The Anti American issues on an American Policy

The Anti American issues on an American Policy

President Barack Obama has made use of his executive power, to ease the travel of American citizens to Cuba. The question is, which Americans?  A “regular” American will be able to travel, but an American born in Cuba that immigrated after 1970, will need to pay also more than $400.00 dollars for a Cuba passport, valid for only five years.

A “regular” American will just need to buy a tourist visa at the price of around $25.00 dollars. If you happened to be born in Cuba and came to this county after 1974 you will have to pay $250.00 dollars every two years.

In Cuba there are differences of classes within the citizens but as far as I understand, Americans are all equal. Is it American to accept those discriminatory regulations of the Cuban government?

American tourists will book their tour from a travel operator, but which one? At the present moment only a small group of operators have the exclusivity for organizing trips to the island. Of course, those companies contract the services from the exclusive agency of the state that is authorized to handle the passengers. Is that American?

Most travelers will visit the island by plane, but which one? At the present moment all the plains are charters contracted by those operators with the exclusivity described before. Taking advantage of their exclusivity, those operators overcharge the price of the air tickets: a flight from Miami to Orlando, Nassau or San Juan averages $300.00 or less; but the 45 minute flight to Cuba averages $475.00 (sometimes get to be more than $500.00) besides, charters should be cheaper, because costs are cheaper. I imagine possibly the cost of the seat should be around $75.00 dollars, therefore you can imagine of what kind of profits we are talking about.

 The only really American position is to established regular flights, available at all reservations systems and that could be booked by any travel agent. American companies should be able to enter by themselves in the market.

The regularize travel between the two countries take more than the desire of president Obama, it is also needed that the Cuban government update their regulations to normal standards. I hope that in the next round of negotiations those issues will be taken into consideration.

Estela T. Delgado