‘Freedom to Travel’: How will an ease on Cuba travel restrictions affect the industry?

There is a lot of talk and rumor these days over whether or not President Obama will ease travel restrictions with regard to Cuba, our southern-outcast neighbor.

The Obama Administration is deliberating the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act – a bill that was introduced into the U.S. Congress in February 2009 – that would allow U.S. citizens to engage in unrestricted travel to Cuba for the first time since 1963.

According to a recent article in the Miami Herald, “The Obama administration will soon ease some restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba and other sanctions following Havana’s promise to free political prisoners, according to growing but unconfirmed reports.”

“If Americans don’t like the policies of the government of a country, they can choose not to go,” said Bob Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association. “But a lot of people want to see Cuba because they’ve been denied the right.”

On April 13, 2009, President Obama eased the travel ban slightly, allowing Cuban-Americans to travel freely to the island country, while outlining a series of steps that Cuba could do to demonstrate a willingness to open its closed society, including releasing political prisoners, allowing United States telecommunications companies to operate on the island and ending government fees on US dollars sent by relatives in the United States.

As of July 2009, the Freedom to Travel bill had more than 150 Congressional signatories. In July 2010, Newsweek reported that a poll conducted at the University of Miami found that 64 percent of Cuban-Americans in Miami now support a unilateral lifting of the travel ban.

Such widespread reports have made organizations like the non-profit Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS), the former leading provider of legal, people-to-people travel to Cuba for Americans, envision the future of their previously halted programs.

“Our programs gave Americans the rare opportunity to visit Cuba legally, and experience the culture in a very meaningful and authentic manner. Participants weren’t just touring the country, they were there as guests of the Cuban people – sharing meals together, educating one another, and gaining real perspective on the culture and the country,” CCS Founder and Executive Director Steve Rosenthal.

Gaining a little ‘Insight’

With new possibilities on the horizon, CCS has indicated that it would enthusiastically re-open its people-to-people cultural exchange program, Insight Cuba, if permission was granted from the U.S. government.

Insight Cuba began in 2000 and offered participants the unique opportunity to gain insight into Cuban life through people-to-people cultural exchange programming. The program supported almost 2,500 U.S. citizens to travel legally to Cuba in the second half of 2003 alone. That same year, stronger travel restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba were imposed.

“Insight Cuba helped to foster international friendships and promote a greater understanding of global issues, which is an integral part of CCS’ vision,” added Rosenthal.

Through the Insight Cuba program, CCS was the largest provider of licensed travel between the U.S. and Cuba since 1962. CCS was granted a special educational license from the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Assets Control (OFAC) to legally bring Americans to Cuba for its people-to-people program. If restrictions are eased and the opportunity to operate becomes available, CCS has indicated that it will seek permission to re-open its landmark program.

Shared perspectives

Through projects like Insight Cuba, as well as other initiatives that would surely arise due to an easement of travel restrictions by the Obama Administration, travelers may again have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Cuban Culture; visiting schools, historic sites, hospitals, farms, and interacting with local community groups, women’s groups, artists, musicians, religious leaders and more.

In my opinion – and this is just opinion, take it as you may – ending the long-outdated travel embargo offers both travelers as well as Cuban natives the chance to share perspectives, foster cultural understanding, and increase awareness of global issues.

What do you think?