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Trump's new Cuba policy gains support from some Cuban Americans, opposition from travel agencies

Posted at 8:14 PM, Jun 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-16 21:14:23-04

"I didn't feel the Cuban regime deserved to have any openings," Cuban-American Marisel Walston says.

Waldron fled Cuba in 1979 with her family to meet up with her father in Miami.

She says even today the government oppresses the Cuban people. She says it's gotten worse since President Obama loosened restrictions with Cuba in 2014.

That's why she supports President Trump's new policy which would re-tighten certain restrictions with the island.

"The people don't see the money, the people don't see the food. Everything is  controlled by the Cuban regime and by the military," Walston said.

Trump said he wants to keep tourist money away from businesses controlled by the Cuban military, in an effort to challenge the government to commit to improving human rights.

Individual travel is now prohibited, limited to heavily-restricted tour groups.

It doesn't do away with all of Obama's policy. Cuban Americans can still visit their families and send them money.  It also doesn't alter the U.S. trade embargo, and won't shut down the U.S. embassy in Havana.  People can still take home Cuba's coveted rum and cigars.

Major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said they don't anticipate any changes, as their trips meet current regulations.

But Shelton Travel Agency on the plaza says the announcement isn't good news for them. They're now putting trips to Cuba on hold.

"These policies will not be good for tourism for Cuba," President of Sheldon Travel Mark Ebbitts said. "The Cuban people are wonderful. We found no crime at all, we found people loving Americans, and wanting to show us their country."

Ebbitts says they've had great success in selling Cuba trips.

Meanwhile, Walston says if people knew what they were funneling their money to, they'd think twice.  She hopes the renewed restrictions will drive out current leadership.

"I think change needs to come from within Cuba," Walston said.

Under Obama, anyone could legally go to Cuba without a license or paperwork as long as the purpose fit into a certain category:

  • Educational activities
  • Professional research or meetings
  • Public performances, workshops, athletics, or other competitions
  • Religious activities
  • Humanitarian projects
  • Journalistic activities
  • Family visits to close relatives
  • Activities sponsored by private foundations, or research or educational institutes
  • Support for the Cuban people
  • Exportation, importation, or transmission of information technologies or materials
  • Certain authorized export transactions including agricultural and medical products, tools, equipment and construction supplies for private use
  • Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations