# Why can't US tourists visit Cuba?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [February 10, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443 "2012-02-10T19:01:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/1 "2012-02-10T19:01:34Z")
The other Cuba thread got me wondering. I understand the events of the 1950s and 1960s, but why is this still an issue in 2012? The only explanation I’ve seen is the powerful Cuban-American lobby, but it just doesn’t make sense. Americans are willing to give up their freedom and the potential economic benefits of trade because of a small special-interest group? The pro-Israel lobby is much more powerful, I would think, but they do not dictate trade and travel moratoriums for ordinary Americans. Not a perfect parallel, of course, but I’m hard-pressed to think of a good analogy. And of course I can’t see how it’s in American interests to have a poor and unfriendly neighbor; wouldn’t it be safer, in terms of both terrorism and the economy, to have a productive trading partner?
As far as I know, Cuba is the only country that Americans are not legally allowed to visit. Is it just that no one wants to bell the cat (=be the first to admit the status quo isn’t working), or is there some benefit to the way things are that I’m not seeing?
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### Author:  [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/2 "2012-02-10T19:26:51Z")
The reason is that we imposed the embargo in the 60s and there hasn’t been a successful effort to end the embargo yet.
There wasn’t a Cuba lobby back when this started, so it wasn’t imposed at the behest of the Cuba lobby. It was part of the Cold War. Cuba had just turned communist. This explains why the embargo was imposed.
Now, why hasn’t it been repealed? The Cuba lobby is concentrated in Florida. Florida is a swing state that can go either Republican or Democrat. The Cuba lobby is, or was, large enough that it could make up a swing bloc. That is, in a system where 49.5% of the voters form a bloc favoring one policy, and 49.5% of the voters form a bloc favoring another policy, the 1% of the voters who aren’t part of either bloc can decide policy by voting with one fo the other blocs.
This has the potential to make small dedicated voting blocs extremely important far out of proportion to their representation in the electorate.
So, no party has wanted to anger the Cuba lobby by giving up on the Cold War embargo and normalizing relations with Cuba. Plus, Castro is still alive. I bet you a dollar that when Castro dies normalization will suddenly become politically possible.
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### Author:  [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/3 "2012-02-10T19:32:13Z")
Friends report it’s a great Honeymoon destination. Keen photographers like it, too. Beautiful, friendly people, everyone says. I hope to visit quite soon.
The US? Some kind of wacked out ideology thing. Welcome to the 1960s
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/4 "2012-02-10T19:34:59Z")
We’re waiting for Castro to die.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/5 "2012-02-10T19:37:53Z")
Was this really supposed to be a Pit thread?
Anyway, the purported reason for the embargo was that the Cuban government nationalized property belonging to Americans, and ending the embargo is contingent on returning or compensating the former owners of that property.
It’s a little more complicated than that, but that’s the actual origin of the embargo and supposedly why we don’t end it.
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### Author:  [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/6 "2012-02-10T19:46:15Z")
I have friends who went to Cuba, but first they had to travel to Mexico. I wonder, can Americans also travel to Cuba from Canada?
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/7 "2012-02-10T19:49:56Z")
> [@florez](#):
>
> I have friends who went to Cuba, but first they had to travel to Mexico. I wonder, can Americans also travel to Cuba from Canada?
Yeah, but that’s kinda going in exactly the opposite direction for most of us.
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### Author:  [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/8 "2012-02-10T19:51:02Z")
There are direct flights between Canada and Cuba, but any Americans on those flights are probably breaking US law.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/9 "2012-02-10T19:52:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Was this really supposed to be a Pit thread?
>
> Anyway, the purported reason for the embargo was that the Cuban government nationalized property belonging to Americans, and ending the embargo is contingent on returning or compensating the former owners of that property.
>
> It’s a little more complicated than that, but that’s the actual origin of the embargo and supposedly why we don’t end it.
That makes sense for the origin of the embargo. It makes no sense at all for why we don’t end it. (And no, it’s not supposed to be a Pit thread: I want to understand, is all.)
The bit about the ability of a tiny minority in a large swing state is an interesting thought. So basically, ANY significant minority in Florida can hold national policy hostage, but the same people in California or the entire population of North Dakota acting in unison have no effect whatsoever. A fascinating system, but it seems somewhat less than functional.
