Cuba Policy Foundation Travel Delegations to Cuba  

The Cuba Policy Foundation is licensed by the U.S. Department of Treasury to travel to Cuba for collection of information related to Cuba for non-commercial purposes as is consistent 31 CFR 515.560(c) and 515.576.  In accordance with this license, we sponsor American travel delegations to Cuba and can arrange meetings with key officials, site visits on the island, and other meetings and events, catered to the interests of trip participants.   

On recent visits to Cuba, the Cuba Policy Foundation attended events related to trade with Cuba, conducted meetings with Cuban government officials, trade representatives, key Cuban dissidents, and members of the U.S. interests section.  Travel delegations may cover topics ranging from politics, economics, culture, education, healthcare and more.  

Despite longstanding disagreements between the United States and Cuba, four decades of an embargo have not led to solutions.  The Cuba Policy Foundation believes that expanding communication, not continued isolation, is a productive step toward advancing U.S.-Cuban relations and toward addressing U.S. concerns about political liberties and economic reform in Cuba.

Moreover, U.S. policy must reflect the reality that 11 million people live in Cuba, not just one man.  By opening lines of communication with Cuban officials as well as opponents of Castro’s government, Americans speak directly with those who will shape the future of Cuba and the future of the U.S.-Cuban relationship.

Through  travel delegations and our aggressive educational outreach to policy makers, industry leaders and the American public, the Cuba Policy Foundation is leading a successful campaign to educate America on the benefits of ending the travel ban.  See the section, "Why end the travel ban?" for more on the negative impact of the travel ban.

If you are interested in traveling to Cuba on a Cuba Policy Foundation educational travel delegation to Cuba, or if we might be of assistance in your interest in traveling to Cuba, please contact us at Engage@CubaFoundation.org. 

Why end the travel ban?

U.S. government regulations prohibit almost all American travel to Cuba, but the travel ban is increasingly one of the least popular aspects of the U.S. embargo of Cuba.  In a public opinion survey conducted for the Cuba Policy Foundation, 66.8 percent of Americans agree that Americans should be allowed to travel to Cuba.  

Indeed, ending the travel ban makes sense for American values, American security, and the American economy, in addition to advancing U.S. goals regarding political and economic reform in Cuba.  Here is why:   

·       ENDING THE TRAVEL BAN IS GOOD FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY:  A June 2002 study by the Cuba Policy Foundation finds that ending the travel ban would bring growth to the beleaguered U.S. travel sector.  One year after lifting the travel ban, U.S. airlines, cruise ships, hotels, travel agents and others would see over $500 million in revenue and the creation of over 3,700 jobs.  And this growth would continue: in the fifth year, the U.S. travel sector would reap over $1.9 billion in annual income and the creation of over 10,000 jobs for Americans.  To view the Cuba Policy Foundation travel study, click here.   

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·       CONGRESS SUPPORTS ENDING TRAVEL BAN: The House of Representatives, in 2000,2001, and 2002 passed amendments to end funding of the travel ban.  On July 23, 2002, the amendment against the travel ban, offered by Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ), PASSED 262-167, including 73 Republican supporters.  The U.S. Senate is moving to end the travel ban as well.  On July 11, 2002, an amendment to end funding for enforcement of the travel ban was successfully added by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to the Senate version of the FY2003 Treasury Appropriations bill.

·       TRAVEL BAN VIOLATES AMERICANS’ FREEDOMS:  Repressing the liberty of American citizens to travel where they want, when they want is no way to fight the absence of liberties in Cuba.  If it is wrong to travel to Cuba because of lack of freedoms in Cuba, then Americans should also not be allowed to travel to China, Saudi Arabia, etc. and other countries that do not meet U.S. standards of liberty.

·       LIFTING TRAVEL BAN WOULD BRING DEMOCRACY TO CUBA:  Americans are our best ambassadors of democracy, and allowing Americans to travel to Cuba, will spread U.S. values, ideas, and influence to the Cuban people.

·       CUBAN-AMERICANS BELIEVE TRAVEL TO CUBA IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE ON THE ISLAND by a 53 percent majority, according to a 2001 poll by Miami-based Bendixen and Associates.  Therefore, the ban does not reflect the views of even the community most-often thought to support it.

·       THE TRAVEL BAN HAS FAILED TO BRING REFORM TO CUBA.  Except for a brief period in the late 1970s, the travel ban has been in place for four decades, yet democracy has not come to Cuba.  Clearly this policy is not achieving U.S. goals of bringing freedom and prosperity to the Cuban people and the United States should END THIS FAILED POLICY.

For more from the U.S. government about specific regulations of the travel ban and licensed exemptions, see the Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control "Sanctions Program and Country Summary" for Cuba.