Communist Cuba set to end travel restrictions

There are a few changes slowly taking place under Raul. The economic position is dire and the debt to China increasing. If the political scene in Venezuela changes, the subsidiezed oil supply to Cuba might cease. Adevertising in the state telephone directory sounds like a good idea, but what percentage of Cubans have the telephone and do they have the income to purchase the adsvertized products and services? Doctors receive about $30 per month and the Senior pension is $8 per month.

One has to enphasis the shift in terms of Marketing and Advertising, to create a market pull for a private activity.
havanajournal.com/business/entry/havana-yellow-pages-coming-in-2012-with-private-cuba-business-ads-009/

lots of  What If
Since i got portuguese ties, here is current trends overthere :
theportugalnews.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=1144-4

Spite of regime diferences, lots of similaritys.
Funny to see what type of services can be incorporated overthere :
taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1501052&lang=eng_news&cate_img=1037.jpg&cate_rss=General

I just been there once, long time ago fresh graduate trip, but still believes this is a major shift, and aims also to build and increase tax revenue as seens in most European countrys.

Expats costs of living should also increase on the long term, do you guys agree?

Thanks for the references paulopereirra, I opened all of them. I was interested in the comment that: 'since regulations governing private activity were liberalized a year ago' that 350,000 private sector jobs have been created. One recalls that in October 2010 it was announced that 500,000 government employees would lose their jobs by April 2011. The fear created was such that by February 2011, President Raul had to rescind the decision, one wonders whether the necessity to find some way of obtaining an alternative income was the motivation rather than liberalization. The list of 178 occupations is also interesting - one wonders how many Cubans can afford a Nanny and how the occupation is acceptable under 'Socialismo'. Any caring person who knows the urban communities of Cuba is well aware of the number of starving dogs roaming the streets and yet one of the occupations is: 'Breeder and sellar of pets.' Despite the changes to the regulations governing the buying and selling of cars, the more privileged will still be lucky to own a bicycle - new ones costing 130 - 170 CUCs at the Government owned tiendas. It's odd that current school teachers are not allowed to tutor as that would enable them to take their income above the current 700 pesos per month. Obviously there must be a demand for fortune tellers - good fortune being much required by many. If you venture through any Cuban town, you will now find many more people trying to sell illicit CDs from a multitude of doorways.  What I don't understand is why 'bread sellars' are not included, because at every state bakery there are those who buy a couple of dozen 200 gm loaves for 5 pesos each and then having put them in a cardboard box on their bicycle pannier, roam the streets selling them for 6 pesos each. Not a bad deal as if they sell 24, they have earned above the average daily pay. As I understand it, all those who seek to engage in one of the 178 described jobs, requires a government licence.

Hello Macduff,

Indeed, life is harsh for locals :
youtube.com/watch?v=-przPCV-Yig&feature=related

and viability of small bussiness owners looks unreal vew the purchasing consumer finance.

The country still acepts some Foreign Direct Investment
ctp.iccas.miami.edu/Research_Studies/RDCruz.pdf
and has some industry activities.
cubaindustria.cu/noticias/esta_semana.htm#d

On that list there is also a cartoonist profession "regulated", something to think about.

If you dont mind asking, are you living most of the year in cuba ?

Hi again paulopereirra. The answer is that I spend two periods of three months each, in Cuba each year being granted a personal visa. I am married to a Cuban who lives and works there. As a consequence, I am fully aware of the two Cubas - the one the tourist sees using CUCs and the one the Cubans live in using pesos. As I am the casa hombre, I do the shopping and some of the cooking. It is a beautiful country and I have a great liking for the Cubans. It is important to remember that Cubans are accustomed to living on a dollar a day -or considerably less. Each family is supportive of each other. I commented upon many of the dogs being emaciated, but in a country where there is food rationing, who do you feed first? I omitted to say that there are 25 pesos to the CUC. On Friday 30th I leave to go back "home" to Cuba and as there is no internet for the general population, I become incommunicado. You are correct, there is an endeavor by President Raul to improve the economy - I think he is watching China, but China allowed commercial private enterprise including that from democratic free enterprise countries. There is a specific need to address agriculture as there are huge areas of good land reverting to scrub, Cuba has to import large volumes of food and world prices are rising placing even more stress on the economy. Many of the artists can do good cartoons - for example, I saw one of a huge American open top car the caption being: "The Cuban Convertible". Chow para la momento!

sharing an article towards this theme :
interviews.blogexpat.com/blog/english/2011/06/16/from-new-york-to-cuba-here-is-havana

Hola mister Macduff, saw your post on the French section of this comunity.

No longer incommunicado as I am back after three months at home in Cuba. Not much change in reality and Raul made it clear at the Party conference that those expecting much change were out of line.It is wise to remember that in Cuba "the Party" is ahead of both the state and the people.