Opportunities to Learn More on Travel to Cuba
September 25, 2009
This week, NTA members are invited to participate in two opportunities to learn more about Cuba and to take action. The first is a call with Voluntourism.org on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. ET. The second is , the national call-in day to end the travel ban on Cuba. On Wednesday, Sept. 30, Americans are encouraged to contact their legislators urging the end of the travel ban.
David Clemmons with Voluntourism.org will be holding a call Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. ET, to discuss Cuba and voluntourism. Christopher Baker, renowned photo-journalist and the world’s foremost authority on travel to Cuba, and Kimberly Haley Coleman, founder and executive director of Globe Aware also will be on the call.
Together, they will address the following questions: 1) What are key elements, logistical or otherwise, to consider when traveling to Cuba for residents of countries that do not ban travel to Cuba? 2) If the ban on travel to Cuba is lifted for U.S. citizens, what do you foresee as the benefits and challenges for stakeholders – Cuban residents, the social infrastructure, the tourism industry, and travelers? 3) Cuba has been hosting service "brigades" for decades. What changes, if any, to this format and structure do you think could be, or would be, created to potentially host more U.S. "voluntourists" to Cuba?
How to participate:
Call in:
- Dial: 724.444.7444
- Enter: 43239 # (Call ID)
- Enter: 1 # or your PIN
Join from your computer:
, the national call-in day to end the travel ban on Cuba, is set for Wednesday, Sept. 30. More than ever, help is needed to get the legislation known as the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act" passed (H.R. 874 and S. 428).
Ending the travel ban on Cuba will be a boon for the United States travel economy. After 50 years of pent-up demand, ASTA forecasted that an additional 850,000 visitors would travel to Cuba annually from the United States, not including relatives or cruise passengers, if the travel ban is repealed.
NTA supports the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act" as it would enable Americans to travel to Cuba to experience the rich diversity of Cuban culture and heritage. Americans should have the opportunity to explore the world unfettered by travel and currency restrictions. NTA President Lisa Simon, CTP, said in a recent op-ed, "we know that Cuba will be an exciting new destination that will significantly grow the travel sector of the United States economy."
To contact your state representative, click here. To contact your senators, click here. For information on how to get involved, contact Cuba Policy Outreach Coordinator at the Washington Office on Latin America Angelica Salazar at +1.202.797. 2171.