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### Author:  [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/10 "2012-02-10T20:06:01Z")
There is some limited travel to Cuba from the US. I have friends who just went. It was a very controlled tour, but perfectly legal, and I believe it did not have to go through an intermediary country.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/11 "2012-02-10T20:38:23Z")
IIRC, somebody in the Clinton-era State Dept. cracked, “The U.S. doesn’t have a Cuba Policy, but every four years it has a South Florida Policy.”
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### Author:  [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/12 "2012-02-10T21:04:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Yeah, but that’s kinda going in exactly the opposite direction for most of us.
Well, there is a lot of Canada-Cuba traffic (for [winter vacations, tourist travel and such](http://www.one.cu/publicaciones/06turismoycomercio/indturismointernac/trimestral/5.pdf)), so much that arrivals from Canada make up [~40% of all international visitors](http://www.one.cu/publicaciones/06turismoycomercio/indturismointernac/trimestral/6.pdf). It’s hard to believe that this comes **only** from Canadians.
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### Author:  [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/13 "2012-02-10T21:11:02Z")
The “dry foot” policy complicates the matter. You can’t really have free travel to and from a place and offer citizenship to anyone leaving there.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/14 "2012-02-11T02:24:59Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Cuba is a totalitarian police state which relies on repressive methods to maintain control. These methods include intense physical and electronic surveillance of both Cuban citizens and foreign visitors. Americans visiting Cuba should be aware that any on-island activities could be subject to surveillance, and their contacts with Cuban citizens monitored closely. The United States does not have full diplomatic relations with Cuba, but Cuba welcomes American travelers and Americans are generally well received.
> [@](#):
>
> The Cuban Assets Control Regulations are enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and affect all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically located in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. **Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada. U.S. law enforcement authorities enforce these regulations at U.S. airports and pre-clearance facilities in third countries. Travelers who fail to comply with Department of the Treasury regulations could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.**
(Bolding mine.)
> **[404 - Page Not Found](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/404.html)**
The official US Government hardline.
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### Author:  [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/15 "2012-02-11T03:12:48Z")
I think the Yanquis are still pissed about that Oswald guy.
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/16 "2012-02-11T03:29:40Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#):
>
> The bit about the ability of a tiny minority in a large swing state is an interesting thought. So basically, ANY significant minority in Florida can hold national policy hostage, but the same people in California or the entire population of North Dakota acting in unison have no effect whatsoever. A fascinating system, but it seems somewhat less than functional.
It’s been chugging along for about 225 years now which isn’t so bad as governments go. How long has yours been around?
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/17 "2012-02-11T03:40:51Z")
> [@Odesio](#):
>
> It’s been chugging along for about 225 years now which isn’t so bad as governments go. How long has yours been around?
Please don’t defend the US system.
It’s not that it’s indefensible, it’s that your retort sucks.
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/18 "2012-02-11T04:08:32Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> Please don’t defend the US system.
>
> It’s not that it’s indefensible, it’s that your retort sucks.
Well, shucks! You sure taught me a valuable lesson and have injured me greatly. I must now slink off into my secret hiding place to lick my wounds. Good burn, dude. Seriously, if you’re going to go at me for my crappy retort I do think you’re obligated to at least come up with a good reply of your own.
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### Author:  [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/19 "2012-02-11T04:10:46Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#):
>
> Friends report it’s a great Honeymoon destination. Keen photographers like it, too. Beautiful, friendly people, everyone says. I hope to visit quite soon.
> [@florez](#):
>
> I have friends who went to Cuba, but first they had to travel to Mexico. I wonder, can Americans also travel to Cuba from Canada?
NB: There _are_ ways for US citizens (not of Cuban ancestry) to go to Cuba, including through Canada. You just have to do separate flights. I’ve gone there (for the music), by way of Mexico. The details were discussed recently in this thread: “[Travel to North Korea but not Cuba?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=635882)”
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443/20 "2012-02-11T04:26:19Z")
My 91-year-old uncle is traveling to Cuba this year on some sort of approved program. Can’t remember what it’s called, as I’ve misplaced his letter. He’s still pretty active – turned 90 last year on a three-day cruise of the Danube River – and is not Cuban or even Hispanic. His wife, my aunt, is Hispanic, but with roots in Mexico and not Cuba, so it’s nothing to do with Cuban affiliation. I’ll try to find the name of the program.
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