GOP-led committee votes to lift Cuba travel ban
A tourism free-for-all to Cuba is one small step to becoming reality.
A Republican majority Senate committee has voted to relax the ban on travel to the island nation.
The Senate Appropriations Committee also voted to end a law stopping banks and other US based businesses from financing agricultural exports to Cuba.
"We have the opportunity to increase the likelihood that Cuban people have greater liberties and freedom with the ability to connect with them," said Republican sponsor Jerry Moran.
"I also would say that as Americans we have certain freedoms that we cherish, and Americans can travel around the globe today without exception — no country is totally prohibited with the exception of Cuba."
The hospitality and aviation industries are still blocked from making investments in Cuba, although many business leaders have already travelled on fact-finding missions to prepare for the time when unrestricted travel is eventually permitted.
Marriot International President Arne Sorenson just returned from Cuba, saying US companies are getting left behind because of the current embargo.
"With travel to Cuba now surging, existing Cuban hotels are full and hotel companies from other countries are racing to tie up as many of the new hotels as they can before the likes of Marriott and our US competitors show up," said Sorenson.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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