by Brian Major
Last updated: 5:40 PM ET, Mon June 19, 2017
Cuban government and tourism officials reacted angrily to U.S. President Donald Trump's move last week in reversing several Obama administration initiatives to normalize relations with the socialist Caribbean nation.
In a statement published by the Cuban News Agency, officials said the U.S. is in no position "to lecture us."
In a "Declaration of the Revolutionary Government," Cuban officials assert the "elimination of the educational 'people to people' exchanges to individuals" is a "fall back in relations between the two countries" following two years of improvements.
The statement describes Trump's address, delivered in a Miami theater, as "full of hostile rhetoric that recalled the times of open confrontation against our country."
The officials described the policy changes as "coercive methods" that inflict "damages and deprivation to the Cuban people" and create obstacles to the development of our economy."
The announced measures also impose "additional obstacles to the very restricted opportunities that the US business sector had to trade and invest in Cuba."
The prohibition of "economic, commercial and financial transactions of U.S. companies with their Cuban counterparts tied with the Revolutionary Armed Forces," will have the effect of "depriving [Cuban and American businesses] of earnings," the officials added.
The statement adds a hopeful note, saying "The government of Cuba reiterates its commitment to continue the respectful dialog and cooperation in issues of mutual interest in addition to negotiating pending bilateral issues with the U.S. government."
Although the policies do not amount to a full reversal of President Barack Obama's previous loosening of Cuba travel restrictions, as the Cuban officials acknowledged, they do spell the end of individual, person-to-person travel to the island.
Trump's new policy re-establishes procedures prior to 2016, which require Cuba travelers to be part of an educational or culturally focused group. Tour operators and cruise lines currently offering escorted tours and voyages to Cuba are unaffected by the changes, but the airline, hospitality and service sectors are another story.
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Under the changes, Americans will be barred from spending money in state-run hotels or restaurants tied to Cuba's military. Yet, because the military and military-run enterprises control virtually all of the country's major hospitality activity, the ban will likely impact travelers' expenditures in Cuban hotels and restaurants.
Last year Marriott International's Starwood Hotels signed a management deal with a Cuban military affiliate to operate three hotels in Cuba and convert the former Hotel Quinta Avenida into a Four Points by Sheraton hotel.
In a statement, Marriott officials said the company was still analyzing the president's directive. "Its full effect on our current and planned operations in Cuba may depend on related forthcoming regulations," the statement reads.
"We have invested significant resources establishing a presence in Cuba, and with one hotel open and another in the pipeline we have just begun our work creating opportunity and a more vibrant tourism sector on the island," the statement adds.
"We will continue to urge the Trump administration and Congress to recognize and utilize travel as a strategic tool in efforts to improve relations with Cuba," the statement continues, "allowing us to be part of a promising future, as opposed to reverting to the policies of the past."
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Officials at major airlines also said they were reviewing the new policies. JetBlue, American, Delta and Southwest said last week they will continue flying to the island, while United officials said only that the company was "currently reviewing" the policy changes.
While the new rules are designed to stem the flow of cash to Cuba's government-in turn pressuring its communist leaders to support the island's nascent private sector-some observers say the changes may have the opposite effect, placing additional burdens on fledgling Cuban business that rely on U.S. travelers.
"Over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of Americans have traveled to Cuba, stayed in private homes, eaten at privately owned restaurants, taken private taxi cabs and engaged with the Cuban people, said James Williams, head of Engage Cuba, a group that lobbies for closer Cuba ties. Americans are significantly contributing to the growth of Cuba's private sector."
Williams said "confusion" surrounding the policy changes "will undoubtedly stifle U.S. demand" for travel to Cuba.
"We are encouraged the Trump Administration wants to help Cuba's private sector. Unfortunately, the people who will be most negatively impacted by this directive are Cuban entrepreneurs."
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