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Comments (13)
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Save/ShareEarlier this year, President Obama spoke about easing a number of travel restrictions in an effort to help the relationship between the United States and Cuba grow stronger. With more and more people now able to visit the island nation, the country has the potential to one day become a major tourist destination, if it isn't already.
Some restrictions still apply for freelance journalists without the proper credentials and any religious groups not recognized by the United States, however specific licenses can be applied for through OFAC.
Flying to Cuba is becoming easier as well, with several major airports in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, New Orleans, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Tampa and San Juan beginning to offer direct charter flights.
While this doesn't mean hoards of flip-flopped American tourists will be flocking to its sandy beaches anytime soon, it's a start.
I've often heard of American citizens booking airfares to Cuba through a third country, typically by way of Mexico or Canada. In regard to this, the U.S. State Department website states the following: "The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba." The section on entry requirements to Cuba goes on to say this restriction includes traveling illegally from a third country and that "Travelers who fail to comply with Department of the Treasury regulations could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States."
In the meantime, Americans aren't the only ones with their eyes on Cuba. Tourists from other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan are flocking to Cuba to take part in "salsa packages" put together by the government and partnered with SprachCaffe, a state-run salsa studio. One of the packages offered by the Culture Ministry offers a two week tour with all dance classes, hotels and most meals included, all for 900 Euros, or roughly $1,300 USD.
In a recent CNN article outlining this new trend, it appears that those living in Cuba want Americans to get in on the salsa movement, too. At the end of the article, a local salsa instructor named Marisuri Garcia says, "We've got Swiss and Germans dancing salsa like Cubans," she says. "It's time to see more Americans!"
What do you think? Should the government ease all restrictions on travel to Cuba?
— Kaeli Conforti
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Yes. Our travel restrictions do not change anything in Cuba, hurt us and the Cuban people by empowering repression, and offend what it means to be American -- the freedom to travel. The travel restrictions are part and parcel of our fifty years of failed policies with Cuba. If you want to go, you should be able to go unencumbered. And if you do not want to go, do not go.
Posted By Tony Martinez on May 11, 2011, 6:28 PM
Many people who live in the US are under the illusion that tourism from the US will solve all evils. Just like one can argue that the embargo has not done anything to change Cuba neither has the millions of tourists that have visited the island. While the embargo has not had the political effect of changing Cuba it has certainly not help it economically, which tourism will do. The philosophy that if you don't like something on TV you should change the channel is naive one of double standards and hypocrisy. There are no middle grounds, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Pumping cash into the Castros pockets will not solve anything in Cuba.
Posted By Pedro Gross on May 11, 2011, 10:51 PM
The US government has no business not allowing us to visit Cuba. That is the only country in the planet we are not allowed to visit. This is a denial of our constitutional rights, and we ought to stand up for our rights and go there and defy this unconstitutional practice by the US government such as Rosa Parks challenged Jim Crow in the South. That Cuba has an open door to the world, and the US government restricts our freedom says something about US hyprocrisy and double standards. Leave alone that the only torture in Cuba goes on at the US base in Guantanamo.
Posted By Stan Smith on May 12, 2011, 11:06 PM
there are way worse places to go than to Cuba.
I should be able to make that choice. I would love to go there before it gets Americanized.
Posted By AUDREY BARNES on May 13, 2011, 6:55 AM
yes, go to Cuba if you want to go to beaches and hotels where Cubans are not allowed to go except to work, and eat in places where no regular Cubans can eat, and eat food out of the reach of the great majority of Cubans. But please, get away from the tourist places and get to the real Cuba, so you can see the misery that the Castros and communism have created in a country that was the most advanced one in Latin America when they arrived. And help support the government so they can continue to hit women who demonstrate peacefully, jail dissidents, kill and torture at will, etc. Enjoy!
Posted By Maria C Fernandez on May 16, 2011, 12:30 PM
Absolutely. Travel bans and the trade embargo should be lifted today. They have accomplished nothing, other than to help choke the economic life out of the average Cuban. I've been there -- on a legal, licensed trip -- and see no reason why every American should not be free to hop a plane and go see a beautiful, friendly country for him or herself.
Is Socialism a disaster there? You bet. Are government policies repressive? Sure. Are we doing anything to help that? Nope. Raul is doing a heck of a lot more than we are.
Are there better places to go on holiday? I'd say yes, again. But I should be free to make that judgment -- not the government dealing with problems we helped create 50 years ago.
Posted By Steve Casey on May 16, 2011, 2:55 PM
My wife and I visited Cuba via Caracas & Santo Domingo about 12 years ago. We were unable to get a straight answer about US travel restrictions & decided to wing it as my wife was officially invited by the Ministry of Agriculture to judge a Dalmatian dog show, the first foreign judge since the Castros took over..
It is sad how Havana has gone down hill since the previous time I was there before the Revolution.
I fail to see what the trade embargo and travel restrictions have accomplished from a US point of view. We deal with China & other Communist countries so why not Cuba?
Posted By Richard Hayes on May 16, 2011, 4:13 PM
I have traveled to many communistic countries over the years with no problem. Why not Cuba? How can we say we are a free people and be told we cannot go someplace. The Cuban government will not tell you you cannot go, it is our own government. I think the time has come. EDYTHE CARTER
Posted By Edythe Carter on May 16, 2011, 5:45 PM
The U. S. is still mad at Cuba because they are Communist. Well, China is Communist and we don't seem to mind that. Grow up America. Little Cuba can't hurt us and we wan't our freedoms back, including the choice to visit any country we like!
Posted By Don Day on May 16, 2011, 8:55 PM
Yes.
Posted By George on May 16, 2011, 9:19 PM
I visited Cuba over New Years 2010. We toured many places and were welcomed and well treated. It is a very interesting destination and should be available to all US citizens. We travel to many more restrictive countries than Cuba - China, Myanmar, etc. We are being denied travel by a vocal group of Cuban ex-pats living in Florida. They may have good reasons to hate Cuba but should not force us to join in their hatred. The US has sentenced 5 Cubans to long prison terms in spite of no real evidence that they were "terrorists" seeking to harm the US. Their imprisonment is a touchy subject with most Cubans.
Posted By Don Whiteley on May 16, 2011, 10:10 PM
Yes! Give me the freedom to make my own decisions about travel without making me a criminal! I'm really not concerned about Cuba's politics in relation to the US. I think meeting the people and "letting" them meet more Americans will only help improve our image there. Let's stop the ex-pat influence on our government and allow open travel.
Posted By S. Klein on May 17, 2011, 1:54 PM
The travel embargo to Cuba is a FARCE! Do I have relatives there I want to visit? No. However, I believe that if travel restrictions were lifted, this action would propel Cuba into the year 2011. Money is a great incentive toward some changes in an oppresive government... I just want to have the freedom to travel wherever I wish, if that country wants our travel dollars.
Posted By L. Thomas on May 17, 2011, 4:35 PM