With a recent bilateral agreement between Singapore and Cuba, Cubans can now visit this Asian nation without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. This opens the door to one of the world's most thriving and expensive business and tourist destinations. The announcement came in late October during ITB Asia 2024, the premier B2B travel industry event in the Asia-Pacific, marking Cuba's inaugural participation.
Heading the Cuban delegation at the fair was Elizabeth Vela Jaime, the Ministry of Tourism's representative for Asia and Oceania, tasked with boosting Cuba's tourism sector and forming alliances with regional travel companies and agencies. This initiative aligns with the recent air services agreement between Singapore and Cuba, which permits unrestricted capacity, frequency, and routes, potentially paving the way for future direct flights between the countries.
Singapore: An Appealing Yet Pricey Destination
Some might view Singapore as a "unique opportunity" for Cubans to experience a hub of innovation and technology in Asia or engage in "shopping tourism," a major draw for Latin American visitors. However, the reality is more complex. The nation's high cost of living poses significant challenges for travelers from the island. Singapore frequently ranks among the world's priciest cities, with steep costs for lodging, transportation, and food.
While the visa-free entry facilitates short-term visits, Cubans looking to settle or work in Singapore must meet stringent immigration requirements, including work permits like the Employment Pass or S Pass for skilled professionals and technical workers. The country also offers the EntrePass for entrepreneurs aiming to launch businesses in sectors aligned with Singapore's needs, such as technology and scientific development, but this demands significant investments that most Cuban entrepreneurs cannot afford.
Visa-Free Flights: Opportunities and Challenges
The air services agreement could enhance connectivity between the two nations, decreasing the need for costly and lengthy layovers on flights typically routed through Europe or the Middle East. For the Cuban regime, Singapore represents the gateway to the Asian market, and Cubans planning business or educational ventures in Asia might benefit from easier access to Southeast Asia.
However, despite the eased entry to Singapore, permanent settlement remains challenging due to strict immigration policies and the absence of an asylum system for refugees. Singapore is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention and, while it collaborates with international organizations, it lacks residency programs for refugees.
A Word of Caution for Cubans Visiting Singapore
Singapore is renowned for its stringent civic laws, which have been fundamental in cultivating a highly orderly and disciplined society. Detailed regulations cover everything from maintaining public cleanliness to behavior in shared spaces, with violations leading to hefty fines or even criminal charges.
Acts like littering, eating or drinking on public transport, or failing to flush toilets are illegal and punishable. Chewing gum is banned unless for medical purposes, and graffiti or vandalism can result in imprisonment and corporal punishment, such as caning. This strict approach aims to uphold social harmony and ensure a high quality of life in the city-state's limited urban space. Singapore also enforces a "zero-tolerance" policy on drug consumption and trafficking, with severe penalties ranging from long sentences to capital punishment for serious offenses.
While Singaporean culture emphasizes discipline, lawfulness, and public order, it contrasts sharply with the more relaxed civic norms found in other societies. For Cubans, who come from a less regulated cultural background, adapting to these laws and the regulated lifestyle may prove challenging and could lead to serious issues if public conduct is not properly observed.