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| © Rad A. Drew |
For me, Cuba is pure magic!
Since my first trip to Cuba, I’ve been at least two times
each year since. I’ve led 14 photography tours in that time, sharing with my
participants the places and people I’ve come to love.
I just returned from leading two photography tours in January and March of 2019.
With all the changes in travel to Cuba during the Obama and Trump
administrations, I’m often asked, “How is it still possible that you travel to
Cuba given the new policies of the current administration?”
It’s true that travel to Cuba is a constantly moving target, but,
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| © Rad A. Drew |
Here’s the deal.
On November 9, 2017, new current administration restrictions that were announced
in June of 2017, began to be implemented. The Office of Foreign Asset Control’s
(OFAC) Education/People-to-People designation (that my groups traveled under in the past) has been eliminated.
I wondered how (or if) I’d be
able to continue traveling to Cuba for photography and interaction with the Cuban
people. The following new OFAC category, “Support for Cuban People” is the answer.
US Citizen’s may travel to Cuba if they are part of a group that travels
under the OFAC’s “Support for Cuban People” designation, and if they are in the
country to provide aid to the private Cuban economy. Our group qualifies for
this designation as we do aid in the economy of the private sector by using
private homes, private restaurants, and private transportation. We also visit
local art galleries, support cultural institutions, such as the Cuban Ballet,
and spend money with privately- vs government-owned businesses.
When we travel in 2020, we will travel under the “Support for Cuban People” designation (check-box #8 on the affidavit provided by the
airlines). Because we stay in Casas, eat in private restaurants, and in many
other ways support the private Cuban economy, we qualify to continue to
travel to Cuba to photograph the splendor of her people, cities, and
countryside. The official reason for our trip can be described this way: “To
aid in the private financial future of Cuba accompanied by an American
photographer chronicling the progress of the private economy through
photography.”
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| © Rad A . Drew |
This category, "Support for Cuban People," is essentially what I’ve been
doing for the past several years as my groups have been:
- Staying in Casas (not government
hotels)
- Eating at privately owned (not
government) restaurants.
- Engaging with the Cuban people by
visiting art galleries, and supporting local artists and photographers,
- Engaging with Cuban people and
culture (i.e., engaging with dancers from the National Cuban Ballet, and Cuban
boxers in local gyms)
- Engaging people during daily life
which we do in the streets every day,
- Visiting the marinas and other local
businesses such as cigar factories, appliance repair shops, bicycle repair
shops, and much more.
All these things qualify under the category of “Support for Cuban People.”
Under this category, we require no licensed Cuban “minder,” so we’ll be able to
use our favorite guide and driver, and enjoy freedom to independently
photograph and experience Cuban people and culture.
The bottom line is, it is perfectly legal and safe for Americans
to travel to Cuba so long as we follow the guidelines set out by the current
administration.
With that said, I hope you’ll consider traveling to Cuba! Whether
you choose travel with me (and I hope you do!) or with one of the other great
photographers who lead trips to Cuba, it’s important to the Cuban people that
you go! Email me if you'd like the names of other photographers I would recommend traveling with. Each of these great photographers and teachers is my
friend, and each is experienced at leading groups in Cuba. You can’t go wrong with any of these leaders.
The Cuban economy benefits so much from US tourism! Our dollars
support real people who are willing to work very hard to ensure that we have a
wonderful experience and that we learn about them and their country.
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| © Rad A. Drew |
For me the
“economy” is not just a vague term; it has a face;
- it’s my young guide, Vivian, who speaks 4 languages and recently completed her Master's Degree, and relies on tourism for her livelihood,
- it’s Evan, our driver who supports his family by driving groups of visitors;
- it’s my young friend and painter, Roly, who needs traffic in his art gallery in Old Havana that leads to sales of his art work;
- it’s my friend Carlos and the several staff he employs at his Casa who take care of our needs when we stay with them;
- it’s my friend, Indira, who works at a local paladar that caters to visitors.
These are the reasons I love to travel to Cuba! I hope you'll join me on one of three trips in the first quarter of 2020.
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| © Rad A. Drew |