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CUBA
NEWS
Yahoo!
U.S. Tourists Not 'Fine' With The Cost Of
Visiting Cuba
Wed Sep 24,11:31 AM ET - KCRA
Barbara Melander returned from a vacation to
Cuba with some fond memories that included a few
trinkets. But the price for getting those trinkets
could be high for the 90-year-old woman.
Melander is accused of traveling to Cuba illegally
-- a charge the federal government calls "trading
with the enemy." And the fine is $7,500.
"It's kind of overwhelming," Melander
said.
Melander booked her vacation through a Canadian
tour company. And the trip, which was called a
Cuban cultural and music tour, was arranged through
a Davis travel agent.
Although the Canadian tour operator said it's
a licensed agency, the U.S. government said it's
illegal for any U.S. citizen to enter Cuba as
a tourist.
"Travel has been banned under economic sanctions
to Cuba since the Cuban missile crisis,"
said U.S. Department of Treasury spokesperson
Taylor Griffin.
Those who can travel legally to Cuba include
government officials, journalists, those with
Cuban family members, research professionals,
anyone attending a professional conference and
amateur or semipro athletes.
"The reason for the travel ban, especially
in terms of tourists, is so important because
the money spent by tourists in Cuba often goes
directly to the regime," Griffin said.
And the U.S. government said ignorance of the
law is no excuse.
Melander ended up sending the government $500
to make the matter go away. And just this week,
she received another travel brochure touting trips
to Cuba.
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