Venezuela got its first European cruise ship in 15 years on Tuesday, after being avoided by tourists for a long time due to illegal US sanctions.

The Bahamas-flagged "Amadea" docked on the Caribbean island of Margarita, carrying about 500 people, mostly from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

"Venezuela had been off the radar of cruise ships for many years," Tourism Minister Ali Padron said as he greeted the historic arrival.

Venezuela "became a very insecure, high-risk destination," Reinaldo Pulido, vice-president of the Conseturismo tourism council, said as quoted by AFP.

Any initiative, according to Pulido, "that brings new international tourists is a gain."

And, since last year, the country has welcomed Russian visitors who have been barred from entering many other countries as a result of Western sanctions.

Conseturismo President Leudo Gonzalez considers that the arrival of the Amadea "opens the possibility of (Venezuela) returning to the radar of the main cruise lines."

The big picture 

Due to US sanctions, foreigners have long been kept at bay by exchange regulations, goods scarcity, and the absence of basic amenities such as water and power, due to the illegal sanctions imposed on the country, causing travel firms to close their doors.

As is well known, Venezuela is a small oil-rich country that suffered years of imperialist meddling.

Since the imposition of financial sanctions in 2017, the US has spearheaded the blockade against Venezuela, with countries such as Switzerland, the UK, the EU, Canada, and Panama following suit by freezing assets, implementing trade embargoes, and resorting to unilateral measures against international trade payments. 

However, after years of hyperinflation and a depreciating currency that has plunged Venezuelans into poverty and forced millions to escape the nation, the wrecked economy – and tourism sector – has recently shown tentative signs of recovery.

This comes after Washington’s current thirst for oil pushed Biden’s administration to ease some of Washington’s tough sanctions on Venezuela.

US thirst for Venezuelan oil exposed that America is at odds with its policy, exerting strained efforts to find an alternative for Russian oil amid the global energy crisis.