Big news today! As reported all over the place, and as documented in a new update on the Treasury Department’s Cuba Sanctions page, the Obama administration is relaxing some of the Cuba regulations. The biggest change for my purposes involves People-to-People trips, the kind I lead. Here’s a breakdown of what’s changed legally, and what it means for all practical purposes. The legal: (Disclaimer: I’m…
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Matt
March 15, 2016
As I keep referring to People-to-People trips, I realized I should probably say more about them! For my purposes, these aren’t that different from the trips I organize anywhere else: intimate, small group trips focused on local culture and society. But for those wondering what the term officially means, here’s an explanation.
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Matt
December 26, 2014
I’m thrilled to say I’ve just been licensed by the Department of the Treasury to lead People-to-People trips to Cuba! Officially the license was issued to my one-man tour company and not to me, but still. The license covers everyone in my groups – meaning that everyone traveling with me is visiting Cuba legally. “People-to-People” means you learn about Cuban culture/society through direct encounters with Cubans –…
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Matt
October 28, 2014
Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer and can’t offer legal advice. When I’m not leading my own tours, I sometimes lead tours for larger tour companies. This year, I’ll be taking groups to Cuba. (Update, August 2014: The Treasury Department has licensed my company, Detour Travel, to organize my own People-to-People trips to Cuba! For more information, check out my Cuba page.) A lot of people…
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Matt
February 1, 2013