• Submitted by: manso
• Politics and Government
• 04 / 22 / 2011

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The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday published the long-awaited new rules for travel to Cuba.PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic -- I happened to be visiting this stunning beach resort on the day when the Obama administration announced new measures to allow for more U.S. travel to Cuba, and I couldn't help wonder whether a gradual increase of U.S. visitors to Cuba won't hurt all other Caribbean tourism spots.

By Frances Robles.MiamiHerald.com. The long-awaited rules defining who can travel freely to Cuba were released Thursday by the U.S. Treasury.

After months of rumors that he was about to make dramatic changes, President Barack Obama in January allowed a broader group of U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba without first seeking permission from Washington.

The new rules make it easier for U.S. schools, churches and cultural groups to visit Cuba, and boost the amount of money Americans can send to the island to support its growing private economy.

The announcement, which included an increase in the amount of cash Americans could send to Cuba, did not come with the fine print. Until now, people still had difficulty sending money through Western Union, because the rules had been announced — but not published.

The policies rescinded more restrictive travel and remittances guidelines issued by former President George W. Bush in 2003.

Under the official rules:

•  Americans can send up to $2,000 annually to Cuba. There will be a quarterly limit on the amount any American can send:

$500 per quarter to “support private economic activity.” The Clinton administration had set that figure at $300 a quarter.

•  Religious and educational groups can travel to Cuba for certain types of events or study without a specific license.

•  “The commercial marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied delivery, or servicing in Cuba of telecommunications-related

items that have been authorized for commercial export” can travel without a specific license.

Although the rules have been expected, they are controversial in the exile community.

Source: //www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/21/2179219/