Cuba came up with a clever idea for getting tourists in the COVID era:
The vaccine heading for a final phase of trials is called Sovereign 2, in a nod to the pride the island takes in its autonomy, despite decades of hostility from its neighbor to the north.
Already, Cuba is floating the idea of enticing tourists to its shores with the irresistible cocktail of sun, sand and a shot of Sovereign 2. Vicente Vérez, one of the scientists leading the team that developed the vaccine, has said that the island could offer vaccinations to all foreigners who travel there.
Cuba also plans to give away doses of its vaccine to poorer countries, proving once again that Cuba is one of the only "developing" country that understands the concept of soft power. The fact that Cuba has a really well developed medical system and a solid track record for its pharmaceuticals gives this vaccine more credibility.
Anyway, don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of the Cuban government. But it is fascinating to see how a poor country has managed to use its meager resources to build a well-respected medical system and then used that system for humanitarian charity work to improve the reputation of an otherwise autocratic regime.
