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The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act
Alas, a quiet bill was introduced by the House of Representatives earlier this week and could finally bring an end to a near 50-year U.S.-Cuba standstill. While everyone else in Washington has been deliberating on the stimulus package, Democratic Representative from Massachusetts, William Delahunt proposed the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act.The proposed act hopes to end all travel restrictions for all U.S. citizens across the board. Some people still have concerns about the drastic effects this would have on travel to the still quite Communist country. In fact, the Cuban American National Foundation would like the bill to be amended to allow only Cuban exiles to visit the island whenever they wish to see family. The foundation wants to see restrictions to exist for American tourists until Cuba shows some indications of democratic reform.
President Obama has long been a proponent of alleviating the harsh ban on American travel to and from Cuba.
Regardless of the outcome, tourism in Cuba is hot compared to nearly all of the other travel destinations in the Caribbean and even in Latin America.
Filed under: History, North America, Oceania, South America, Cuba, United States, News, Caribbean
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Patricia Feb 12th 2009 12:23PM
As a Canadian, I just got back from a two week vacation in Cuba over Christmas and I must say the Americans are missing out on a great place to visit. The Cuban people are very friendly and open. There are plenty of places in the world that have poorer records concerning democracy that Americans are not banned from traveling to.
On the other hand, maybe us Canadians want to keep it to ourselves :-)
Keith Feb 12th 2009 1:36PM
"Alas"?
Chris Feb 12th 2009 6:51PM
As a Canadian who has yet to make it to Cuba, with this Act on the table, it makes me want to up Cuba on the priority list so that I can see it before it is overrun by "Ugly Americans". (Search that term here on Gadling.) I must also point out, that it's technically not illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba, it's just illegal for them to spend money there. Lastly, I'd wish the US would stop hiding behind the guise of communism being the reason for the aforementioned law. If that were the real reason, then why does about 90% of the products in US households say "Made in China" on the bottom. The US is still holding a grudge from the days of the Cold War.
Thanh T. Feb 13th 2009 7:51AM
It would be nice to study the origins of Latin Dance and Music up close.
I sure the two elder ladies in the photograph would like to Salsa, Merengue, Mambo, Cha cha cha, Rumba, and etc…
Of course, most dance clubs do not allow smoking cigars on the dance floor. Heehe...[nice photograph] : )
poncho Feb 19th 2009 11:45PM
these american cubans are hypocrits, they want the law to only allow them to go to cuba but keep everyone else out. if they are so opposed to cuban travel then they should say good bye to their relatives forever and dont ever visit them again.
opening up cuba to americans would bring prosperty and a free society to cuba. we've had the embargo for 50 years and all it does it prop up Castro and the socialist state.
juv Apr 5th 2009 1:51AM
Yeah man. The so-called cubans here are traitors and pricks. They are not real Cubans, but greedy, whiny slobs. If we never had this dumb embargo, Cuba would be known in history as the only successful Socialist (it's not communist) state.