Obama said ready to ease Cuba travel restrictions

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In recent weeks I waxed lyrical about the possibility that Congress might lift all travel restrictions to Cuba after the House Committee on Agriculture passed a proposed bill (H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act) that included a provision to that effect. Despite hopes that the bill would soon go to the floor for a full vote, it's still hooked up in limbo.

Now, excitement is building that President Obama might soon use his executive authority to ease existing restrictions in response to the Castro regime having recently released 20 political prisoners (more will be released by September).

Two unnamed sources close to the administration last week told news reporters that Obama was considering such a move. No official announcement has been made. Still, last year Obama did loosen the regulations by lifting all restrictions on Cuban-Americans wishing to travel to Cuba.

Apparently, Obama would like to return things to pretty much how they were under President Bill Clinton, when educational and cultural travel was allowed. In 2003, the George W. Bush administration nixed that provision, commonly called the "people-to-people" category of travel, intended to allow licensed "purposeful" visits to increase contacts between U.S. and Cuban citizens.

If Obama makes such a move, the licensing will likely be limited to officially sanctioned tour companies and educational institutions.

There's also speculation that Obama might permit direct U.S.-Cuba flights from about 35 U.S. airports (currently Cuba flights are approved only for Los Angeles, Miami, and New York's John F. Kennedy airport).

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Disclosure: I occasionally accept free or discounted travel when it coincides with my editorial goals. However, my opinion is never for sale. The opinions you see in Cuba & Costa Rica Journal are my unbiased reflection of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Copyright © Christopher P. Baker