Why Does the U.S. Ban its Citizens from Visiting Cuba as Tourists?

U.S. tourists can travel to Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia…but not Cuba.
Why does the U.S. government ban its citizens from going to one of the safest countries in the world as tourists?
Maybe because they’d like it too much...and see firsthand the impact of the 60-year-old embargo.
Reporter Daniel Montero explores the issue, stemming from his own experience as a tour guide.

[@foxxcgirl]

I just left Havana in November. It was beautiful I can’t wait to go back

[@jl9862]

Did you go as suppor for cuban people category ?

[@ibeerollin4441]

I was fortunate enough to be able to visit via a cruise ship while that door was still open. It almost felt like a homecoming because of how welcoming everyone was. Viva Cuba 🇨🇺.

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

Cuba is beautiful , it was amazing and I was at awe when I arrived at how clean and well kept the cities are , the modern cities , the modern roads and highways , everything about this country is impressive , it is a modern city just like any other city

[@thecubanway3998]

But you never stopped to think about the fact that every single dollar you spent there was somehow used to help the opression of the Cuban dictatorship over the people and that's the issue nobody wants to talk about.

[@ibeerollin4441]

@@thecubanway3998 in America we have the illusion of choice and lately the driving factor is the lesser of two evils. Only speaking from my American experience the change in figureheads doesn’t change the mission. None of them are for the people here either.

[@thecubanway3998]

@@ibeerollin4441 at least you can have the "illusion" of freedom. I didn't get to know how much brainwashed I was after living in Cuba for the first 30 years of my life until I left the country for a better future; uo to this day, ai remain convinced to never return unless I get forced to.

[@sinabagherisarvestani8924]

@@ibeerollin4441 Ya Havana is a modern city , its clean and the highways and roads are well kept across the country , they have a great healthcare system and education system , its not perfect but I would rate my travel a 10/10 . People are very friendly , its main city Havana is massive , its a huge city I was very impressed , it was magnificent

[@falconking1337]

#LiftTheEmbargo!

[@frontierlandfrank5314]

Down with the dictatorship

[@TravelmadicTV]

It's apart of the propoganda that the U.S. continues to do but I try to inform through my channel that you can go as long as you use one of the 11 reasons. The best one to use is "Support of the Cuban people"

[@Windsingerful]

I would love to visit Cuba! My great grandfather was from there, but I have no knowledge of my ancestry there beyond his name, and that he had to have left Cuba towards the end of the 19th century.

[@petechau9616]

Back in the 90s when I was a goverment employee I wanted to visit Cuba during the Pope John Paul visit. To make sure I was in the clear I wrote my goverment supervisor a memo stating my intentions. My supervisors ok'd the trip and even encouraged it verbally but when I asked for their permission in writing they did not respond. I cancelled the trip. Later I learned that had I gone I would've been dismissed from my job and possibly prosecuted. Obviously they were setting me up.

[@Renpenz29]

when you say, government employee, is this city, state, federal?

[@petechau9616]

@@Renpenz29 Don't want to say they the feds monitor these sites.

[@user-uz5ko8sv2f]

I’m an American, I just legally visited Havana and it was amazing! The streets of Havana are SAFE and the people welcome you like family. Legally visit Cuba under the American policy to Support the Cuban People!! StY legally in one of hundreds Airbnb and GO!!

[@SanDiego_VDubLife]

I had an amazing time on my visit to Cuba a few years ago. The U.S. should end the blockade of the island and let the Cuban people live in peace from U.S. tyranny that prevents them from prospering.

[@sjpavur]

Dude, you don’t even know the meaning of the word blockade.

[@SanDiego_VDubLife]

Blockade: what the U.S. is doing to Cuba, by preventing trade not just with the U.S. but any other country in the world that wants to do business with Cuba. If a country chooses to do business with Cuba they can and will be barred from doing business with the U.S. or pay a heavy fine. What is your definition? @@sjpavur

[@mojoproductions6799]

Good to know! I didn’t think direct flights were allowed again

[@blkfish70]

Viva Cuba 🇨🇺

[@ezraluna4396]

Thank you so much for this video!!!

[@larry7898]

From the policy perspective, it’s because Florida is such a critica l swing state due to the large Cuban votes (almost all of whom are against policies supporting Cuban government due to their exiles). Trump reversed Obama policy to appease the Cuban swing voters, and Biden won’t do much because it’s risk to jitter the status quo. My wife and I visited Cuba earlier this year. People here are some of the nicest, friendliest people, and it was sad to hear about the stories of better economic times in the 2010s pre Trump and pre COVID. The embargo is cruel bc it affects the regular Cuban people much more than probably the government and officials. My wife is a Cuban American (born to refugees) and our visit to Cuba definitely caused both intrigue and some drama within the extended family.

