themselves, not the regime.
There’s something so palatable about what is going on in Cuba, it changes the traveler when they go there. It really does change them. The only way to really understand what is going on there is to visit. This is not a fad – most people go back, it’s not a checklist destination. Well over 50% of clients repeat, whether they come again on their own or with family. It’s only 90 miles off the coast of the Florida Keys, but you are completely transported. Until you go, you don’t realize the magnitude. It’s hard to imagine because it just can’t be compared. Emphasis on the arts – there’s an extraordinary amount of talent.
Isolation is never the answer. The best way for this to continue is for Americans to continue to go there. Go for support of the Cuban people.