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TRAVEL
When Will the Timing for Timeshare Be Right?
First and foremost, the travel restrictions from the U.S. to Cuba have to
be lifted or further eased in order for timesharing to take root. And along
with that are several other challenges that need to be overcome. For
Ledesma-Berrios, that means solving issues with financial transactions
and insurance matters. “Much legal work still needs to be done,” she
adds. “We are quite a while away yet.”
Both Ledesma-Berrios andAcevedo agree that Cuba is not prepared
yet for the onslaught of tourism that further easing of travel restrictions
will bring. They see Cuba as needing to build an infrastructure —not just
in communications, but also in transportation and lodging capacity —
while easing its own business and legal restrictions.
“It’s hard to say exactly when timesharing could start to have a pres-
ence in Cuba,” says Acevedo. “We are talking a few years, realistically.”
He points to this year, being an election year in the U.S., influencing the
rate at which further developments happen. Whatever the outcome, he
observes, “The door on Cuba has been opened and I don’t think it can
be closed.”
Kathy Hernandez is president of Orlando, Florida–based KHA PR, a public relations
and marketing communications firm. She has more than 30 years of experience in the
tourism and timeshare industries.
TRAVEL FROM THE U.S. T0 CUBA
The Cuban Assets Control Regulations currently
restricts travel from the U.S. to Cuba, except under
certain circumstances. These include:
1. Family visits
2. Official business of the U.S. government, foreign
governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
3. Journalistic activities
4. Professional research and professional meetings
5. Educational activities
6. Religious activities
7. Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and
other competitions, and exhibitions
8. Support for the Cuban people
9. Humanitarian projects
10. Activities of private foundations or research or educational
institutes
11. Exportation, importation, or transmission of information
or information materials
12. Certain export transactions may be considered for
authorization under existing regulations and guidelines
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OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2016
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