[@DogonChild]

Thank you soo much for this video ♥️🇨🇺

[@metsknicksjetsfan]

See you next week!

[@falotershammer616]

A few days ago my father gave me an articel about young people leaving cuba. (Maybe to change my mind on socialism.) But the artical was so obviously propaganda it just made me beleeve even more in the socialist cause.

[@petechau9616]

I worked in the goverment and have interviewed and know many Cubans that have come over . Many did not make it and the ones that did describe a horrific journey. You know it's pretty bad when people go to these extremes. As US residents we have our problems sure but nobody that I know is thinking of leaving in an inner tube raft and travel hundreds of miles with no navigation and limited supplies. Don't believe the hype of the Cuban government.

[@Gonioneitor]

@@petechau9616 You and your government are hypocrites, do you think i didn't see how you treated immigrants from Haiti or other Central American countries?. How instead of simply denying access to the US you send them back in plane to Haiti? A place in a much worse state than the country that was taking them as refugee like Brazil or Mexico. You guys only care about Cubans that leave Cuba because it's useful for your rhetoric. If every problem in Cuba is caused by the Cuban government, then why does an embargo exist? what is it's purpose? I can answer that quoting your own government "[...]means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba [...] denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government" - Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958-1960, Cuba, Volume VI 499. Your own government loves Cuban people dying of hunger and suffering, So they can be used as cannon fodder to overthrow a democratically elected government. It's not the first time they tried this, and it won't be the last.

[@petechau9616]

@@Gonioneitor Thank you for your heart felt response but as "bad" as you claim the US is can you name a better government? how about a better country? trust me was someone who has direct experience with immigration issues and aliens you will not find a another country that treats alien as well as the US does. Now that i have your attention how many more aliens can the nation absorb before it threatens the well being of its own citizens?

[@Gonioneitor]

@@petechau9616 Now you are calling immigrants aliens? You are either a weirdo or a piece of shit. Maybe both F*ck off.

[@Birds_In_Crime]

Hi, I'm from Paraguay, the first commenter is right. The people leave Cuba for a reason, while the country is beautiful, conditions in several areas are anything but. The fact that people take such extremes to leave should tell you a lot. This video only shows you the tourist areas, outside of those areas, the country struggles a lot. And it is notoriously very difficult to find food

[@sherryshi3495]

the story finished in a very professional way, especially the angle. Hope I can know you. message from Vedado, Havana.

[@lanxy2398]

I want to go to Cuba so bad, such a beautiful country with great people

[@bobmichaelsphoto]

You cannot say that tourism to Cuba is banned. The word "tourism" may be banned but not the act. I just returned from Holguin on about my 70th visit to Cuba. Many of us visit Cuba frequently. There will always be those who do nothing but try to justify their inaction. BTW, there are currently over 12 flights per day from the US to Cuba.

[@samo1611]

Do u have a US passport? AnD IF so, did they stamp it? And have u had any issues traveling since?

[@bobmichaelsphoto]

@@samo1611 Yes, I have a US passport. Yes, Cuba stamps it. No, there are absolutely no problems traveling frequently to Cuba. Remember, TRAVEL TO CUBA IS NOT ILLEGAL NOR IMPROPER.

[@vicandsheila91]

Looking forward to my trip to Havana soon!

[@beareroflife]

I want to go

[@inaruboricua]

We're lucky we can still go and stay as long as 90 days, no special visa needed except as Cuba requires, only not as tourists and demonstrating we can afford it, including insurance. Trump nixed the cruise ships and Biden hasn't changed it. We can still fly in from the US, on our own, and just only spend money with private entrepreneurs, including a tour guide . We can only stay at privately owned B&Bs because hotels are state-owned, and be able to show we spent at least 6-8 hrs/day learning about the people and culture and private businesses.

[@jaymeez]

👍🏽

[@bertanelson8062]

I visited Cuba in 2007 under the auspices of a "special delegation." We stayed a week, met wonderful people, enjoyed amazing Cuban music & learned about the breakthroughs Cuban medical workers were making with AIDS, dengue fever & other health issues. I was shocked to learn of the extent of economic sanctions on Cuba. I simply hadn't heard about them. I've traveled a few places around the world & have enjoyed all, but none better than Cuba. We, from the U$A are prevented from visiting because we would call for an end to U$A economic war on CUBA!

