In the foyer of the Museum of Revolution in central Havana, there’s a wall labelled “Rincon de les cretinos” (Corner of the Cretins) with caricatures of some past U.S. Presidents, sarcastically thanking them for the ways in which they and their policies helped further the cause of socialism, and Cuba. Should the wall be updated, what it will say about current U.S. President Donald Trump is anyone’s guess. In mid-June, speaking to an audience in Miami’s Little Havana, the U.S. President announced plans to cancel his predecessor’s “completely one-sided deal with Cuba”.

The new approach seeks to reverse the Obama administration’s easing of rules governing U.S. tourists, who, in contrast to the past, were able to visit the country individually so long as it enhanced “contact with the Cuban people”, supported civil society and promoted their independence from authorities there. The Trump administration will require tourists to go through tour companies, who are accompanied by representatives. “A free Cuba is what we will soon achieve,” the President told the large gathering of Cuban Americans in Miami.

Over in Cuba, Mr. Trump’s comments were met with a mixture of concern, acceptance and incredulity. Contrary to the Trump administration’s stated aim of helping the Cuban people break free, the decision to ban individual travel will hurt small businesses (particularly “casa particulars”, the Cuban homes with permits to host foreign visitors in their spare rooms) and many had already begun to receive cancellations in the days immediately after the announcement. However, even among casa owners, there was an element of positivity. “We already have so many visitors from Europe and it won’t make too much of a difference,” said one, who had received several cancellations from the U.S. for visits from the autumn onwards. Increased number of visitors from Asia too would support business, he added. Another casa owner said he took comfort in the fact that whatever the U.S. threw at the country in terms of policy things would never return to the economic difficulties of the 1990s. The collapse of the Soviet Union fell hard on Cuba and its people. The country is in a far stronger position now than ever before, said the casa owner.

Surge in foreign tourism

The attitudes reveal complex feelings in Cuba towards the surge in foreign tourism, which has undoubtedly helped fuel the country’s private sector, but which has been a mixed blessing. With the U.S. trade embargo still in place (the Obama administration could not have changed this with an executive order, only through Congressional legislation), the country’s supplies have struggled to keep up with the increase in demand.

A British Cuban said she had noticed the shortages of goods in shops had increased noticeably in the two years since her last visit, while others pointed out the surge in tourists had put pressure on prices even for locals (while foreigners are generally expected to pay in CUC, the Convertible peso, rather than the CUP, the Cuban peso, it’s more flexible these days). Cubans’ salaries, particularly in the government sector, have not kept up even remotely with those in the tourism sector. A former lawyer contrasted the €20 or so a month he had once earned following years of training with the €100s he was able to earn as a tour driver.

Others expressed their incredulity over the U.S. government’s decision to refocus on Cuba at a time of so much global turmoil: “We are just a small island. They are a massive country — why are they so afraid of us?” asked one Havana resident.

Vidya Ram works for The Hindu and is based in London.