Now That Cuba Is Fair Game, People Really Don't Want McDonald's and Starbucks to Ruin It

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President Barack Obama today announced the United States has restored relations with Cuba, a major policy change after 50 years of immering hostility.

Somewhat ironically, many Americans met news of this long-awaited reconciliation with concerns that it could end up Americanizing the island nation. Twitter rapidly filled with comments from people who worry U.S. brands such as McDonald's, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and Orbitz will set up shop in Cuba and "turn it into Cancun." 

According to Topsy's social analytics, more than 800 tweets with the words "McDonald's" and "Cuba" were posted in the first few hours after the announcement. 

Check out some of the tweets below: 

54,599 people making the same penetrating insight https://t.co/Y0E21l5NSI

— Michael C Moynihan (@mcmoynihan) December 17, 2014

I really hope I can make it to #Cuba before McDonald's, Starbucks, etc.

— Matt Bradley (@MattMcBradley) December 17, 2014

Time to visit Cuba before Mcdonald's and Pizza Hut takes over

— Sam Smith (@samhcsmith) December 17, 2014

How long until I get a #Cuba travel promo email from @Orbitz ?

— Amber Porter (@duck_pudding) December 17, 2014

You get a Starbucks! You get a Starbucks! Everybody...! RT@jeremyscahill Im glad I was able to visit Cuba b4 US tourists turn it into Cancun

— lobsterstyle (@lobsterstyle) December 17, 2014

Great news that McDonald's will be opening 500 restaurants in Cuba.

— Bilingual Jumbo (@mumbojom) December 17, 2014

The US opening up Cuba is huge news. Cuba is an amazing country...hope it doesn't get ruined with Starbucks & McDonald's on every corner

— SPEAK (@speakz) December 17, 2014

I guess I'll have to revisit Cuba quickly if I want to see it again before it's fully americanized. #McDonalds

— Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) December 17, 2014

All I can say is my goal was to see Cuba before Taco Bell and McDonald's littered Havana. We may post… http://t.co/XZAmQwcd0L

— DJ EFN (@djEFN) December 17, 2014

So the pervasive anxiety over losing at least American's concept of Cuba as a McDonald's-free zone is interesting.

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) December 17, 2014

Of the U.S. brands that stand to benefit from the renewed ties, Coca-Cola is chief among them. According to Business Insider, Cuba was one of only two countries where the brand didn't do business (North Korea is the other). As for Cuban brands, a top contender to benefit is Havana Club—its Cuban rum is so worthy of imbibing that many were smuggling it into the country— and should have an easy time finding an American consumer base.