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The Trump administration’s Cuba policy change eliminating individual people-to-people travel — called a “disappointing” decision by ASTA, which has long lobbied for unrestricted travel to Cuba — has come with some uncertainty as to the specifics of the policy changes.
However, several agents who frequently sell Cuba travel were cautiously optimistic that their businesses wouldn’t see much of an impact, as group travel is still permitted — and that’s what they have been selling.
“From my point of view, I don’t really see that it’s going to be a big change,” said Donna Evans, owner of Andavo Travel affiliate Exceptional Adventures in Denver.
Evans sells group people-to-people tours to Cuba as well as cruises, both of which will be permitted under the policy.
According to the Department of Transportation, group people-to-people travel — defined as “educational travel not involving academic study pursuant to a degree program that takes place under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact” — will still be permitted under the new policy.
The Department of the Treasury said authorized travel by cruise ship or passenger vessel will still be permitted, as well.
Lesley Hock, director of leisure development at Travel Leaders in Framingham, Mass., said there are more questions than answers about the Trump administration’s announcement, but she also did not believe her sales to Cuba would be greatly affected.
Hock, who frequently sells land trips and cruises to Cuba, said she already designs her land trips as people-to-people trips with tour operators. So, she said, little would change there.
However, Hock did predict a change in the way her cruisers see Cuba. Where in the past she may have arranged for a private driver and excursion for them in port, under the new regulations, they will likely have to go on whatever group excursions are arranged by the cruise line.
Evans even predicted there could, potentially, be a blossoming interest in travel to Cuba with Friday’s announcement, if travelers are concerned further restrictions could be put into place down the road.
“The clients [now] are not really clamoring to get there — it’s ‘maybe we’ll go in two years, maybe we’ll go in three years,’ that kind of thing,” she said. “I think with this latest development there’s going to be a lot more interest in Cuba. That’s my feeling, because if this is happening, maybe there will be other changes, and [people might think], ‘I want to get there before I can’t go.’ ”
Roger Block, president of Travel Leaders Network, also said many questions remain.
“I think there’s more questions out there than answers today, but it definitely is not going to be the boon to tourism that, I think, if the policy of opening up Cuba fully would have moved forward, it would have been,” Block said.
Those answers might not come for some time, he said.
According to the White House, the appropriate governmental departments have been directed to begin issuing new regulations within 30 days. Then, policy changes will not take effect until the regulations have been finalized, which the White House said a could take several months.
“If you want to go freely to Cuba, you’d better hurry up and do it,” Block said.
Block, who has traveled to Cuba previously on a people-to-people trip, said he is a proponent of permitting Americans to travel unrestricted anywhere in the world.
“I am not in favor from the tourism point of view of this,” he said. “I think it’s going to restrict future investment by American companies, meaning hoteliers, etc., into building the infrastructure of Cuba, and Cuba desperately needs an enhanced infrastructure. I think it’s going to definitely restrict the flow of Americans going to Cuba.”
Sоurсе: travelweekly.com
