Just days before the historic Presidential visit to Havana, the Obama administration has relaxed more rules for travel to Cuba.
In what is arguably the most important change yet for US-Cuba tourism, travelers are now able to visit on ‘people-to-people’ educational trips without actually traveling with an authorized group.
The change takes effect from today, March 16, 2016.
Previously people-to-people tours were only authorized through recognized tour companies.
The US Treasury and Commerce departments said the move was to make educational travel to Cuba more accessible and less expensive.
"The simple basis of our policy is that by loosening these restrictions we are better able to engage with the Cuban people, to support them and to build bridges between our two countries," deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said.
The US Administration still maintains that general tourism – at least in name only – is still officially outlawed.
Under the new rule independent travelers are required to keep records for five years detailing the ‘educational’ purpose of their trip to Cuba.
"It’s the closest thing to straight-away travel. The message to most Americans that the travel restrictions are really loosening will come across more clearly. I think we’ll see another surge in interest," said Tom Popper, president of insightCuba.
