cuba | report
Despite increased demand and expanding programs and tours, travel to Cuba continues to be a problematic proposition, reports Judy Jacobs
WHILE INTEREST IN Cuba by Americans is stronger than ever, political wrangling continues to make travel to the island more difficult than many in the travel industry would like. A Cuba travel ban was first imposed in 1963 by
President John F. Kennedy after the Cuban missile crisis. It remained in place until 1991, when President Clinton expanded categories of licenses for travel to Cuba, paving the way for people-to- people exchange programs. After a few programs had taken place, however, new travel restrictions were imposed in 2003, banning Americans from traveling to Cuba until 2011, when people-to- people travel again became a possibility. But current travel to Cuba isn’t without its
many challenges. In February, the government of Cuba halted the processing of visas to the country when the M&T Bank of Buffalo, NY, the bank it had used to process financial transactions, ended its handling of embassy accounts. “M&T had a consular services division and
for the past five or six years they’ve been phasing out their accounts, because they’re not profitable. Te Cuban consulate was the last they divested themselves of,” says Tom Popper, president of Cuban Insight, based in New Rochelle, NY. Several tour operators report they have a stock
of visas they’ve been using, so their travel hasn’t been interrupted, at least not yet, while some companies are arranging for visas to be issued in other countries. “We send some west coast passengers through
Mexico, and the airlines that operate from Mexico City to Havana have their own stock of visas,” says Ronen Paldi, president of Ya’lla Tours in Portland, Ore. “If somebody is licensed to travel on a legally sanctioned trip, they can travel through Canada, Mexico or another third country.” Visas are one challenge companies offering
travel to Cuba face. Perhaps more importantly, they must comply with Cuban Assets Control Regulations issued by the US Department of
the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which control travel to Cuba. Tose who break the rules can suffer dire
consequences, as did CWT B.V., the Dutch parent company of Carlson Wagonlit. In April, it agreed to pay nearly $6 million to the US Treasury Department for “processing unauthorized travel- related transactions for more than four years.” In 2006, American financiers assumed majority ownership of the company, but neglected to operate under OFAC regulations when sending 44,430 people to Cuba between 2006 and 2012.
People programs US tour operators fall under two categories as far as the type of travel they sell to Cuba. Te overwhelming majority operate people-to-people programs, which means trips need to be of benefit to Cuban people. Itineraries are composed of activities completely focused on Cuban culture and society, such as visiting artists’ studios and schools, and must be approved by OFAC. Te other type is licensed as a travel service provider, of which Ya’lla Tours is an example.
CUBA HIGHLIGHTS
For people-to-people travelers, Cuba highlights aren’t necessarily tourist attractions, but the places and experiences indicative of everyday life. n OLD HAVANA: The cobblestone streets and the Spanish colonial architecture at the heart of the city hark back to a distant era. n ART: Artistic expression flourishes in Cuba, but Fusterlandia stands out. The neighborhood on the edge of Havana is adorned with ceramic tiles for blocks and named after Jose Rodriguez Fuster, the Picasso of Cuba, who has his studio there.
n TRINIDAD: Once the center of a thriving sugar industry, the city is one of the best-preserved colonial towns in all of Latin America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. n CLASSIC CARS: Iconic 1950s vintage Chevrolets, Fords and other models cruise the Malecon, Havana’s five-mile seaside boulevard, serving as taxis. n PALADARES: Private restaurants run by entrepreneurs, often in their homes and often used by people-to-people programs.
A travel service provider can sell to travelers who’ve been licensed to visit Cuba for a variety of selected reasons, including academic, religious, medical, humanitarian or as a journalist. One major challenge people-to-people tour
operators face, according to Peggy Goldman, president of Friendly Planet Travel, is “creating rich itineraries that are compliant with the license, so people enjoy what they’re doing because they’re heavily programed”. She adds: “You have a program that includes activities all day long and going to the beach is anathema.” Nevertheless, these itineraries are a hit. In a
recent survey, Friendly Planet found 80% of US travelers who went to Cuba said they’d like to go again. “It’s a pretty rewarding experience, so pretty quickly Americans get over not being able to go to the beach, because what they’re doing is so fun and interesting,” says Goldman. Te fact Cuba is fun, interesting and was
forbidden for so many years makes for a pent-up desire on the part of many Americans to visit. Although current figures are only estimates, it’s believed Cuba has 2.1 million visitors a year. u
summer 2014 | ASTAnetwork | 61
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