Woah, Big Changes Coming For Cuba Travel

[the_alpine]

Just saw that the US is easing up big time on Cuba sanctions. Starting tmrw no special license will be needed to travel there, us credit cards can be used, and you can bring back $100 worth if alcohol an tobacco. Seems like the writing is on the wall.


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[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by the_alpine

Just saw that the US is easing up big time on Cuba sanctions. Starting tmrw no special license will be needed to travel there, us credit cards can be used, and you can bring back $100 worth if alcohol an tobacco. Seems like the writing is on the wall.


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Yeah!

nytimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/wo...cuba.html?_r=0

Under the new regulations, Americans will now be allowed to travel to Cuba for any of a dozen specific reasons without first obtaining a special license from the government. Airlines and travel agents will be allowed to provide service to Cuba without a specific license. And travelers will be permitted to use credit cards and spend money while in the country and bring back up to $400 in souvenirs, including up to $100 in alcohol or tobacco.
The new regulations will also make it easier for American telecommunications providers and financial institutions to do business with Cuba. Americans will be allowed to send more money to Cubans, up to $2,000 every three months instead of the $500 currently permitted.
While formally the new rules do not allow basic tourism, they are written in such a way that experts said they may have that effect. “This is basically the end of the travel ban once they work out the kinks,” said Julia E. Sweig, a longtime scholar and author on Cuba.

What are the 12 specific reasons ?

I am hopeful though!

Dirk

[Stumble]

You still won't be able to go just for vacation, but I expect travel groups will be formed to meet the requirements shortly.

The allowed groups are:

1) family visits,
2) official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations;
3) journalistic activity;
4) professional research and professional meetings;
5) educational activities;
6) religious activities;
7) public performances,
8) medical exchanges
9) workshops,
10) athletic and other competitions, and
11) exhibitions
12) humanitarian

The major change is that you no longer need pre-approval to go. But the changes don't allow anyone new too. To change who can go requires congressional approval, which for now seems unlikely.

[a64pilot]

Things like 3, 5 and 6 would be difficult to disprove, sounds like as long as you don't go and do something stupid, no one will care?


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[LeaseOnLife]

I like (9) workshops:

Renewable Energy (Wind, Solar) = trendy

[Ocean Girl]

Ok, who goes first? I'd love to go. Even got the approval from my Cuban relatives(brother-in-law). Just need to know it is ok by Uncle Sam and I'm game. Btb cannot use visiting relatives, those that didn't make it out were executed. :-(

[LeaseOnLife]

2015 and 2016 might be the only chance, who knows what the next president will do.....

[capngeo]

Does 11 work if you are a nudist?

[CaptTom]

Here's what came to mind when I first read the list:

9) workshops,
10) athletic and other competitions, and
11) exhibitions

Some yacht club could organize an event in Cuba that included all of these.

Workshops - get a speaker to talk about some boating issues.
Athletic competitions - rowing dinghy races.
Exhibitions - Maybe we can all compare anchors or something. (Nudists? Sure. I'll watch.)

[bsurvey]

this is all fime and good but the way i hear it the credit card compnaies and airlines have not bought into this. they are waiting for a final ruling and established guidelines.

[bmz]

"6) religious activities; " I feel closest to God when I'm sailing or scuba diving.

[Cormorant]

Those categories are the same as what was allowed before. I think the only change is that you no longer need a special permit. So that really loosens things up a lot.

"Yes, sir. I am a foreign correspondent for the renowned publication, Cruisers Forum."

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by capngeo

Does 11 work if you are a nudist?

Only if you distribute band-aids, one by one, while naked in Havana.

That would also probably qualify as a public performance as well.

[Travelnik]

US citizens have been flying in from Cancun, and spending pesos instead of dollars for years.

Why bother with the stupid regulations anyway? Kennedy is gone, and the Cold War is over. Deal with it!

[Peters Wet]

Its probably a real good thing that the changes go slowly, Im Canadian and visited Cuba last year , wonderful place wonderful people however there is still a huge amount of anti US propaganda everywhere you go , Change takes time and I for one am happy Obama began the thawing of relations