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The
Travel Industry's Push to Unlock Cuba
Yahoo! By Cynthia Carris Alonso,
Wed Aug 27, BusinessWeek.
Politicians who favor a change in U.S. policy
toward Cuba are getting new ammunition from the
travel industry. Still struggling to recover from
the effects of September 11 and the economy's
downturn, the travel trade is mounting an aggressive
lobbying campaign to get restrictions on travel
to Cuba lifted when Congress returns in the fall.
The industry argues that the island nation is
a potential source of sorely needed revenues that
would boost both the travel business and the U.S.
economy. But getting Washington to lift the ban
remains an uphill battle.
Just 90 miles from the coast of Florida, Cuba
was a popular destination for U.S. travelers before
Fidel Castro seized power on New Year's Eve, 1959.
Castro imposed socialism and forged a cozy relationship
with the Soviet Union, which prompted the U.S.
government to restrict travel and trade in 1963
in the hope of ousting the dictator. The restrictions
remain to this day. Yet, the aging Castro is still
in power. [Cuban Americans can visit once a year.
Others are allowed to visit for humanitarian,
academic, or journalistic purposes.]
ECONOMIC GAINS. The Association of Travel-Related
Industry Professionals [ATRIP], formed last June,
is heading the lobbying efforts to lift the travel
ban. The industry's argument: Easing restrictions
could boost the U.S. economy in the long term
by as much as $1.6 billion annually and create
as many as 23,000 new jobs, according to The Brattle
Group, an economic consulting firm that studied
the issue for the Center for International Policy,
a Washington think tank. U.S. businesses that
stand to gain the most are airlines, cruise ships,
tour operators, travel agents, and American-owned
or operated hotels.
In Congress, U.S. Representative Jeff Flake [R-Ariz.]
is a leading advocate for easing the rules. "The
U.S. government argues that trade, commerce, and
contact will help the people in Communist China,
North Korea, and Vietnam, but the U.S. government
touts a different tune regarding Cuba," he
contends. "It simply makes no sense. At what
point will the U.S. government concede the Cuba
policy is not working and change its policies?"
When Congress returns from its August recess
next month, advocates for change will push to
lift the travel ban. Previous efforts have failed,
but supporters are hopeful a more concerted strategy
could work this time. Last spring, a bipartisan
group of 10 senators formed the Senate Working
Group on Cuba, similar to an existing House group
representing 46 members. With increased backing,
including the travel industry's efforts, both
House and Senate groups will support identical
measures hoping to open travel for Americans in
Cuba.
SOFTENING ATTITUDES. Pressure is also building
elsewhere to change U.S. policy toward Cuba. In
Florida, home to a large Cuban-American population,
support for easing the restrictions is growing.
Polls conducted last February by both the Miami
Herald and the Cuba Study Group in Florida showed
that about 75% of South Florida Cuban-Americans
now believe that U.S. policy to oust Castro has
failed and that a new approach should be pursued.
Some 64% of Cuban emigres who came to the U.S.
during the 1990s said they now support easing
travel restrictions, although many Cuban-American
organizations remain opposed to lifting the ban.
The World Policy Institute will convene a summit
in Miami on Oct. 4 to discuss U.S. policy toward
the country.
Opposing the easing of restrictions are the Bush
Administration, like every Administration since
1960, and House and Senate GOP leaders, who set
the congressional agenda. According to a White
House spokesperson, President George W. Bush "remains
committed to the goal of achieving a rapid and
peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba by using
the dissuasive tools of the economic embargo and
travel restrictions."
Indeed, even if proponents succeed in getting
the House and Senate to lift the travel ban, President
Bush has threatened to veto the measure, and overriding
the veto would require a two-thirds vote from
both houses of Congress. There appear to be enough
votes in the House to override a Presidential
veto, but not enough in the Senate. It could still
be a while before Americans can say, "Havana
great time in Cuba."
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