As a bill ending the U.S. travel ban to Cuba and easing some export restrictions inches toward a possible House vote this summer, travel officials and Cuba analysts suggest its passage could be beneficial for Brevard and the Sunshine

The House Agriculture Committee in late June passed the measure.

Its approval, said Lynden Cope of Lenkar Cruises and Tours of Palm Bay, would bring economic benefits to travel agents who have seen less business in the economic downturn.

"I would imagine quite a number of my colleagues seem to think it's a wise thing. It would open up the market, and I am personally in favor of it," he said.

Cope and other travel agents say Cuba is a marketable, close and affordable destination and that Port Canaveral could possibly benefit by cruise ships making the island a stop on their itineraries -- although Cuban ports would need to be "vastly improved" in order to accommodate the 4,000-plus passenger ships that are sailing now.

Although the future of the legislation is far from guaranteed, the island nation is already preparing, currently constructing vacation resorts on the north side that would rival those in Cancun, according to Johannes Werner, editor of the Cuba Standard, a Tampa-based independent news service that provides analysis about the Cuban economy.

"The Cubans are very ambitious," he said. "(Other Caribbean destinations) are bracing for the competition; they're all trying to figure out what this is going to do for their numbers."

With good reason.

The new legislation is estimated to bring an additional 2 million visitors to Cuba. These visitors, in turn, will consume goods and services, and this will lead Cuba to look to the U.S. for more imports, with Florida being a prime choice.

The easing of export restrictions could expand the agricultural industry in Florida, as well, with the boost in demand for more products and services in Cuba to provide for tourists.

The legislation would also make it easier for Cubans to purchase products from the U.S. through direct bank payments and educed transaction costs. Currently, Cubans must pay cash only for U.S. goods,under heavy sanctions.

Cuba imports more than $10 billion in goods each year from various countries, and the U.S. could stand to greatly benefit, Werner said.

The travel ban has done little to dampen interest of many Americans in traveling to Cuba, said Geraldine Blanchard, co-owner of Global Tours and Travel in Melbourne.

"In the 15 years that we've been doing business, we've had quite a few requests who say they'd like to go to Cuba," she said. "I would imagine the prices would be much less than Jamaica and other Caribbean destinations, and it's a beautiful Caribbean island. People will want to know what it's all about."

Werner said according to some surveys, more than 60 percent of Cuban-Americans are in favor of lifting the travel ban.

But there are downsides to the legislation, Werner noted. One would be increased competition for tourist dollars.

For instance, Americans from up north may decide to spend a week on a beach in Varadero in Cuba instead of Cocoa Beach, he said.

But flight connections and increased tourism, even if the visitors are coming through Florida instead of to it, can still benefit our local economy, Blanchard noted.

"People are always looking for new and exciting destinations that are nearby and economical," she said. "It's a big destination, and I guess it would be all positive. Maybe it's time."