Cuba’s 2016 Mid-Year Tourism Figures Show Continued Strength

Cuba’s 2016 Mid-Year Tourism Figures Show Continued Strength

According to Cuban officials, the island has been visited by 2 million foreign tourists so far in 2016, 11.9% more than in the same period in 2015. Cuba has achieved 2 million visitors 27 days earlier than last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Canada continues as the leading source of tourists, followed by … Read more

U.S. Senate Adopts Four Pro-Engagement Cuba Amendments

U.S. Senate Adopts Four Pro-Engagement Cuba Amendments

The US Senate Appropriations Committee adopted four separate amendments related to travel and trade with Cuba. Amendment lifting travel ban  The amendment ending the travel ban allows Americans to travel to the one country in the world to which the US prohibits Americans to travel to freely, Cuba. Committee passage of this amendment follows the US Department of Transportation’s announcement … Read more

Filming in Cuba: Images from Universal’s Fast 8

Filming in Cuba: Images from Universal’s Fast 8

As Fast and Furious 8 finished up filming in Cuba in April, a small team from the next iteration of Transformers arrived to complete a much smaller scale shoot in the island nation. Related: This US company becomes first to be authorized to provide film and broadcasting services on the ground in Cuba In a … Read more

Here are Authorized Goods and Services Produced by Independent Cuban Entrepreneurs

Here are Authorized Goods and Services Produced by Independent Cuban Entrepreneurs

The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) have made five sets of amendments to their respective Cuba sanctions regulations since the various Cuba policy changes announced by the President beginning in 2014. OFAC introduced a provision in 2015 … Read more

US and Cuba Engage in Health Collaboration

US and Cuba Engage in Health Collaboration

On Monday, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cuba’s Ministry of Public Health, an important milestone between the two countries since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations in 2015. The MOU establishes coordination across a broad spectrum of public health issues, including global … Read more

Stonegate Bank Issues First US Credit Card to be Used in Cuba

Stonegate Bank Issues First US Credit Card to be Used in Cuba

A small regional bank with a big idea about banking in Cuba just issued the first US credit card that functions in Cuba. Stonegate Bank made headlines last year when it become the first US bank to establish a correspondent banking relationship in Cuba since Washington and Havana normalized relations. While it has been technically … Read more

Cuba Cruise: A Great Way to See the Real Cuba

Cuba Cruise: A Great Way to See the Real Cuba

Yes, Cuba is an island in the Caribbean Sea.  Her terrain is similar to other Caribbean islands, but different.  Her history is similar, but different.  Her culture is similar, but different. Indeed, almost everything about Cuba has some similarity to her Caribbean neighbors but Cuba is a destination like no other. Celebrated travel writer Kay … Read more

Here’s How to Design a Tour of Cuba

Here’s How to Design a Tour of Cuba

The reasons behind Cuba’s rapid growth in tourism have as much to do with its Caribbean location as with the recent changes in US consumption trends that emphasize experiences over possessions. The birth of a new tourism market is a rare thing to witness. In fact, it is not entirely accurate to describe Cuba as … Read more