Wow, I’m overwhelmed with the texts and messages today from friends and family asking about Cuba. I’m not sure if I am grateful that so many are interested in our travel plans or if I want to advise y’all to go get some travel plans of your own! Ha. Just kidding. I love that you’re following us and our plans. Seriously, it means a lot and we love sharing our experiences with you!
Instead of ramble on to each of you and try to explain years of Cuban history and American-Cuban policy, here’s the blog version, for those who are curious. DISCLAIMER: I’m in no way a historian or expert in American-Cuban policy. This blog is my watered down version of what’s happened recently and my opinion on what it means.
First, let’s set the record straight. Americans have long been allowed to travel to Cuba. The government has created a set of travel categories and if you fall under one of them, you can apply for a Visa, and book your travel. But access to Cuba was difficult and the Visa application process was one many people didn’t understand or desire to undertake. Obama’s executive order lifted the Visa application and created what they call a general license. Technically, tourism to Cuba was still not allowed. If you wanted to travel to Cuba, you still had to qualify under one of the travel categories, but now the travel was based on an “honor system”, if you will. In addition, another category was added, called “person to person” travel which allowed individuals to travel to Cuba under a license category that basically claimed if you had daily interaction with the Cuban public, you were licensed to go – which was lawyer speak for, let’s create a category so vague, anyone can qualify to use it. With the creation of that new category, airlines established routes into Cuba and travel became more affordable and accessible to Americans. But still, NO TOURISM ALLOWED.
Fast forward to today and President Trump’s speech and revised Cuba policy. Please note, if you sense any negative connotations in my text, it’s not in regards to President Trump, it’s simply at the entire political system and what a lot of smoke and mirrors it has become. It’s disheartening that this is what politics are today. But you be the judge… here’s what happened.
After a series of passionate speeches from various politicians today, (all imploring us to take action for the Cuban people, and topple the Castro regime) President Trump gave a speech that stated he would nix Obama’s “one sided” pact. He went on to state that he was “completely cancelling” Obama’s Cuba policy and we could watch him sign it right then and there.
Sounds bad for our Cuba trip, doesn’t it? But not so fast.
The actual revised Cuba policy does the following:
- Removes the “person to person” travel category, but does not require the application (we don’t think but it was somewhat vague on this… time will tell). There is still an honor system in place, but you do need to qualify under one of the travel categories – as you always did. So not much change there.
- The embassies will remain in both Cuba and the US. So no change there.
- Cruise ships and airlines will continue to be allowed to operate to Cuba. No change.
- Cubans with relatives can still visit and send money back to them. No change.
- American farmers can still sell crops to the Cuban government. No change.
- Americans will NOT be allowed to engage in commerce with Cuban government-run entities. This is a change from the previous policy and will hinder many Americans from staying in many of Cubas hotels. The policy encourages individuals to seek out businesses run by Cuban people, not the government and pushes the use of sites like Airbnb to book accommodations since the money lands directly into the hands of the Cuban people (who so desperately need it!). Big change here.
- Americans visiting Cuba will still be allowed to return with Cuban cigars, rum and other goods. No change.
None of this goes into effect right away. It will all be reviewed by the committee who will decide how to implement the changes. The committee has 90 days to do the review and who knows how long until the changes will be fully in place.
My disappointment with the politics of this today is not with our President, it’s that if you just get your politics from speeches and headlines, you’ll be sorely mislead these days. Politics today require research if you wish to be properly informed. Today’s speech was one intended to make it look like President Trump was completely reversing Obama’s Cuba policy, but he made very few changes – which is great! I’m proud of the well-thought out changes made. Anyone who has studied Cuba’s history and truly cares for it’s people knows that to restrict travel and interaction with them on a personal level is a punishment for a people who don’t deserve it. The new policies aim to punish the Castro regime without harming the Cuban people or American jobs and commerce. Which I, for one, am completely on on board.
What does this mean for you if you booked travel to Cuba already under a “person to person” general license?
If you’ve already engaged in financial activity (booked a flight or Airbnb, hotel, etc.) you will still be allowed to operate outside of the revised policy. You can still take your trip. You can still stay at that state-run hotel you booked. You can still purchase things from government entities while you’re in Cuba. You’re good to go! However, you still need to maintain an itinerary that is consistent with your license type. You still need to keep a record of where you go and receipt from your visit, for 5 years post trip. None of that is new, so you knew that already, right?!
What does this mean for the Millers?
We are STILL going to Cuba! Yay! I still get to cross this beautiful island off my bucket list and I’ll get to share the experience with you. We still get to research Cuban architecture and real estate and report back to you on our discoveries. We are so excited to visit the beautiful people of Cuba and that we get to do so legally.
Thanks again for the calls and messages today.
Xoxo,
Stacey
P.S.
We have had zero intention of visiting Cuba for Tourism. We have planned our trip under one of the legal travel categories and have an itinerary to reflect that interest. We aren’t going to lay on any beaches – although Cuban beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world!
