What Do U.S. Travel Restrictions Mean for Travel to Cuba

What Do U.S. Travel Restrictions Mean for Travel to Cuba

Despite being a major travel attraction for Canadians and Europeans in recent decades, Cuba is relatively new for Americans seeking to discover the once forbidden island nation. The US government maintains travel restrictions to Cuba for persons of US jurisdiction (ie. Americans). The outdated policy is a relic of Cold War politics when Cuba’s relations … Read more

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi Aims for Cuba

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi Aims for Cuba

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi departed Cuba yesterday after three day visit in which he toured historic sites and expressed an interest in playing on the island. The vocalist and guitarist, accompanied by his wife and several friends, visited Factory Cuban Art (FAC) where he shared time with fans and musicians and spoke with Alfonso X, … Read more

Copa Launches New Cuba Flight

Copa Launches New Cuba Flight

Copa Airlines has launched a new route to the city of Holguin, Cuba. The flight will operate twice weekly between Holguin and Panama City. It will depart Tocumen International Airport in Panama on Tuesday and Saturday mornings at 9:01 a.m., and the return flight will depart Holguin’s Frank International Airport at 1:21 p.m. on the … Read more

U.S. Historical Involvement in Cuba’s Telecom Sector

U.S. Historical Involvement in Cuba’s Telecom Sector

Prior to the 1959 revolution, US companies played a leading role in Cuba’s telecom market. In 1949, AT&T and US conglomerate International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) installed an undersea cable between Cuba and Florida to carry telephone and telegraph traffic between the two countries for the next 40 years. On the eve of the revolution, … Read more

The Second Startup Weekend Havana Takes Shape

The Second Startup Weekend Havana Takes Shape

The second Startup Weekend Havana is planned for August 5-7 in Havana. Startup Weekend organizes high-impact, experiential events that foster entrepreneurship and community building in every corner of the world.  As of last year, the organization hosted 200,00 budding entrepreneurs at 2,900 Startup Weekend events, in 501 cities, and in 150 countries. The organization’s 54-hour … Read more

Peggy Goldman: My 5 Favorite Places in Havana

Peggy Goldman: My 5 Favorite Places in Havana

Peggy Goldman is one of the top Cuba travel experts and specialty tour operators, serving as president and co-owner of Friendly Planet Travel, making Cuba travel even easier. Cuba Journal recently spoke with Goldman about a range of subjects, including her favorite places in Havana. Here are her picks for must-visit sites. The garden and … Read more

Coffee Stimulates Nespresso, Other Foreign Investors in Cuba

Coffee Stimulates Nespresso, Other Foreign Investors in Cuba

On April 22, 2016, one of US President Obama’s efforts to relax restrictions of the Cuban embargo included the removal of an import restriction for HTS 0901, otherwise known as coffee, originating from Cuba. It didn’t take long for coffee entrepreneurs to understand the branding potential of an island nation with a long history of … Read more

How to Do a Homestay in Cuba

How to Do a Homestay in Cuba

As more and more Americans are flocking to Cuba following the lifting of the international travel ban, many are opting for the experience of life with a local host through channels like Homestay.com. The online marketplace is reporting growth in Cuba, with more travelers looking to rent rooms in private homes, with hosts present throughout … Read more

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