Comment

Comment by Sam Scribe on September 29, 2010 at 1:33pm

I don't know this group's members (I'm new), but I'll assume that if you're in this group, you favor lifting the embargo. However, "More than half of the members [of the House Foreign Affairs Committee] received contributions from the pro-embargo anti-travel U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC," reports John McAuliff, director of the Fund for Reconciliation and Development.
That's not a good sign.
When will this embargo finally end?

Comment by Northeast News on August 29, 2010 at 10:00pm

LEASE LAND IN CUBA

Last week I asked, "What next?" Now I just saw the answer to my question:

Comment by Northeast News on August 19, 2010 at 9:03am

Sutro Media has just released an iPhone app called Havana Good Time. Also, New York City's American Ballet Theatre just announced it will perform in Cuba. What next?

Comment by Max Pesling on August 17, 2010 at 1:53pm

Funny you should say that, NN. I've followed the Cuba story since the beginning, practically (yes, I am that old), and I've often thought that right-wing Cubans in Miami were not the only reason for the embargo barring US tourists from the island. There are a lot of vested interests with a stake in the status quo, and I'll bet anything that many of them lobby quietly in Washington to keep American tourists out of Cuba. Among my suspects: Florida would lose a lot of $$$ if Cuba opened up. It's far more beautiful and interesting! What about Mexico? Did it ever occur to anyone that Cancun was built from scratch on a remote island to answer gringos' need for tropical island vacations not too long after Varadero was closed off to them? With all due respect to Cancun -- it's a lovely destination -- how many gringos would still go there if Cuba opened up?

I'm not saying Mexico or Florida or any other particular destinations lobby to keep us out of Cuba... but could you blame them if they did?

Personally I stand for freedom, freedom to travel being one of the most important. Our presence as tourists and the ability to mingle with regular Cubans far outweighs any geopolitical considerations. And anyway, 50 years of embargo haven't changed one thing on the island. Isn't it time we opened up, and tried another way?

Comment by Northeast News on August 17, 2010 at 1:39pm

Travel Restrictions to Cuba Easing?

A few days ago the Miami Herald reported, ""The Obama administration will soon ease some restrictions on US travel to Cuba and other sanctions following Havana's promise to free political prisoners, according to growing but unconfirmed reports."
I wonder: Which other Caribbean islands would be hurt the most if the U.S. eased travel to Cuba?

Comment by EnLinea Media on January 1, 2010 at 9:14am

Cuba gets a shout-out in this week's Tripatini blog survey of 2010 hotspots. Check it out!

Comment by John Lamkin on October 7, 2009 at 5:27pm

Thanks for the updates David! Maybe I can go there from Mexico this trip.

Comment by José Balido on October 7, 2009 at 4:48pm

Here's another piece today on travel to Cuba...

Comment by David Paul Appell on October 7, 2009 at 4:31pm

A good piece appeared in the Miami Herald just this week summarizing the current state of travel to Cuba from the United States. It pretty much dovetails with what I've been hearing, which is that Treasury and border types are essentially closing their eyes to travel and not enforcing the travel embargo. The URL is http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/outdoors/outdoors-wire/story/1270586.html; excerpts below:

"Although Obama has not officially changed any rules regarding nonfamily trips to Cuba, State Department statistics show anecdotal evidence of a flow of visits.

Experts say that although statistics have not been released regarding how many American academics, musicians and church groups have visited Cuba under Obama, the U.S. State Department has relaxed strict Bush-era interpretations of existing law.

Cuba Education Tours offers American professionals tips on how to qualify for a general research license. They offer trips over Thanksgiving, Christmas and a "51st Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution Tour spanning New Years."
"Even though the administration hasn't yet published changes allowing more cultural and educational exchanges to and from Cuba, anecdotal evidence suggests that such loosening has already taken place," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a critic of Obama's Cuba policy. "We see ads informing college students and artistic groups of planned excursions to the island. So it looks like it's back to the era of two-week college courses in Cuban culture taught on the beaches of Varadero."

"There was a general policy to obstruct all people to people contacts between Americans and Cuba," said attorney Robert Muse, an expert on the U.S. trade embargo. "Virtually any application submitted was denied during that period. While there may be more travel going on now, what Obama has not done is return to licenses."

"The law permits all that without a change," said pro-embargo lobbyist Mauricio Claver-Carone. "There is purposeful travel. The administration has been more lax in authorizing travel than the previous administration was, but that fits the pattern with Democrats."

But activists have urged Obama to do more by officially changing the rules, not just interpreting them differently.

Since Obama has already offered Cuban-Americans the right to travel freely and send money, he is probably waiting for the Castro government to make similar concessions before he allows more liberalized travel for all Americans, she said."

Comment by José Balido on May 11, 2009 at 2:13pm

IMPORTANT NEWS:

Get a free $100 voucher for eventual travel to Cuba through Orbitz once all travel restrictions are lifted!

Orbitz is pushing a campaign to open travel to Cuba so every American has the right to visit. Just like we can travel to Iran, North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries with which we deeply disagree, it's important for all Americans to be able to travel freely to Cuba, as people-to-people communication is the key to better relations and a better future for all.

Every person who signs the petition will receive a $100 coupon redeemable on Orbitz against a vacation to Cuba valid if and when the U.S. Government removes the ban on travel to Cuba, and as soon as Orbitz is able to offer such travel on its website.

To sign, please go to: http://www.opencuba.org. Thanks!

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