[@JackJohnson-pi5nh]

Hi I need a guide to visit Cuba To do some work on my boat with a private ( none government related boat yard ) Any contact information available? Thanks

[@psychebucc7544]

I wanted to get my vaccine in Cuba.

[@ki2319]

I want to visit via Mexico 😅

[@bertanelson8062]

Easy to do. Your passport won't be stamped because no one wants you to have trouble getting back into U$A. Check to be sure flights still go from Mexico. U$A has "long arms."

[@yanislee1085]

Dis gon' trigger every pro-embargo Cuban Americans...

[@christopherp.hitchens3902]

??? They don’t. You and I can go there legally under the “Support For The Cuban People” category of license (verbal license, if asked by US or airline official). Keep receipts of NON-GOVERNMENT places you have patronized, including your “Casa Particular” (do not stay at government hotels or eat at government restaurants). GOT IT?

[@jorgem.bustos446]

what do you mean exactly by “government” places?

[@christopherp.hitchens3902]

@@jorgem.bustos446 - Perhaps I should’ve said STATE RUN businesses. For many years Cuba had an ersatz kind of “capitalism” (in appearance only) of restaurants, hotels and shops. These were nearly all STATE RUN or GOVERNMENT run businesses that served tourists and anyone else who had hard currency (dollars, euros and Canadian dollars). There were also some privately owned restaurants called “Paladars” and AirBnB like rooms for rent in the homes of Cubans called “Casas” Now, because of Cuba’s increasing financial troubles and soaring inflation, Cuba had to privatize many businesses including restaurants and entertainment venues. Cuba had to let Cubans own their own businesses. These kind of places are run and owned by Cuban citizens, they are not state-run. If you are an American traveling under the “Support For The Cuban People” license (one of 10 categories you can legally travel there) you are expected to patronize only privately owned businesses. Keep in mind that this is an awkward expectation that is rarely enforced and frankly, nobody has ever asked me to show my receipts. Still, you want to have them IN CASE. It’s not always easy to tell which is or isn’t “private” so…you should ask first. Easy to remember: Stay away from all hotels, they are all state-run. All Casas (rooms in the homes of Cubans) are private. The owner of the Casas can also help you with many of your questions.

[@christopherp.hitchens3902]

@@jorgem.bustos446 - I wrote something here explaining…but it then disappeared. Perhaps I should’ve said state-run instead of “government”. Cuba used to have this curious illusion of capitalism, restaurants and shops and hotels that looked varied and indipendent…but it was all owned and run by the government. Not anymore. Because of their serious economic trouble, Cuba was forced to let the Cuban people open up their own restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops and “Casas” the opening up of private Cuban homes and rooms to tourists. If you are an American traveling under the Support For The Cuban People license, you are expected to patronize the private businesses only. Basically, give money to the Cubans, not to the government and ask for and keep receipts. This is all rather unenforceable and silly, many of the US Passport control agents wouldn’t know one Cuban restaurant from another. Truth is I have never been asked by US Passport control agent upon reentering …for my receipts but, you should keep them. For lodging it’s simple: All hotels are government owned and run. You should therefore stay at Casas.

[@christopherp.hitchens3902]

@@jorgem.bustos446 - My replies to you are being deleted by the video owners or…KZbin algorithms.

[@Lilib130]

I think Obama, Trump or Biden - any American president is the same. Their job is smile, shake hands and read speeches that others have written. The president changes, the politics don't.

[@sjpavur]

Please explain why the overwhelming majority of Cuban citizens in the USA support the travel ban??

[@alex5308]

As a Cuban my family will never go back, at least not until there is a regime change. The problem with tourism to Cuba is it gives a false impression of the reality of the true suffering that is happening there.

[@Tony-fb1gd]

Vivan los Cubanos REVOLUCIONARIOS......abajo la gusanera.

