Cancún conference on US-Cuba travel

THE Mexican resort of Cancún is the venue for the Conference on Travel between the United States and Cuba. The event, which takes place October 16 to 18 at the Gran Meliá Hotel, has been organized by the recently created Association of Tourism Related Industry Professionals. It is functioning as a co-sponsor of various U.S. agencies like USA-ENGAGE, the National Foreign Council, the US-Cuba Trade Association, ABC Charters, Cuba Travel Services, and Marazul Charters.

In recent years, diverse studies and surveys have recorded a radical change in U.S. public, with a steadily growing majority in favor of eliminating the ban on travel to Cuba, a regulation that violates their civil rights.

For four years in succession the U.S. House of representatives has passed – by a wide majority – amendments aimed at eliminating these regulations. In the most recent vote on September 19, the result was 227 to 188.

The Cancún conference has been convened to discuss this issue and it is expected that a number of U.S. Congress members in favor of changing the existing regulations, in place for more than 40 years, will be attending.

An significant number of U.S. enterprises and travel agencies are taking part, including airlines, cruise liner companies, tour operators, hotel chains and representatives of the international and specialized press.

Ibrahim Ferradaz García, the minister of tourism, is heading the Cuban delegation invited by the organizers and made up of heads and officials of state, tourism enterprises and travel agencies.

The intensive conference program contemplates presentations and panels with participants from the United States and Cuba. There is interest in the experiences of representatives from other countries operating on the island for a number of years.