01 July 2010

President Obama asked to lift Cuba ban

President Obama is coming under growing pressure to lift the US ban on American citizens travelling to Cuba.

Calling on the government to end travel restrictions, the American Society of Travel Agents said: "ASTA has long supported the principle that Americans ought to be allowed to travel across the globe without restriction.

"Were the American people allowed to travel to Havana, as they currently are allowed to travel to Pyongyang, Tehran, Khartoum and other cities whose nations’ leaders are publicly opposed to American interests, they could serve as ambassadors of freedom and American values to the Cuban people."

During his election campaign, President Obama indicated that he supported changes to US policy towards Cuba, including humanitarian care packages from Cuban Americans, but he has never gone so far as to say Americans should be allowed to holiday on the Caribbean island.

 By Linsey McNeill

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