Callaghan on Thursday (29 September) blasted the US for failing to revoke the Donald Trump-era ruling, which saw the former US president – in the death throes of his premiership – classify Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, placing the country on a list alongside Iran, North Korea and Syria.
Cuba remains on the list more than a year-and-a-half after Joe Biden took over from Trump as president, The Independent reported this week, citing a message from the Visit USA Association.
In effect, it means any British travellers who have visited Cuba in the past 11 years will have to obtain a full US visa to enter the country, rather than being able to enter on the basis of the Esta visa waiver scheme.
Obtaining a US visa currently costs £137 and typically requires applicants to wait several months to get an interview to progress their application.
Callaghan, chief executive of the Latin American Travel Association, said the policy could harm Cuba’s recovery after the country was hit by Hurricane Ian this week.
"We have discovered that, for some unfathomable reason, Donald Trump decided to classify Cuba a ’state sponsor of terrorism’ in the dying days of his presidency, alongside the likes of Syria and North Korea," said Callaghan.
"While this will undoubtedly be for some minor irritation Trump took umbrage at, there is a significant implication – anyone that has visited Cuba cannot now apply for a US Esta in the normal way to enter or transit [the US], but has to get a full visa, which is expensive, time consuming, and relies on a face-to-face appointment, currently with a waiting list of many months.
"While this will have some small impact on tourism to the US, the far bigger impact will be for Cuba and its beleaguered tourism economy, struggling to recover even as Hurricane Ian is sweeping across the island."
’Nonsensical’
Callaghan said people should prioritise visiting Cuba until the US rescinds what he described as a "nonsensical legacy" of the Trump era.
"Many Lata members sell Cuba as part of their portfolio, and I would urge travellers to still continue to travel to the island and just forget about going to the US, at least until they see sense and overturn this nonsensical Trump legacy," he said.
"There are also plenty of alternatives to accessing Latin America without transiting through the US, which tends not to be the preference of travellers anyway."
