Biden Administration Seeks To Expand Authorized Travel To Cuba

Following a long review of U.S.-Cuba relations, the White House is reportedly working on a plan to make it easier for Americans to visit their friends and relatives in Cuba.

Such policy changes would partially reverse some of the former Trump administration's harsh policies implemented against the island nation, easing travel restrictions that are presently in place.

Part of the plan would include expanding flights to Cuba, enabling travelers to fly into locations other than the single airport in Havana that had been sanctioned under the Trump administration rules. New regulations would allow airports beyond the capital city to open themselves to charter flights, Travel Noire reported.

"The measures today again are practical steps that we are taking to address the humanitarian situation and to respond to the needs of the Cuban people," a senior administration official told NPR. "President Biden is also fulfilling his commitment to the Cuban-American community and their family members in Cuba by announcing measures in four key areas which we plan to implement in the coming weeks."

A senior administration official also told NPR that the White House's impending moves are intended to help the Cuban people.

One of the aims of this policy overhaul is to expand authorized travel between the U.S. and Cuba. However, the loosening of some restrictions doesn't mean that the communist-led Caribbean country would be fully open to U.S. tourists.

Only groups that plan on going to Cuba for educational or work purposes will be permitted to travel under the group 'People to People' authorized travel category, although the Biden administration's announcement didn't offer any details about how this travel exception would be implemented.