For all Cubans, the week started on a good note as President Raul Castro’s government decided to lift a 17 year old ban on locals enjoying a stay at any of the country’s hotels.

The decision was greatly appreciated, Cubans saluting the new presidential resolution. Unfortunately, all these changes won’t mean anything without a carefully thought-out financial plan, mostly because the average monthly salary earned by a local varies from 17$ to 20$ and the average room rates per day start at 60$ and ever reach 400$.

About this, locals stated that even though it’s out of their reach, it’s good to know that they have the option at hand.

The hotel access decision was preceded by last week’s resolution to freely sell and buy computers, DVD players, cell phones and other such popular items. The president announced that many changes are to be made, the biggest of which concern the agriculture segment.

"I have referred to an excess of prohibitions and regulations, and in the next few weeks we'll start lifting the most simple of them," President Castro said according to CNN.

On average, Cuba is visited by 2 million tourists annually, tourism being one of the major sources of revenue. With the additional new client base, the decision might help hotels during the slow periods of the year.

Raul Castro succeeded his brother Fidel in February and said at the time that reforms would follow.

The country’s Tourism Ministry recently announced that at least 10 hotels will be built in the capital, Havana, between 2008 and 2010, adds CNN. The former ban to access luxury hotels and resorts was criticized by Cubans as "tourist apartheid."