$5 CIGAR LADY:
Leveraging Stereotypes for Tourism Dollars
In the Old Havana Market, one common tourist hustle involves locals charging for photos while dressed in stereotypical clothing harkening to the Golden Age of Cuban culture—bright fabrics, flamenco-style dresses, straw hats, and cigars. Others opt for eccentric outfits or use pets to draw attention and earn tourist dollars for that perfect social media photo. In the Old Square, a woman in a handmade costume and basket charged $5 for a quick photo—five times the usual rate of $1 per photo.
