US/Cuba: US issues new travel restrictions for citizens traveling to Cuba June 4

Event

The US Government announced on Tuesday, June 4, that it has imposed new travel restrictions on American citizens traveling to Cuba. Under the new restrictions, "people-to-people" travel (i.e. most educational and recreational/cruise travel) is now prohibited. Effective Wednesday, June 5, booking new travel reservations to Cuba is prohibited; according to the US Commerce Department, cruise ships and other recreational vessels will be prohibited from departing the US for temporary stays in Cuba as of June 5, also thereby affecting many non-US citizens. The new policy will not affect travelers with existing transactions, such as a flight or hotel reservations booked before June 5.

Context

President Donald Trump has generally sought to scale back US engagement with Cuba, prohibiting financial transactions with Cuban enterprises managed by the military in June 2017 and threatening to close the US Embassy in Havana, which opened in August 2018. These new travel restrictions mark his most restrictive policy moves vis-à-vis US-Cuba relations to date.

Advice

US nationals are advised to consult government guidelines on travel to Cuba following the implementation of the new restrictions on June 5. Non-American citizens with plans to travel on American cruises and recreational vessels to Cuba are advised to contact travel agents and companies for detailed information on any changes.