The Latest Travel Restrictions for Cuba

This spring brought another slew of travel restrictions for those who want to vacation on the Caribbean island of Cuba, a nation that saw a resurgence of tourists since it became easier for Americans to visit in March 2016.

Americans have been allowed to visit Cuba for a handful of years, but various limits and stipulations applied to visits, allowing only approved travelers to visit for certain purposes, such as with organized tours or for educational/research reasons. Now, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (an arm of the U.S. Treasury Department) announced it plans to limit or completely ban all forms of non-family travel to Cuba.

Other measures currently in place include limits on money Cuban-Americans can send to their families in Cuba, an act the American government argues contributes to the Cuban economy and therefore their military power.

The current U.S. administration also blocked American visitors from staying in certain hotels the administration believes are linked to the Cuban government.

Since the announcement in mid-April, there has been little information regarding the measure’s effect on the travel industry, which includes travelers, cruise lines, tour operators and airlines that already made plans well into the future.