[@I.M.A.Panther3619]

I just don’t understand what the average citizen of Cuba have done, that justifies the US nasty treatment of Cuba’s people. If relations were normalized, that would benefit both nations. Even if Fidel Castro’s brother is the current “dictator.” What, like the USA even ever concerned itself about “who is in charge” in dozens of nations around the world ? No. Normalizing USA and Cuba relations would benefit both nations and its citizens. Would have ….. but now …. It looks like China has stepped in to fill the economic trade and positive political relationship void in Cuba. This is a huge political blunder. The USA is really good at blunders. USA politics ….. the elected ones in WADC, ALL of them, they seemed to have deliberate strategic intentions ….. to wreck the lives and screw the people and citizens, of their own Nation. Yes. It’s USA vs USA. And we all are losing. For example, young school children in their classrooms being shot by insane people in Cuba ? NO. The USA has no ethical or moral superiority over Cuba.

[@wernerfoerster3666]

You need to learn a little history. Castro was a major proponent of terrorism for decades - especially in Latin America. He stole US corporate assets across the board. He executed those who posed a treat to him. He tortured and imprisoned his own people. Maybe I should also mention Cuba continues to protect convicted cop-killers, wanted terrorists and prison escapees. Cuba tells the US to F-off. And you just want to say everything is great - normalize relations??? LOL There is a reason almost EVERY US President for 70 years has taken a hard line against Cuba (exception for the half Muslim-Communist Obama)

[@MarkPhilp1970]

Viva Cuba!!

[@dc2717]

Click bait. You don’t answer the question you’ve posted as the title of your video.

[@Sexpistolz]

2016 was gods blessing year to the world everything was beautiful

[@Never_Give_Up_88]

I want to go cause I want some seeds for my garden

[@Cinemachoicefilms]

Wow, i really want to go there especially seeing how many cubans of African decent that are there and just living in such poverty-stricken areas. Man we are taking life for granted in this first world country of the US.

[@TruthGirlBoss]

We would like it too much 🤣🤣 we would definitely love the ppl but not live there or getting stuck there yikes so many Cubans have spoke out about their country it’s scary what they all have said

[@annettelf7644]

They have to say that because that grants them “refugee” status. They have to believe it to be credible. But most of them were lap dogs of the government here (in Cuban American, btw). So I know how it works. The real tragedy of cuba is the scarcity, and for the most part it’s due to the embargo. I’m living in cuba now, and I couldn’t feel safer and happier.

[@Martini923]

Europeans can visit Cuba. Oops forget they not free to travel 😂😂😂😂

[@theclaudacity]

Maybe put an "about" on your page so people know who you are. Seems like propaganda to this Cuban-American.

[@annettelf7644]

lol… thanks for clarifying you’re Cuban American… not surprised you said that!

[@alex5308]

You have yet to meet one who is against the economic war because everyone who is in favor of it doesn’t visit! 😂

[@dedlede777]

We can't. I want to go bad but I don't want to be trapped in a prison tour group that keeps you confined to activities that lecture you about how communism is ruining their lives even though the embargo is what's causing their pain.

[@thecubanway3998]

Dani, great video if we look at the way you've presented Cuba, but the story is a bit more complicated than just "poor Cubans and poor Americans that can't visit each other". The rules to eliminate the Embargo over Cuba are very simple: -the Cuban goverment should legalize other political manifestations non related to the Communist Party. - there should be respected the freedom of speech. - there should be the possibility for Cubans to elect democratically their own leaders. All of those terms rely on the Cuban regime's power. Allowing allowing a free circulation of Americans towards Cuba will only bring oxigen to the oldest dictatorship in the western hemisphere. I'm sorry bro, but #CubaEsUnEstadoFallido Wish you the best.

[@CarlosSantana-cp3mf]

Por gente como tú no levantan el embargo y seguimos así

[@thecubanway3998]

@@CarlosSantana-cp3mf espero que, el dia en que te des cuenta de que el verdadero y único bloqueo en Cuba es el de la dictadura, vengas nuevamente a youtube y borres el comentario que acabas de hacer; mientras tanto, no pasa nada, sigue viviendo en la burbuja del NTV y del Granma 😘

[@Faidros714]

You mean just like in Vietnam, where glorious Communist Party leads its people towards (US style) democracy. /s

[@annettelf7644]

Who’s the US to put conditions on us? We say “fuck that”. Why do we have to do what you please? It’s non of your fucking business and it’s illegal to interfere in other nation’s affairs. “Freedom” my ass!

[@thecubanway3998]

@@annettelf7644 it's not illegal when that nation stole millions from your citizens. I'm cuban as the creator is (actually we studied together); the difference is that he only gets the dictatorship's official side of the history while those who have left the country understand that the victim role that the cuban regime has decided to play since 1959 is just pure BS. The only blockade in Cuba is the one imposed by the regime over their own citizens. 😉