Mi País Is Your Country

time.com

Open your passports America, it is now possible to travel to Cuba - ¡andale, andale!  

For those seeking to tan on the white sandy beaches of Cayo Coco or those who want to salsa in the streets of Havana...unfortunately there are still restrictions for the types of travel allowed. Only 12 types of travel will now be permitted to Cuba including: family visits, government meetings, and competitions to name a few.

For authorized travelers, this means that they will no longer need a specialized government license: a benefit that still leaves the average leisure-tourist to question why traveling to Cuba is significant? Luckily, economics and immigration reporter Roberto A. Ferdman address this concern in article for the Washington Post which highlights what the  “New Cuban Travel Rules Mean To Americans.”  

As a result of the puppet wars fought during the Cold War, the economic embargo placed on Cuba has ruined it's economy and hopes for modernization. Fifty years since, the Obama administration has made significant headway towards “normal[izing] diplomatic relations” with Cuba. Achieving this goal takes time. Clearly the Obama administration understands the time needed considering that in 2009, the newly elected “president made it easier to Cuban American to visit family” and in 2011, “the administration made it easier for Americans to travel...for educational, religious, and cultural purposes.” Although there are still limitations on who can visit Cuba, the mere fact that more people can travel to Cuba shows sign of increased diplomacy.

Making it easier to travel to Cuba will not only establish more diplomatic relations, but Cuba’s economy will be given a chance to improve. Just like outsourcing jobs has proved advantageous for developing countries like India - cheap labor for business and more jobs for Indians - the same can happen in Cuba. 

As more people travel to the island, it is inevitable that even more people will want to go. Author on Cuba, Julia Sweig notes “without the bureaucratic hassle…[more Americans traveling to Cuba is] going to create a real impetus for officially lifting the travel ban once and for all.”  Regardless, tourism - of any type - contributes greatly to the economy. At its peak, Cuba was a hot destination for famed American writers and socialites. With the new travel regulations, economic globalization can spread to Cuba which will boost the country's popularity once more.

As more democratic societies travel to Cuba’s communist country, it likely Cuba’s communist government will be in question. Nonetheless, while it is uncertain if the new travel restrictions will bring about positive legislature, it is clear that the modernization of Cuba is in the developing stages - a step in the right direction for anyone with a passport book.

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Now, at the end of my blog posts, I have explored the cost of traveling - and yes, there are many!  But before I depart, I would like to conclude that as more people, countries, and ideas become connected through travel, it becomes clear that the intangible value of traveling far exceeds the monetary price.