Hola Cuba!
Hola Cuba!
AS/COA’s Christopher Sabatini explains the significance in the Obama administration’s travel ease to the island for Cuban and U.S. citizens alike.
Ever wanted to travel to Cuba to dance to salsa music, see its historic buildings or dine on authentic ropa vieja at its cafes? Despite the trade embargo with the communist nation Americans – including Beyoncé, Jay Z and more recently Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt – have made headlines for their trips to Cuba. The average U.S. citizen can also visit the island with help from the right travel group.
The U.S. has an embargo with Cuba dating back to 1963 that restricts trade and tourism with the island nation except for certain deals on food and medicine, which only Congress can formally remove. A U.S. law passed in 2000 forbids American tourism on the island as a means to stem funds from reaching the repressive communist government....
In contrast the "meaningful contact trips" are legal ways for Americans to travel to Cuba and even get a direct flight from the U.S. to Havana. The catch with these trips is that Americans have to keep a schedule assigned by the group they travel with, they have a tour guide follow them on the entire trip, and people can’t simply break the agenda to visit Cuba’s Varadero Beach, says Chris Sabatini, senior director of policy for Council of the Americas.
“It helps Cubans meet Americans and realize that we are not ‘the Great Satan of the North,’” Sabatini says. “You are seeing this growing trend of travel to Cuba since we realize Americans are the best representatives for change there....”
