NEW YORK, NY – According to new data from travel search site momondo, the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba has had a major impact on travel patterns, sending searches for Cuba-related travel up 161 percent.
“We expected an increase given that we’re facing five decades of pent-up travel demand, but we did not expect it to rise so sharply,” said momondo spokesperson Lasse Skole Hansen. “It appears many Americans are hoping to visit the country and are in a race to do so before too much changes post-embargo.”
momondo compared searches for Cuba-related travel from all of 2014 with all of 2015, after travel restrictions eased.
While travel is still prohibited for American tourists, there is a growing desire to visit Cuba for humanitarian and educational purposes. Beginning this year, commercial flights from the U.S. to Cuba will be restored.
