Crist signs bill to tighten restrictions on Cuba travel

Ignoring the pleas of dozens of Cuban families and their travel agents, Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill Monday that will impose tough new regulations and penalties on companies that arrange travel to Cuba.

The bill, sponsored by Miami Rep. David Rivera and Eustis Sen. Carey Baker, would increase the licensing fees and bond requirements of companies licensed by the U.S. State Department to provide travel services to Cuba and "any other terrorist nation."

Travel companies brought a busload of families to Tallahassee last week for a rally to urge the governor to veto the bill. They complained that the requirement to raise their annual registration fee from $300 to $2,500 a year, and the mandate that they post a bond of up to $300,000, will increase their costs and make it unaffordable for many financially strapped families with relatives in Cuba to pay for the trips.

''There is nothing in this bill that protects you as a consumer," said Tessie Aral of ABC Charters Travel in Miami, who organized the protest in the state capital. "It is basically a witchhunt from people who have their own political agenda." Her company flies 20,000 visitors to Cuba a year on flights that operate five days a week.

Rivera countered by alleging that the travel companies were acting in cooperation with the Cuban government, which could lower the price of travel by lowering its fees.

"If somebody has asked for political asylum in the United States, they have no business returning to the country which they were supposedly fleeing," he said.

 

Comments

[Perez]

Thanks Mr.Rivera i just changed my vote to Obama. Your restrictions Dont hurt Castro they hurt us the families.You should pay attention to issues with property taxes and so on.....

[Marietta]

The days of Glory are finished for these travel agencies that have operated here in Miami without Regulations like the rest of us have... Why? the are making millionares salaries and owners have become rich in this county, thanks to the cuban community that travels to Cuba. And some time they have closed their doors by surprise and had wlaked away with the clients money. It was about time!!!

[ernesto reyes]

Attention all:

Twelve elections have passed since the Cuban Revolution came about and the Miami-exile community still believes "the dream" of "reconquering" Cuba. Listen carefully: WE ARE TIRED OF THE MIAMI CUBAN COMMUNITY THAT PERPETUATES MISERY TOWARDS THEIR COUNTRY AND COUNYTRYMEN AND CONTINUES TO PROMOTE A FAILED POLICY. Remember Elian Gonzalez and his dad? They ran back to Cuba... while the Miami exiles acted as if they were above the law. Want to get their attention: BOYCOTT ALL TRAVEL AND BUSINESS FROM MIAMI, FLORIDA. I do not travel there if I don't have to and I don't sponsor companies based there. Maybe a little LE$$ money in their pockets will make the point.

[maria]

Thank you Mr: Governor Charlie Crist, thank MR: David Rivera, thank you MR:Carey Baker,
Thank for being firm, why we have to paid $18.00 or more a pound to Cuba, when it cost 1.00 to Nicaragua door to door and others country, we all suffer for our family there, have no medicine, money, A/C, not Disney for the kids, not vac, for the family, etc, etc,
but the Castro¨s and their family are Rich, Rich, and own Spain, and others country in the world, but they have the poor Cubans as slaves
Thank you again.
Maria C Miami, Fl