More Cuba licenses approved

Posted on: July 23, 2013



More Cuba licenses approved

By Gay Nagle Myers



The logjam earlier this year of license renewals for companies operating

people-to-people programs to Cuba appears to have loosened, as the

licenses now are rolling in at a steady clip.



The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or

OFAC, is charged with evaluating each license application, whether new

or a renewal, to confirm that each operator and each itinerary meet the

guidelines and regulations for approved cultural people-to-people

programs from the U.S. to Cuba.



Within the past two weeks, five companies received the go-ahead from

OFAC, including Abercrombie & Kent USA, which had tried to enter the

Cuba market in September 2011 but pulled its programs pending a review

and clarification of Cuba regulations issued by OFAC earlier that year.



A&K's first departure is now set for Sept. 6, with additional departures

later this year and into 2014.



Two companies received two-year license renewals. Insight Cuba's

programs in partnership with General Tours World Traveler now run

through 2015.



"We're thrilled to receive our renewed license and look forward to our

continued relationship with General Tours to send even more guests to

Cuba," said Tom Popper, president of Insight Cuba.



Calling the two-year license renewal "fantastic news for us and the

agent community," Bob Drumm, president of General Tours World Traveler,

said that agents can book clients "even further in advance with complete

peace of mind. A key message that agents need to relay is that now is

the time to visit and experience Cuba before it changes."



And Tauck Tours' first departure under its renewed license is set for

Oct. 6. Additional departures through 2013 and going forward to mid-2015

will be announced shortly.



The company's return to Cuba follows its launch in 2012, one of the most

successful itinerary launches in Tauck's 88-year history, according to

CEO Dan Mahar.



Tauck's initial license to operate in Cuba expired at the end of 2012,

and although the company submitted its renewal application at the

earliest opportunity, OFAC requested more documentation. That, plus

staff shortages at OFAC, resulted in delays, according to Mahar.



Boston-based Road Scholar will launch its people-to-people programs in

December and will run through March.



Although most programs use charter flights from Miami to Havana, Road

Scholar will use a cruise ship operated by a Canadian company.



Canadians and Europeans will make up most of the 1,000 passengers on the

vessel, with the Road Scholar group limited to 24 participants. It will

adhere to its own itinerary of educational and cultural interchanges and

interactions with Cubans when the ship is in Cuban ports.



California-based Universal Travel System received its license to operate

the people-to-people programs, which start in October. The company

previously had operated the programs from 2000 to 2003 before President

George Bush ended the run in 2004.



Source: "More Cuba licenses approved - Travel Weekly" -

http://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/More-Cuba-licenses-approved/